Today, Western Michigan University president Russ Kavalhuna reflected on the controversial outcome of the Bronco's game against the Michigan Wolverines. The game represented an important chance for both teams to get an early season win. It also was a key revenue opportunity for Western’s athletic department, which received more than $1 million for playing a Big-10 team.

We also talk with Rick Williams, an artist widely known in Detroit’s sneaker world as a designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Burn Rubber boutique. He's also a musician and tap dancer. Design and dance come together in his new project, Introducing Metal Feet.

And, an anthropologist who studies vaccine hesitancy talked about trends in vaccination rates. Today, Grand Valley State University’s Kristin Hedges tells us why the number of children attending school with a vaccine waiver is the highest it's been since 2013.

Plus, a story from Harvest Public Media explored why many farmers are choosing to fix their old tractors rather than buying new equipment.

GUESTS:

• Russ Kavalhuna, president of Western Michigan University
• Rick Williams, Detroit-based artist, designer, and musician
• Kristin Hedges, associate professor of anthropology at Grand Valley State University; co-chair of the Society for Medical Anthropology Special Interest Group Anthropological Responses to Health Emergencies (ARHE)
• Emma George-Griffin, reporter for WCMU Public Radio

The NCAA stated it will not overturn the win Michigan squeaked out on Sep. 5 over Western Michigan. So what happens next?

Plus, a special report from Michigan Public on how state prosecutors seek felony murder convictions and who ends up behind bars.

And on It’s Just Politics, Michigan’s chances to rewrite the state constitution. What will voters decide come this November? Find the full story here.

GUESTS:

• Austin Meek, Michigan beat writer for The Athletic
• Etai Smotrich-Barr, Michigan Public reporter in collaboration with the Investigative Reporting Lab at Yale
  

Today, Canada's retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. go into effect. The new tariffs on Michigan's largest trade partner come a month after President Donald Trump imposed similar tariffs on Canadian imports. We talked to a supply chain expert about the potential long-term effects.

Then, the FAQ Squad dug into claims around U.S. Senate candidate Mike Roger's residency. Opponents have claimed he's a "Florida man," pointing to a home in Cape Coral, Florida. The Livingston County native currently lives in White Lake.

And why the Children's Foundation of Michigan is working to create an endowment for arts programming in Detroit. We spoke with the foundation's CEO, and actor and arts advocate Marc Evan Jackson.

Plus, poet Michael Lauchlan shared from his new collection, Running Lights. His writing moves from the mundane, everyday things to powerful themes of friendship and family.

GUESTS:

• Jason Miller, professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University's Broad College of Business
• Zoe Clark, political director and associate general manager for Michigan Public
• Matt Mencarini, data and accountability reporter for Bridge Michigan
• Andrew Stein, president and CEO of The Children's Foundation of Michigan
• Marc Evan Jackson, actor
• Michael Lauchlan, poet, author of Running Lights

Football kicks off our show today - because it's college football season, people. And when you talk about football you can't avoid the question: Why are Michigan and Ohio State such fierce rivals? The answer seems obvious, but there’s a little more historic and cultural meaning than you may have heard.

Then,  we dig into the ubiquity of euchre. Why is this card game so popular here? And does anyone outside the Midwest play it?

Plus, we’re headed to the U.P. to learn about the cultural significance of a regional delicacy: pasties. How did this humble hand pie become such a defining part of life above the bridge?

Researchers are looking into the respiratory effects of airborne cyanobacteria from plumes on Lake Erie. We spoke with a reporter about what we know of their pervasiveness and potential health effects.

What if nearly every part of a fish could be put to use and turned into something valuable? From Interlochen Public Radio’s Points North, we heard how Great Lakes fisheries can learn from Icelandic practices.

And Michigan townships and other smaller rural municipalities are having a hard time getting people to sign up to serve in elected and appointed leadership positions. Without a leader and little money, critical responsibilities are falling through the cracks.

Plus, the city of Saginaw is best known for its successful manufacturing industries, but it also has many ties to popular music from the late 20th century. A reporter from WCMU shared more about artists who hail from Saginaw and the city's lyrical references.

GUESTS:

• Carol Thompson, reporter with the Detroit News
• Dan Wanshura, host of IPR's Points North
• Ron French, senior enterprise reporter at Bridge Michigan
• Cristin Coppess, reporter Central Michigan University Public Radio
  

Arab American and Muslim voters are being invited to make a plan to participate in this year’s election. With Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate candidacy at the top of the Democratic ticket, this is arguably a generational moment in politics. We spoke to a member of the Muslim civic engagement group Emgage on voter organizing.

Plus, Congress passed a major bipartisan housing law trying to make it cheaper to build, buy, and rent. An urban planning expert from UM joined to to look at what these changes could mean for Michigan.

Looking for It's Just Politics? Click here.

GUESTS:

• Layla Elabed, member of Emgage Action Organizing Team
• Professor Lan Deng, Chair of the Urban and Regional Planning Program at the University of Michigan
  

Today on Stateside, an investigation found that officers in 40 local police departments in Michigan have handed migrants over to U.S. Border Patrol agents hundreds of times since 2021.

Michigan Public and Outlier Media found that in these incidents, deportations often began with seemingly trivial issues: a cracked windshield, jaywalking, a broken-down car, or simply an officer’s suspicion based on the language someone was speaking.

Lee la versión en español de este artículo. Co-published with Outlier Media.

Then, why local leaders in Kalamazoo dismantled a homeless encampment downtown—and what residents had to say about it. We spoke with two MLive reporters who followed the story.

And, a conversation with the first musical director behind the Broadway production of Come From Away. The show takes place in a small Canadian town where commercial airliners were directed to land on September 11, 2001. The University of Michigan will stage a production this fall, and other performances are scheduled around the state.

Plus, the sights and sounds at a scrabble tournament in Kalamazoo!

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Adam Yahya Rayes, data reporter for Michigan Public
• Koby Levin, senior reporter for Outlier Media
• Brad Devereaux, reporter for MLive
• Aya Miller, reporter for MLive
• Cynthia Kortman Westphal, professor of musical theater at the University of Michigan
• Yeaniva Seisay, production assistant for Stateside

Today on Stateside, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed met with Jewish Democratic voters over the weekend after August's contentious primary. We spoke with a reporter who was in the room.

Also, a new graphic novel from a Michigan school teacher imagines a young superhero finding her way in a post-WW2 America. Jason Douglas talked to us about the inspiration behind Jane American.

Then, we checked in with a Warren furniture maker about the tough decisions facing his family as trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada drive up the cost of doing business.

Plus, listeners from across the state shared their stories about ice cream!

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Andrew Lapin, senior reporter with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Jason Douglas, teacher and author of Jane America
• Michael Howard, owner of Howard Family Designs
• Mary Jean Raab, owner of Washtenaw Dairy
• Nate and Nova Wilson, Saginaw residents
• Dale Iverson, On Hand listener
  

Today on Stateside, what’s in a name of a Great Lake? We talked to historian Eric Hemenway to get a Native perspective on President Trump's proposed rename of Lake Ontario. Also, how a travel ban is upending life for one asylum seeker in Michigan.

Then, a conversation about how the state is trying to boost post-secondary education by breaking down barriers for students. 

And, the former owner of a beloved Ypsilanti ice cream shop talks about bringing people together over a sweet treat.

GUEST ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability.
• Beenish Ahmed, reporter at Michigan Public
• Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)
• Angel Griffith, MSU student and a Ticket to Tuition scholarship winner
• Rob Hess, digital producer at Michigan Public and former owner of Go! Ice Cream in Ypsilanti
  

Today on Stateside, the rise and fall of Prism News, a now-defunct website that
relied on AI to scrape and rewrite stories from existing local news outlets. Maxwell Howard, a reporter for Interlochen Public Radio, discussed his investigation into the company.

Then, a University of Michigan scholar joined us to share her thoughts on Dolly Parton's legacy. Nadine Hubbs, a musicologist and cultural historian, has authored several scholarly works about Dolly.

Plus, a behind-the-scenes look at MSU Dairy Store, a shop that's been producing fresh ice cream as part of its food science program for generations of Spartans.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Maxwell Howard, reporter for Interlochen Public Radio
• Nadine Hubbs, professor of women’s studies and music at the University of Michigan and director of the Lesbian-Gay-Queer Research Initiative
• Matt Wilcox, production and operations manager at the MSU Dairy Plant

Today on the show, an update on the Ford Fathom, Ford's new all electric truck. Plus, an acoustic brother-sister duo that reps their Michigan roots hard; and from The Dish podcast series, a lesson in Turkish flavors from a Kalamazoo couple running the city’s only Turkish restaurant. 

GUESTS:

• Jamie LaReau: automotive reporter, Detroit Free Press
• Nolan and Karleena Kelley: brother-sister duo behind The Rusty Snails
• Halil and Fatma Dursunoğlu: owners of Ayasofya Restaurant in Kalamazoo

Today on Stateside, President Donald Trump temporarily postponed his planned 50% tariffs on Canadian products. We spoke to a New York Times journalist who covers Canada about how the administration's intermittent tariffs have affected Canadian manufacturing businesses.

Then, anti-Muslim demonstrators showed up at Dearborn's City Council meeting Tuesday night. We hear from a reporter who was at the meeting about the clash between protesters and city residents, as well as city officials' messages on diversity and tolerance.

And, we go back in time to learn about the history of the Kalamazoo State Hospital. The hospital was once known as the Michigan Asylum for the Insane. An archivist from the Michigan Archives filled us in on how the hospital pioneered new modes of mental health treatment that were different from other asylums at the time.

If you're looking for today’s segment of It’s Just Politics, you can find it here.

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Ian Austen, New York Times reporter covering Canada
• Zena Issa, Michigan Public criminal justice reporter
• Rachel Clark, education specialist for the Archives of Michigan

The first deaths, in a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak, have been reported here in Michigan. Today on Stateside, we were joined by Michigan Public environment reporter Kate Furby and Kate Wells, reporter for KFF Health News, to discuss the science behind this parasite and reasons why its impact has been amplified.

On Points North from Interlochen Public Radio, we heard about how detection dogs have become an asset in the work of moose research. You can check out that episode, The Moose Dog, here.

Before suspending her campaign, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow was candidate in Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary, alongside opponents Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. But, at the end of the day, El-Sayed came out on top — by a tight, 1% margin. McMorrow talked to April Baer about her enthusiastic support of his campaign, divisions within the Democratic Party, the road to November, and where her own political ambitions are now focused.

And, we shared a report from Michigan Public's Zena Issa, which looked into how the Michigan Department of Corrections may be falling short in its mandate to provide inmates with adequate healthcare.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Kate Wells, reporter for Kaiser Health News
• Kate Furby, Michigan Public environment reporter
• Mallory McMorrow, Democratic state senator (MI-8)
• Zena Issa, Michigan Public criminal justice reporter

Today on Stateside, we spoke with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed who won the highly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed narrowly edged out his opponent, current Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

And, Michigan State University Professor Matt Grossman broke down the impact of the Democratic Senate Primary on other congressional candidates.

Finally, amid the national attention on Michigan’s top-ticket races, there was also a shift to the left in the Ann Arbor mayoral race. Youssef Rabhi unseated incumbent Christopher Taylor, who’s been part of city government for 18 years. We heard from Michigan Public’s Tracy Samilton about the race.

If you're looking for today’s segment of It’s Just Politics, you can find it here.

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate 
• Professor Matt Grossman, professor of political science at Michigan State University 
• Tracy Samilton, energy and transportation reporter at Michigan Public

Today on Stateside, Michigan's primary election, where voters will choose the candidates who will appear on the ballot in November, is less than a week away. Michigan Public's Morning Edition host Doug Tribou has been interviewing the people hoping to be Michigan's next governor. Today, his conversation with current Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for governor Jocelyn Benson.

Then, a look at an under-discussed subject: men’s mental health. Men are less likely than women to self-report conditions like depression and anxiety. Michigan State University clinical nurse practitioner Michael Martel discussed the nuances that shape how men experience mental health conditions.

And, writer John Freeman reviews the new collection Dementia Lyrics by Michigan poet Dennis Hinrichsen. In it, Hinrichsen uses neuroscience and prose to make sense of a friend’s decline.

Finally, there are an estimated nearly 20,000 Amish residents spread across more than 50 settlements in Michigan. Their commitment to preserving traditions for centuries has set them apart and drawn fascination from mainstream society. Ohio author Kevin Williams reflects on more than three decades of observing Amish settlements in his new memoir Not So Simple: My Adventures Among the Amish, Mennonites, Shakers, and Other Plain People.

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for governor
• Michael Martel, assistant professor at the MSU College of Nursing 
• John Freeman, lecturer at Oakland University and author of the books Brother of Leaving and Fight Songs
• Kevin Williams, author of Not So Simple: Adventures Among the Amish, Mennonites, Shakers, and Other Plain People

Today on Stateside, businessman Perry Johnson discussed his run for governor, in the Republican primary, with Morning Edition Host Doug Tribou.

Also on the show, have you ever wondered where Claude A.I. got its name? As we found out, its origin is close to home.

Then, we talked to Michigan Public’s Reporting Fellow Etai Smotrich-Barr, on how an Oakland County man's mental distress led to a suicide inside the county jail. Smotrich-Barr's story, published in the Detroit Free Press, also details how the man's family is seeking accountability.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 988, with the option to text or call.

Plus, Third District Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra is the author of three books, and in his spare time, also writes for a Substack. However, nowhere in his campaign financial disclosures does he mention those side hustles. So, is Judge Boonstra in compliance with the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct? Ben Solis, senior reporter for Michigan Advance, joined us to share his reporting.

And, in the latest edition of our On Hand podcast, we heard your Michigan cherry stories. In today’s episode we hear from a listener about the lessons in tenderness and abundance a forgotten cherry taught him. You can find that here.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Perry Johnson, Republican candidate for governor
• Etai Smotrich-Barr, freelance journalist
• Ben Solis, senior reporter for Michigan Advance
• Michelle Jokisch Polo, Stateside producer