Headwaters – Community Journalism for the Great Lakes

Over 200 demonstrators took to the streets and gathered in front of the Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Marquette to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street Campaign, an ongoing series of demonstrations that began in New York City. To learn more visit occupywallstreet.org.

by Al Gedicks – Should the state’s regulatory authority over the metallic mine permitting process be dramatically reduced to accommodate the wishes of a mining company to receive a permit in record time?

Less than a week after one Community Hand-UP leader, Lisa Johnson, received a community service award for her work in trying to reopen the KI Sawyer community…

The audience at a Marquette town hall meeting didn’t take well to Senator Tom Casperson’s support to cut school funding and wages, while lowering corporate taxes.

by Teresa Bertossi – To challenge Snyder’s new budget and recent bills, nearly 1200 workers and citizens from across the UP rallied on the Marquette courthouse steps.

by Gabriel Caplett – Rick Snyder’s plan to “reinvent Michigan” relies on standard thuggery: give tax breaks to wealthy companies and make everyone else pay to fix the state’s budget crisis.

As the loon returns to Headwaters country for the season, we thought readers would enjoy this video showcasing the loon’s haunting call.

by Gabriel Caplett – An EPA memo shows Dow Chemical gained unprecedented access to Governor Jennifer Granholm’s office, years before she joined the company’s board.

by Eartha Melzer – U.S. nuclear development, already slowed by a lack of private investment, seems likely to be further stalled by the political fallout from the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

by Gabriel Caplett – According to the Michigan regulators Rio Tinto’s “Sleepy Hollow” ore hauling route would limit impacts on water quality and may satisfy federal and state guidelines.

by Casey Duncan – The Wisconsin battle may decide whether our future is one of democracy, and social and environmental sustainability, or determined by the imperatives of multinational corporations.

by Alex Carlson – The direction our country takes is being decided right now, in Madison, and it will be decided on our determination to remain a truly democratic country.

A slideshow of Kit Larson photos from the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, in Minnesota.

Slideshow of the “budget repair bill” protests in Madison Wisconsin.

by Elanne Palcich – Minnesota Governor Dayton signed legislation streamlining the environmental review process for industry, a top priority of the new Republican-led legislature.

by Nancy Schuldt – Minnesota has permanently lost tens of thousands of acres of wild rice; there is no dispute among state and tribal resource managers this is a resource in crisis.

by Gabriel Caplett – The Michigan legislature has passed a series of bills that some are equating to a declaration of martial law.