5/12/2026

HURLEY - The City of Hurley and ICORE have signed a contract to purchase 37 acres of abandoned Soo Line railroad land from Canadian National for a future trail between Hurley and Montreal. The group has raised $70,000 toward the $175,000 purchase price and is working to secure the remaining funds before the planned November 2026 closing. The proposed 3-mile paved walking and biking trail would connect to the existing Iron Belle Trail, linking five communities across the region. ICORE provided a $10,000 deposit on April 15, when the City Council approved the sale contract. 

5/12/2026

N. WISCONSIN - The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts during the 2026 summer recreation season.  Volunteer hosts typically stay on-site at designated campgrounds during the camping season. In exchange, hosts receive a campsite and the chance to spend the summer in the Chequamegon-Nicolet while helping support stewardship of public lands.  Hosts support visitor services by greeting campers, sharing information about recreation opportunities, monitoring campground conditions and help maintain and clean sites. 

5/12/2026

N. WISCONSIN - Almost half of young children in the U-S live in childcare deserts, according to a new report. In Wisconsin, fifty-four percent of residents don’t have access to adequate childcare, with higher numbers for rural areas. The Center for American Progress says the gap percentage rises to 70 percent in Wisconsin's smaller communities. The Center's Casey Peeks says this creates a stark urban-rural divide. She notes policymakers are rightfully focused on affordability issues given childcare costs are out of reach for most American families, but adds that’s only part of the problem.

                    0:09  "You could make childcare free for every family living in a rural community tomorrow, but that's not going to solve the access piece."

Peeks says the data underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that address both cost and availability simultaneously, which starts with addressing the workforce. She says inadequate staffing leads to program closures and causes less options and higher costs for families.