Michigan history

An incoming state rep from West Michigan talked to us about his watershed year. Also, a look back at the Windsor AM station that defined the sound of the region. And, a basketball great talked to us about his new book on boxing history.

In 1931, revised state laws in Michigan outlawed games of chance with a monetary reward — including pinball.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula might not be the first spot you think of when someone says "volcano," but maybe it should be! Around 1.1 billion years ago, a rift volcano started producing massive amounts of lava in the region. That volcano (with the help of some glaciers around 10,000 years ago) formed some of the Upper Peninsula's most iconic landscapes — including Lake Superior!

A new statewide effort aims to shore up a critical part of our democracy: poll workers. Also, a look at the strange history of animal bounties in Michigan. And an answer to a very Michigan question: Is Superman ice cream from here?

The Petoskey stone shares a name with the Northern Michigan city, but its distribution—and the story it tells us about our state’s ancient history—is a lot bigger. On this episode of On Hand, we talk to a couple of rockhounding experts about how to find Petoskey stones and the stories they tell.

A Michigan Law professor explains how recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions strengthen the executive branch—and why that matters. Also, we travel back in time to 1776—and what Detroit looked like as America began to take shape as a nation. And, how the 1994 World Cup reshaped Americans' relationship to soccer.

How the Supreme Court’s recent decision to ban trans students from school sports will affect trans athletes in Michigan. Plus, a new documentary diving into Michigan’s history pre-statehood. And, the latest episode of It’s Just Politics.

Michigan is trying to keep the number of newly-certified teachers in the state on pace with teacher exits. Plus, why the Mackinac Bridge was a divisive topic before it was built. Last, the latest episode of On Hand digs into the history and culture of Southeast Michigan's "Mile Roads."

The "Mile Roads" of Southeast Michigan are a defining feature of metro Detroit. But what makes them so special?

A look at the workforce conditions in understaffed northern Michigan prisons. Plus, why Michigan was one of the earliest governments to abolish the death penalty.