2/03/2026

IRONWOOD - The Wolverine Snowshoe Challenge is underway, participants choose to snowshoe up to 6 trails at Wolverine, 10 k ski and/or one snowbike trail.  Snowshoe, ski or bike an entire trail, report the trails completed and your name will be put into a drawing for a door prize. The entire trail loop must be completed in a single day but you may complete different trails on different days. The 10 K ski may be done in parts and reported after all 10K have been completed.  There will be no timing.  The challenge runs until the end of the month.  A link to more details on our website and on the WUPM Facebook page. 

https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Ironwood/WolverineSnowshoeChallenge?fbclid=IwY2xjawPuzndleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlT1dqOTRvdlloR0JBYnJxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiu40hiTueZahX7jhgANC2hCvnK_vT4AKtExX_iP7kDFWzjbQF4fpK_6FiVi_aem_GiqljZs2wJe-LQQqYay3Aw

2/02/2026

VILAS COUNTY - A Vilas County home on Trails End Road near Land O’ Lakes was destroyed by a devastating overnight fire that started just before 1:00 a.m. Sunday.

Initially reported as a chimney fire, the blaze rapidly spread to the roof, resulting in a total loss despite a massive mutual aid effort. All occupants were able to evacuate safely without injury. The Land O’ Lakes, Conover, Boulder Junction, and Phelps Fire Departments, along with Land O Lakes EMS, WE Energy, and the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, responded. The cause is under investigation, but preliminary reports point to the chimney.

2/02/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - In Michigan, more than 530-thousand residents depend on Affordable Care Act marketplace plans – and advocates warn coverage is becoming harder to afford as enhanced federal tax credits expire. New enrollment data show fewer Michiganders signed up for coverage this year as premiums and deductibles rose for many individual plans.

                    0:15  "Husband and wife that live in Michigan, and their household income is $32,000 – and last year they were paying $88 dollars for their plan. And to renew the same plan, it was going to be $888 dollars. Can you imagine going from $88 to $888?"

Federal subsidies weren’t eliminated altogether, but that the enhanced credits added during the pandemic have expired.

Supporters of the changes say the shift is aimed at limiting federal spending and stabilizing insurance markets.