The Nonprofit Holiday Wish List: Seven local nonprofits share their needs

Doug Fierberg is there for people in their darkest hours, as they live out and process what often amounts to their worst nightmares.

Sometimes it's parents of young adults who died in hazing or other university-related incidents. Other times it’s the survivors of brutal sexual assaults in college or the families of mass shooting victims. In almost every instance, these people are dealing with major trauma while going up against powerful institutions with seemingly …

What does it cost to build an entry-level home in northern Michigan?

There’s no better person to answer that question than Bill Clous, who founded Eastwood Custom Homes along with his brother Ron in 1977. The better part of five decades later, Clous is still building houses, usually with an emphasis on affordability. Amidst the numerous market challenges facing builders in 2025 – inflation, labor shortages, tariffs, rising material costs and a high-demand local market …