Inside a food pantry during its busy season

Nov 27, 2014
Traverse City, Michigan, is home to one of the state's largest food pantries. Here's how it's handling demand for its services.

What's happened since Detroit turned off delinquent residents' taps

Jul 28, 2014
Residents say they get less opportunity to negotiate when water shut-off looms.

Michigan's vineyards: Wine that survives the winter?

Jun 18, 2014
A new wine region is developing in less-than-Mediterranean Midwestern states.

Rural schools are struggling to keep the lights on

Jan 25, 2014
When rural families leave to search for better jobs, schools scramble to make cuts -- and may even shut down.

Washington brinkmanship aside, the real U.S. economy doesn't look too bad

Oct 9, 2013
In his travels for The Atlantic and Marketplace's American Futures project, Jim Fallows says the American economy in small cities and towns is doing all right.

One family rebuilds in northern Michigan

Jul 26, 2013
One Michigan mother describes the year she went "from broke to badass" on her northern Michigan farm.

Welfare caseworkers head to the factory

Jul 22, 2013
A factory in Michigan actually pays the state government to bring a public caseworker to the company to help its low-income workers.

For public good, not for profit.

Detroit deli owner on bankruptcy: 'It's a disease or cure scenario'

Jul 19, 2013
A small business owner shares his take on the bankruptcy and his hopes for Detroit's future.

Detroit bankruptcy: A long time coming?

Jul 18, 2013
Detroit has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, making it the largest city in U.S. history to do so.

Is the industrial Midwest gone forever?

Jun 18, 2013
The Midwest was once the industrial heartland of America -- in many towns, local businesses and high schools were completely integrated into the industrial life of the region.