Heed extreme cold and blizzard warnings for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Jan. 22-24, in UP counties

 From National Weather Service:

 Blizzard Warning
Issued: 5:12 PM Jan. 22, 2026 – National Weather Service

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations up to
two inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Keweenaw and Northern Houghton Counties.

* WHEN...Until 4 AM EST Friday, Jan. 23

* IMPACTS...Visibilities below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing
snow are expected. Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.

Extreme Cold Warning 

...EXTREME COLD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below expected tonight through Friday morning. Wind chills as low as 35 below expected Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.

* WHERE...Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette, Menominee, Gogebic, Keweenaw, Northern Houghton, Ontonagon, and Southern Houghton Counties.

* WHEN...From 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening to 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ Saturday, Jan. 24.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.

To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly.

Drain in-ground sprinkler systems and cover above ground pipes.

Local residents brave snow, cold to hold ICE OFF vigil, HANDS OFF VENEZUELA rally in Houghton

By Michele Bourdieu

On a cold and snowy Saturday, January 10, participants in the ICE OFF vigil join those rallying against the administration's policies in Venezuela on Shelden Avenue in Houghton, MI. More than 120 local residents held a vigil against ICE on street corners and then rallied near the Lift Bridge during the two-hour event. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

 

HOUGHTON -- Snow, wind and cold did not discourage more than 120 Keweenaw residents from joining together on street corners along Shelden Avenue in Houghton in a silent vigil, "ICE OFF," organized by Keweenaw Indivisible. Inspired by the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE "officer" in Minneapolis, the vigil was against the illegal and inhumane actions of federal ICE personnel who have attacked and kidnapped innocent people in U.S. cities. Many of the vigil participants then joined a rally, organized by Keweenaw Socialists, against the administration's aggression against Venezuela.*

 

"For a small, rural community, mobilizing 124 people in under two days says a lot about what we value as an Indivisible chapter and as a community," said Heather Mroz of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team. This wasn’t just about honoring Renee Good and holding space for grief, but about showing solidarity and calling for accountability. When the [ICE] agent’s own cellphone video was released, it showed information that didn’t match the government’s initial description and raised real questions about what happened. As a public educator, I know that if I were involved in a crisis where someone was hurt, there would be a thorough investigation. If I acted outside my training or approved procedures, my employer could be held accountable, and if I acted intentionally outside those boundaries, I could be personally liable. That must be the standard any time one person hurts another -- transparency and accountability.

 

Rich Caneves of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team wears flowers in honor of Renee Nicole Good. Joining him during the vigil is Doneva Snyder of Hancock. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Houghton resident Barry Fink also commented on her reason for attending the vigil.

 

"ICE agents are performing like fascist thugs, with no accountability for their actions," Fink said. "VP Hegseth thinks putting a man out on the street with a gun, who had a known history of trauma from a previous event with a vehicle thus making him 'trigger happy,' is okay.  He stated that agent is immune from legal consequences for his actions." 

 

Participants in the Jan. 10 vigil display their signs on street corners of Shelden Ave. in Houghton to convey the message, "Ice Off Our Streets." (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

William Keith, chair of the Houghton County Democratic Party, noted the turnout at the event was an inspiration and a first step toward action.

"It was inspiring to see so many people turning out on a snowy day to demand justice," Keith told Keweenaw Now. "No one in Houghton knew Renee Good, but we all know someone like her: a mom in a minivan, getting her kids to school, worried about her neighbors. When someone like her isn't safe from armed half-trained cowards thinking they're above the law, no one is. Coming together as we did Saturday is the first step in doing the best thing we can do: demanding accountability from our leaders and cleaning house of those that enabled all of this."

 

During the Jan. 10 vigil on Shelden Avenue in Houghton, Donna Cole, left, of Twin Lakes and Emily Fiala of Hancock, display signs inspired by Renee Good and the behavior of ICE in Minneapolis. (Photo by Keweenaw Now) 

On another corner of Shelden Avenue in Houghton, a group of participants in the Jan, 10 vigil protest peacefully with their signs against ICE. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

 

"It was affirmative to be gathered with kind and caring people in the Keweenaw," said Becky Darling of Chassell. "We can never give up. Say her name, she did not die in vain. Renee Nicole Hope Good. Saturday was healing and we have a long way toward recovery." 

 

Becky Darling of Chassell displays her sign during the vigil. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

During the vigil, Beth Flynn of Hancock Township also commented on Renee Good's innocence.

"ICE agent Jonathan Ross’s video of his encounter with his victim, Renee Good, makes clear that she meant him no harm ( she says that), but his response, 'Bitch,' makes clear that he paid no attention to her words and expressed his anger by shooting her in the face," Flynn noted. "Ross is here to protect us? He is supposed to make us feel safer? He is obviously a menace to our communities and should be indicted for his crime." 

Standing on the corner with Beth Flynn was Valorie Troesch of Keweenaw Indivisible, organizers of the vigil.

 

"This is a sad and sober event to remember a tragedy that should not have happened and to mourn the death of a person who should not have been killed," Troesch said. "We have crossed the threshold into autocracy. The guardrails we always assumed would be there to backstop an authoritarian administration -- Congress, the Supreme Court, the mainstream media -- have failed us. As far as I can see, there are two bulwarks remaining: (1) our power to gather here, though not without fear, and protest the hellscape that Trump is unleashing and make our voices heard, and (2) an independent digital media that continues to report and to oppose this fascist regime, often at personal risk as well. Whether or not the third bulwark, free and fair elections, will hold remains to be seen. I am gratified by all those who came today. In the face of all that is going on, we must continue to show up and to speak up and to not give up."

Valorie Troesch, left, and Beth Flynn stand together in honor of ICE victim Renee Nicole Good during the Jan. 10 vigil in Houghton. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Carol Ekstrom of Houghton had a brief, but poignant, comment to add during the vigil.

"ICE under the present administration does not belong in this country. Melt it out," Carol said. 

Carol Ekstrom, accompanied by her husband, Peter Ekstrom, braves the cold and snow to participate in the vigil. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Nadija Packauskas of Houghton distributes red roses to participants of the vigil in honor of Renee Good. Nadija said she was inspired by the following poem to remember Renee in this way. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Poem courtesy Nadija Packauskas. 

Many of the vigil participants remained to join the rally in defense of Venezuela, organized by Keweenaw Socialists, at the end of Shelden Avenue near the Portage Lift Bridge.

On Saturday afternoon, Jan. 10, Local Keweenaw residents rally together peacefully in opposition to the administration's aggression against Venezuela. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Griffin, a member of Keweenaw Socialists, spoke at the rally, connecting the U.S. violence against Venezuela with the violent behavior of ICE toward innocent people.

"It's important to remember that the violence we have seen perpetrated against Venezuela by the United State military this past week and the violence we are continuing to see perpetrated by ICE against the American people are connected," Griffin commented to Keweenaw Now. "Fascism is imperialism turned inwards. The violence wielded against us here in the imperial core was crafted and honed repressing the imperial periphery. Both must be resisted and resistance to both is part of the same fight."

Joan Chadde, a local community member, also expressed her concerns about both the ICE issue and Venezuela.

"I am very concerned about what is happening," Chadde said. "Our country has attacked Venezuela without declaring war or getting congressional approval and killed more than 300 Venezuelans. The Administration has spent more than $800 million on actions against Venezuela in the past year, while cutting food assistance and healthcare funding for U.S. citizens, including treatment for those impacted by drugs. The killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents sent by our government is absolutely frightening! There are more than 125 people protesting today. That could've happened to one of us, if we were in Minneapolis." 

Joan Chadde exhibits her sign during the Jan. 10 vigil and rally in Houghton. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Alan Salmi of Hancock also participated in both the vigil and the rally.

"When over a hundred people gather silently in a rural community, it’s a sign that awareness is growing and that concern about ICE violence and U.S. actions in Venezuela reaches far beyond big cities," Salmi noted.

Participants in the Jan. 10 rally concerning Venezuela chant, "Hands off Venezuela!" (Video by Keweenaw Now) 

Some residents traveled a good distance from Keweenaw County to Houghton to participate in the Jan. 10 vigil and rally.

Sam Raymond of Copper Harbor displays a quote from George Orwell during the Jan. 10 vigil in Houghton. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Jean Ellis of Eagle Harbor asked a question and found an answer to why she joined the vigil against ICE.

"What’s the point of standing ankle deep in snow, holding a sign while your fingers freeze?" Ellis asked. "Wouldn’t it be better to just keep your opinions to yourself rather than risk offending someone who doesn’t agree with you?  

"The answer to that comes loud and clear from German Pastor Martin Niemoller, regarding the Nazi rise to power:  

'First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -- 
     Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out --
     Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.'"

Ellis concludes, "Speaking out or, in the case of demonstrations, standing up is not always comfortable. But as each person stands up, another may be encouraged to do the same. When Constitutional rights are violated, people must stand up and speak out. And in the case of the demonstrations against ICE, ironically, there was the added challenge of having to do that in the cold and snow."  

Jean Ellis drove from Eagle Harbor to join the vigil in Houghton. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Keweenaw resident Michael Gage posted on Facebook his reaction to the Jan. 10 vigil and rally.

"People, Hello we need to Wake up!! This is not American!" Gage wrote. "This is not making America great, at all. We don't need dictator Trump and his little army of federal law enforcement scaring and bullying people! We the people will not stand for this and other illegal things, like stealing oil from Venezuela."

*Editor's Note: 

Vigil organizer Keweenaw Indivisible (KI) organizes, mobilizes, and empowers the Copper Country to challenge corruption, defend democracy, and support those most harmed by regressive political agendas. Learn more about their work and how to join at linktr.ee/KeweenawIndivisible.

Keweenaw Socialists, organizers of the Hands Off Venezuela rally, are dedicated to promoting socialist ideas, engaging in mutual aid and disaster relief, and organizing community defense against the threats of fascism and white supremacy in the Keweenaw Peninsula community. They believe that a better world made by and for working people is both possible and necessary. To learn more about them and their positions on these recent events, visit https://keweenawsocialists.org/

Guest article: Reindeer in Iceland

By Nancy Langston*

"Reindeer and lichen in Iceland." (Original linocut print, © and courtesy Nancy Langston. 2024.)

In September 2023, while I was hiking under the cliffs that rise steeply above Stöðvarfjörður in east Iceland, a herd of animals drifted down the mountainside towards me. At first, I thought they were sheep, which outnumber people in Iceland two to one. But as they came closer, I saw their antlers. Reindeer! Stifling my yelp of joy, I dropped behind a rock outcropping and peered at the herd through my binoculars, scribbling notes on individual movements and snapping photographs. Eventually one female lifted her head from the lichen, snorted in my direction, then trotted back toward the protection of the cliffs. The rest of the herd took her cue, and soon they were scrambling back up the mountain, taking a route far too challenging for me to attempt.

This was my third research trip to Iceland, and I was thrilled that reindeer had finally graced me with their presence. Most visitors to east Iceland who glimpse reindeer assume they are completely wild creatures, an emblem of untouched wilderness free from human intervention. But the reindeer in Iceland are just the opposite: their histories are profoundly entangled with human settlement histories. Icelandic reindeer descend from those introduced from Europe in the 1770s by the country’s elite Danish rulers, the world’s first reindeer translocation. More than 250 years later, reindeer now roam freely, wintering along east Iceland’s fjords and migrating up into the highlands during summer, far from roads. No predators threaten their migrations, so wildlife managers carefully control permits for an annual hunt, trying to prevent overgrazing. Iceland’s reindeer speak to us not of untouched primordial wilderness, but instead of the complex historical relationships between humans and reindeer that still influence modern conservation.

Reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are members of the same species, whose current ranges stretch across the circumpolar Arctic from North America to Eurasia. Members of the deer family, reindeer thrive in a variety of habitats. They are a migratory species, with some populations migrating vast distances across treeless Arctic tundra, making the longest annual migrations of any land mammal. Other populations have evolved shorter migrations in forests or on islands. These diverse migration strategies have been key to their resilience over thousands of years.

Reindeer are excellent swimmers and often migrate across water. (Linocut print, © and courtesy Nancy Langston)

But migration is harder than it used to be. Habitat loss, climate change, and infrastructure development have blocked many wildlife migration routes. Reindeer and caribou have retreated from roughly half their 19th century range, and their populations have dropped by 56 percent in the past decade (although some populations are expanding).

One reason to care about reindeer responses to climate change is that they may be crucial partners in the efforts to keep civilization from crossing key Arctic tipping points. Tipping points in climate models are critical thresholds that, if crossed, can lead to self-perpetuating, runaway warming in an ecosystem. Reindeer browsing can reduce the process of "shrubification" in the Arctic -- a positive feedback loop wherein heat-absorbing shrubs expand across the tundra as climates warm. As reindeer populations have declined in some sites, heat-absorbing shrubs have increased and heat-reflecting grasses decreased, leading to more warming. Ecologists fear that if this warming diminishes the reindeer’s ability to persist, it could unleash a domino effect of runaway warming. Translocation, however, may offer a way to help them persist.

Translocation of wildlife is nothing new. The first effort to move reindeer actually took place two and half centuries ago, when the ecological and social disruptions of the Little Ice Age led Danish rulers of Iceland to fear starvation among the island’s settlers. The Little Ice Age had hit Iceland hard, and settlers who had relied upon sheep herding struggled to survive. This problem was made worse by new sheep varieties imported from England that proved susceptible to scabies. The Danes tried to substitute reindeer as protein sources, calculating that if the reindeer could survive in the European tundra, surely they could survive in Iceland.

Snowy owls have protected reindeer migrations across the north, because wind project developments that might block reindeer migrations can be moved when they might harm snowy owl habitat. (Linocut print, © and courtesy Nancy Langston)

Initial efforts to move reindeer into Iceland in the 1770s failed; even without native Icelandic predators, the reindeer managed to fall off cliffs, stumble into boiling geysers, and get lost in lava fields. Finally, in 1787 a translocation of 35 reindeer from Finnmark met with more success (at least from the reindeer’s perspective). Descendants of those stragglers form the basis of Iceland’s current free-ranging herd. Rather than dying off like other introduced herds, they expanded rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century. Despite the genetic challenges associated with a tiny founding population estimated at 15 individuals, the population reached a size of about 6,000 to 7000 individuals. Because there are no native predators in Iceland, now regulated hunts and cars are the main sources of mortality. 

Northern gannets are now nesting in great numbers on Skrúður Island in eastern Iceland, thanks to successful conservation programs. (Linocut print, © and courtesy Nancy Langston)

What is the potential future for reindeer in Iceland? Climate change has brought dramatic changes to the region, as has hydropower development, which currently supplies 92 percent of Iceland’s energy production. Floods, landslides, and winter icing events have become more common. Winter ice can prevent reindeer from foraging lichen. But at least so far, Iceland’s reindeer appear to be surprisingly resilient and adaptable. When winter pastures ice over, some individuals starve, but others initiate new migrations, exploring new pastures and selecting new foods such as seaweed. Icelandic farmers long hated the reindeer, because they weren’t allowed to hunt them, but in recent decades, reindeer and locals have managed to co-exist in a rapidly warming Iceland.

Nancy Langston demonstrates the process for creating a linocut print during the 49th Annual Poor Artists Sale at the CLK Gymnasium in Calumet on Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

*Editor's Note:

Nancy Langston, author of this article and linocut artist, is Board President of The Keweenaw Land Trust and Distinguished Professor Emerita of Environmental History, Michigan Technological University. Trained as an ornithologist, Nancy Langston's academic research in the past two decades has explored the ecological histories of wildlife in northern ecosystems. She is the author of six books on reindeer, Lake Superior, toxics, climate change, and old growth forests. To read more about Nancy and her linocut prints, visit her Web site, https://www.nancylangston.net/

Proposed resolution on two sexes attracts hundreds to Houghton County Commission Meeting

By Michele Bourdieu*

More than 100 local residents fill the courtroom at the Houghton County Courthouse for the Dec. 9, 2025, Houghton County Commission meeting to discuss a proposed resolution on two sexes added to the agenda at the last minute. (Photo © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson)

HOUGHTON -- Hundreds of Houghton County residents and some visitors filled the large courtroom beyond allowed fire capacity at the Houghton County Courthouse the evening of December 9, 2025. For safety reasons, at a request by County Sheriff Saarinen, many had to leave voluntarily to attend via Zoom in a smaller room or to wait in the hall for a chance to make public comments on a proposed resolution "To Declare There Are Only Two Sexes."**

According to a report by Houghton resident Craig Waddell, the meeting attracted 350 people attending in person, 88 of whom spoke, and another 400 people on Zoom, 27 of whom spoke. League of Women Voters of the Copper Country President Faith Morrison said 88 percent of the comments were in opposition to the resolution.

During the hour preceding the 6 p.m. meeting, a large crowd gathered for a rally with signs and chants outside the Courthouse. 

Between 5 and 6 p.m. a large crowd gathered outside the Courthouse to rally against the resolution on two sexes. (Photo © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson)

Keweenaw Indivisible and other local groups organized the rally and encouraged people to display their signs and banners and to demonstrate peacefully before the meeting.

Preceding the Houghton County Commission meeting of Dec. 9, 2025, a crowd gathers in front of the Houghton County Courthouse in Houghton, MI, to rally against a proposed resolution that there are only two sexes. (Video © John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

Rich Canevez of Keweenaw Indivisible welcomes the crowd outside the Courthouse. Bill Fink leads the group in chants, including "Two, four, six, eight -- ain't no room in our town for hate!" and "Hey Hey, Ho Ho! This resolution is a NO!" (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Bill Fink of Keweenaw Indivisible spoke briefly to Keweenaw Now of the reason for opposing the resolution.

Bill Fink tells Keweenaw Now the proposed resolution is based on hate. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

One visitor who came all the way from Marquette to attend the meeting was Marissa Jayne Wolfe, an activist who transitioned from male to female in 2009 and faced discrimination and hatred at work and in housing and had to fight for the right to see her child. She spoke at the meeting about her experiences, her eventual membership in U.P. Rainbow Pride and her role in bringing pride fest to Marquette. Marissa was also responsible for changes to Michigan State law after a business owner in Marquette used religion as an excuse to discriminate against her.

Marissa Jayne Wolfe displays her flag during the Dec. 9 rally in front of the Houghton County Courthouse preceding the County Commissioners' meeting. The flag shows "there are more than two genders, more than two races and more than two ways to love someone," Marissa says. (Photo © John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)

"I reported this business to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights," she said. "My case went through the Michigan Supreme Court, and as a result in 2023 Michigan's 1976 Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act was amended to include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Many people do not know this but the amendment to the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act also means that you can no longer use religion as an excuse to justify your bigotry in Michigan."

Thus, Houghton County's proposed Resolution on two sexes is in violation of Michigan State Law, Marissa noted.

At the rally preceding the Houghton County Commissioners' Dec. 9, 2025, meeting, Marquette activist Marissa Jayne Wolfe speaks with Keweenaw Now on her work to change Michigan State law. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

One of the first people to comment in the courtroom was Dr. Shelby Owens, a Hancock physician and scientist, who pointed out the unscientific statements in the resolution concerning X and Y chromosomes.

During the public comment period at the Dec. 9, 2025, Houghton County Commission meeting, Dr. Shelby Owens, a local physician and scientist, points out the unscientific statements about two sexes and chromosomes in the proposed resolution under discussion. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Mariah Dunham, educator and coach, spoke with emotion about one of her trans students who took her own life at the age of 13.

During the public comments on the proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes, Mariah Dunham, an educator and coach, relates her experience as a high school teacher losing a trans student to suicide. (Video by Keweenaw Now) 

Alan Salmi of Hancock, who worked as a medical social worker for many years, gave an example of a woman with an intersex condition who was forced to have surgery against her will.

Alan Salmi of Hancock speaks about the suffering of a woman who had an intersex condition that her parents wished to conceal. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

A local resident who commented on the kindness of neighbors in the Copper Country said she was unfortunately embarrassed by the bigotry behind this proposed resolution.

A local resident expresses embarrassment at the "religious" bigotry behind a proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes -- especially at Christmastime. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

A speaker concerned about local mental health services reminds the County commissioners that problems with administration of those services should have priority over the proposed resolution.

This resident expresses concern for the crisis in mental health services in Houghton County and tells commissioners this should be a priority, not the resolution that only two sexes be listed on official forms. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

One original comment for the commissioners referred to the economic impact of the proposed resolution.

A speaker challenges the commissioners to think about the economic impact the proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes could have on the county. She gives the example of the "Bathroom Bill" in North Carolina. (Video © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson)

A few comments expressed support for the proposed resolution. 

One comment on "common sense" received audience reaction.

A Houghton County resident who favors the proposed resolution on two sexes proposed at the Dec. 9, 2025, Houghton County Commission meeting asks commissioners to vote in favor of the resolution so he, as a constituent, can vote for something he feels is "common sense." Some members of the audience in the courtroom laughed at that statement, but he ignored their ridicule. One commissioner then reminded the audience to refrain from laughing out of respect. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

In his report on the meeting, Craig Waddell noted several ordained ministers commented on the resolution -- some for and some against.

"Christians speaking in opposition to the resolution identified themselves as Lutheran, Episcopal, Unitarian, Methodist, and Presbyterian/Congregationalist (Portage Lake United Church)," Waddell said.

Peter Norland, pastor since 2018 of Portage Lake United Church, an ecumenical congregation, spoke against the resolution. The Portage Lake United Church welcomes LBGTQIA+ people through More Light Presbyterians' mission to celebrate the lives, gifts and leadership of LBGTQIA+ people. 

Bucky Beach -- who has worked as a chaplain for students at Suomi College and Michigan Tech, has been a Lutheran pastor and now is a guest minister at the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, an ecumenical group that welcomes LBGTQ+ people -- also spoke in opposition to the resolution.

Bucky Beach speaks during the comment period of the Dec. 9, 2025, Houghton County Commission meeting. (Screenshot © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson) 

"The more people on a gender fluid scale you talk to and befriend and give birth to, listening to their experiences, the more you understand and the more you learn how cruel and discriminatory it is to deny them their reality," Bucky said. "It's not our right to define who anyone is, especially given new research and education in matters of science and religion."

Waddell said those speaking in support of the resolution appealed primarily to literal reading of the Bible, especially Genesis.

"For the most part, they did not identify themselves by any particular Christian denomination," Waddell added. "However, based on what they did say, I believe that at least three different Christian denominations were represented, including by at least two ministers."

Christian Pastor Ivan Niemela claimed to care about a person in his family who identifies as non-binary. While he expressed concern for that person and similar persons who have suffered cruelty, he still asked the commissioners to approve the resolution on two sexes.

"We should be supporting these people and getting them the help that they need instead of affirming them in their unreality," Niemela stated. 

He was accompanied by his young son, who read some quotes from the Bible. 

In his comments on the speakers, Waddell noted also, "Several people recommended 'conversion therapy' (without calling it that), which the Human Rights Campaign describes as 'a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression'"(See "The Lies and Dangers of Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity").

Kyleigh Pemble, a Houghton High School junior, said she was embarrassed to be related to Joel Keranen, the commissioner who proposed the resolution on two sexes.

Kyleigh Pemble speaks out in defense of her trans friend Matteo during the Dec. 9, 2025, Houghton County Commission meeting, where the majority of public comments opposed a proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Kyleigh's best friend, Matteo Gonzcuez, followed up her comments by telling the commissioners how trans students suffer silencing and cruelty because of their gender.

Matteo Gonzcuez, a 17-year-old trans high school student, speaks in opposition to the proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes. He calls for treating both intersex and trans people with acceptance and kindness rather than discriminating against them unjustly. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

In his own comments to the commissioners, Craig Waddell cited the following from a 2000 article in the American Journal of Human Biology ("How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis"): "We surveyed the medical literature from 1955 to the present for studies of the frequency of deviation from the 'ideal' male or female. We conclude that this frequency may be as high as 2 percent of live births."  [Emphasis added.]***

Waddell added, "Given that Houghton County has a population of approximately 38,000, that suggests that about 760 people in the county do not fall into these two neat categories."

He also pointed out these statistics: Whereas about 2 percent of U.S. adults have attempted suicide, approximately 41 percent of transgender people have attempted suicide at some point in their life. That rate increases

• to 51 percent for those bullied or harassed in school, 
• to 55 percent for those who recently lost a job due to bias
• to 61 percent for those who were victims of physical assault, and 
• to 64 percent for those who were victims of sexual assault.****

Under Ethics, Waddell noted the Golden Rule: "The foundation of Judeo-Christian ethics -- as well as many other religious and secular systems of ethics -- is the principal of reversibility:  How would we act or how would we want others to act if the situation were reversed?"

And among several examples he cited this familiar one:  Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  (Matthew 7:12)

Victoria Bergvall, Houghton resident and professor emerita of Linguistics retired from Michigan Tech, told the commissioners she was shocked to see the resolution on two sexes on the meeting agenda. She said she has been researching language and the power of discourse over the last 45 years, since her PhD work at Harvard and MIT -- and she has focused on "how scientists and the public discuss and understand issues of sex, gender, sexuality, especially in the mind and brain."

Bergvall, who has studied "Speech Act" theory, which considers how we can, in some cases, bring certain things into being by making declarations, said the proposed resolution reminded her of the story of King Canute. He stood on the shore of England and ordered the waves to halt, but discovered his words would not halt the waves.

"The act of declaring that there are only two sexes is NOT a speech act that this county commission has the authority to enact," Bergvall said. "Biology, like Canute’s recognition of those inexorable waves, is a force that exceeds the power of speech acts."

Bergvall then repeated what others at the meeting had pointed out: "Medical and scientific advances over the last century have shown that there are more than two chromosome expressions: not just XX and XY, but also XXX and XXY, amid a spectrum of human sexual variations." (Ainsworth, 2015)*****  

Science can thus explain why we have intersex and trans people who are non-binary.

This sign displayed outside the courthouse before the meeting expresses the importance of a scientific point of view. (Photo © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson)

"Unfortunately, humans are all too good at another kind of language -- using words to separate 'us' from 'them': to exclude or render as 'other' those who don’t fit neat categories, often erasing their humanity," Bergvall added. "However, we can also use the power of language to show compassion and empathy, to include rather than erase."

Her final challenge to the commissioners was this: "Which do you want to be: the willful linguistic excluders and deniers of actual biological forces and people, or those who build a circle to encompass all humans? I know where I wish to stand."

The Dec. 9 meeting finally concluded at 12:20 a.m., but Commissioner Tom Tikkanen asked for a motion to bring the resolution to a vote before that.******

Late on the evening of Dec. 9, 2025, the Houghton County Commissioners vote on the proposed resolution stating there are only two sexes. The vote is 4 to 1 opposing the resolution. The one commissioner who voted "yes," Joel Keranen, was also the one who introduced it to the agenda at the last minute. The majority of public comments by people attending in person or on Zoom were opposed to the resolution. (Video © and courtesy Adɐm Johnson)

Notes: 

* Keweenaw Now wishes to thank those who contributed photos, videos and comments to this article.

** For the text of the resolution "To Declare There Are Only Two Sexes," CLICK HERE for the meeting packet and scroll down to p. 14.

*** See also "Biological sex is not as simple as male or female: Defining sex as a binary excludes many biological realities, scientists say," Tina Hesman Saey, Science News, February 20, 2025.

**** (See "Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey: Executive Summary," (December 2016).

****** CLICK HERE for information on the Houghton County Board of Commissioners and their meetings.

New Report: Michigan taxpayers on hook for billions while Enbridge profits from proposed tunnel

From: Oil and Water Don't Mix

Poster courtesy Oil and Water Don't Mix.

Oil and Water Don't Mix just released a comprehensive analysis (read the report) showing how Enbridge's proposed Line 5 tunnel puts Michigan taxpayers at catastrophic risk while the company dodges liability and keeps the profits. This new report exposes the scam. Governor Whitmer and EGLE Director Roos can still stop it.

The Bottom Line:

•  Michigan will own the tunnel and inherit massive liability
•  Enbridge's insurance covers less than 4 percent of potential damages
•  Worst-case costs could exceed $45 billion
•  The "watchdog" agency was designed to partner with Enbridge, not protect taxpayers
•  No comprehensive review has been completed

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warns that the tunnel isn't watertight. Technical analysis classifies it as "potentially gassy," meaning it could explode. And Michigan's own Attorney General and DNR have issued explicit warnings about the financial risks that are being ignored.

This decision is happening NOW. Governor Whitmer's administration must decide whether to approve Enbridge's tunnel permit. 

Take Action Now: 

Tell Governor Whitmer and EGLE Director Roos: Protect Taxpayers, Deny the Permit. Decision-makers need to hear from people right now. Send a message demanding they 

• complete a comprehensive review before any decision,
• address the Attorney General and DNR's warnings about taxpayer liability,
• reject a deal that puts billions at risk for Michigan families while Enbridge profits.

CLICK HERE to send the email as written or add your own thoughts.

READ MORE about the red flags concerning the proposed Line 5 tunnel from Brian O’Mara, a geological engineer and 30-year veteran of tunnel projects, and Mike Wilczynski, who has more than 40 years of geological and environmental experience.

"No Kings 2.0" event in Houghton attracts 850 peaceful participants supporting American principles

By Valorie Troesch*

Hundreds of participants in the October 18, 2025, "No Kings 2.0" rally and march line the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton, Mich. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible)

On October 18, 2025, some 850 people gathered on a warm sunny autumn day in the Copper Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula to celebrate the absence of kings in America and to affirm the principles of the United States Constitution.

Nationally and across the world, over 7 million people attended more than 2,700 "No Kings" events. Their message was this: "America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people."

"No Kings 2.0" was organized by Indivisible nationally and by Keweenaw Indivisible locally in the Copper Country. Keweenaw Indivisible is a grassroots social movement fighting for progressive values. It is committed to building community and taking tangible action to support our families, friends, and neighbors.

When I arrived home after the event, my husband, who had been livestreaming the march across the Portage Lift Bridge via the Michigan Tech Webcam, announced that he’d never seen so many people on the bridge at one time. Watching hundreds of people amass on the bridge was indeed impressive. Being there in person was to witness and to participate in acts of both resistance and hope.

People gathered at Bridgeview Park in Houghton at Noon on Saturday, Oct. 18. They were welcomed by a member of the Keweenaw Indivisible leadership team, Rich Canevez, assistant professor of Communication, Culture, and Media in the Humanities Department at Michigan Tech. He led the crowd in loud shouts of "No Kings!" intended to be heard as far away as Calumet and reported to be heard at least across the canal at Takka Saunas in Hancock. Mariah Durham -- a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and former Michigan Tech women’s basketball coach, now teaching K-12 Physical Education and Health, next fired up the crowd with a series of chants apropos of the "No Kings" message.

Rich Canevez of Keweenaw Indivisible (center in blue vest) welcomes the crowd at Bridgeview Park and leads them in loud shouts of "No Kings!" (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible) 

Sandy Vaupel was the first speaker. Sandy is an active member of Keweenaw Indivisible. She volunteered to speak at the No Kings event because, in spite of her reluctance to publicly address a crowd, she believed she had a relevant message to share.

Sandy began her talk with this: "I’m here because of something Jack Bergman said. He has a problem with protesters because, he says, we only say what we are against, not what we are for. So, I made a list of things I am for, things about America we need to preserve and protect."

And then Sandy realized she was onto something: "In the run up to No Kings 2, I realized that my little essay really fit into the desired message for the event -- a mainly positive message -- so I volunteered to speak. Though no more eager than anyone to speak to an audience, I knew I had to serve the message and that it would give me strength."

Sandy Vaupel of Keweenaw Indivisible speaks about things in America she is for preserving and protecting. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible)

Sandy’s message was exactly what we all needed to hear as we started our No Kings event because it encapsulated the essence of why we were there and what we value about our country. Some of the things Sandy said we must preserve and protect are an executive government that is constrained by a robust system of checks and balances, due process, the right of people to peaceably assemble, human dignity, fair wages and safe working conditions, the right to organize, the planet, the underdog (the people of Ukraine and Gaza today), and bipartisanship.

The second speaker was Kiko Silvelet, who was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He came to the US at the age of 15 and later studied engineering at Michigan Tech. Kiko became a U.S. citizen and now works as a research engineer at Michigan Tech in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is also an active volunteer with the Copper Dog 150.

Kiko covered a lot of ground in his speech. He began by saying that he was conflicted about speaking at the march. He was concerned about the potential for violence in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s killing and, because he has friends "across the board," he didn’t want to risk those friendships. He also warned that what he would say might be controversial.

Kiko Silvelet addresses the crowd gathered at the "No Kings 2.0" rally on Oct. 18. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible) 

Kiko said that he judges everything through his "Brazilian filter" -- how would he feel if this were happening in Brazil, how would he act and what does it really mean? He said that the real problem in America is not left versus right but rather class disparity. He admonished us that we cannot complain about corporations funding politicians when we continue to buy their stuff or invest in their stock -- something he does not say we should abandon but must be aware of. Quoting the Industrial Workers of the World, Kiko called for a nationwide general strike of workers, direct action that would "break the legs" of the oligarchs.

Kiko’s closing point was one of hope and optimism. He said that he no longer reads or listens to the news. In his words, "this is just a storm, and spring will come." He noted the United States is young and current events are just part of the process. He said, "the day that everyone agrees is the day that no one is thinking." Kiko asked everyone to think about the meaning of No Kings and advised us to mingle and to make friends with people we don’t agree with. And he advised us to push gently because pushing hard will create even harder pushback. His final words were these: "To resist despair is what it is to be truly free."

Pastor Bucky Beach was the third and final speaker. Bucky is well known to us as the chaplain at Finlandia University (formerly Suomi College), the pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and faculty at Michigan Tech. He is retired but remains engaged in the faith community. Bucky began by recounting the phrase he typed repeatedly when he was learning to type: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their land." Now is that time, he said, to come to the aid of our land and all lands in this world.

Pastor Bucky Beach calls for unity, moral debate and local action to protect our shared world. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible) 

Bucky referenced the recent People of the Heart Water Walk -- a 3-day event including both Native and non-Native participants, led by Indigenous leaders and concluding on Indigenous Peoples' Day -- as a symbolic connection. "Connection" is never guaranteed and is what brought everyone together on No Kings Day. 

"We come from many places but our action begins right here in the Copper Country," Bucky said. "We are united in standing up to protect our world, we are united in standing up to protect those we care about and love, especially those who are vulnerable, but even advocating for the rights and protection of those with whom we disagree. Like it or not, we hold all of this together, and that is a sacred covenant that we share." 

Bucky spoke about democracy and the proclamation that it is self-evident as ideas that become manifest only if we are committed to making those ideas a reality in the political, social, economic, and religious institutions that we create.

"If we are going to talk about religion and politics in the public square, we need to have a real moral debate and conversation about religious and political and policy violence being contrary to American and religious values," Bucky stated. "We’ve got work to do."

That work includes not only showing up for No Kings Day, but listening to each other and being humble enough to recognize our common humanity -- and learning to be a neighbor to someone we might not agree with, he explained.

Hundreds of local residents and visitors gather at Bridgeview Park in Houghton for the "No Kings 2.0" event on Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Indivisible)

By all accounts, 850 plus people is a record turnout for any protest in the Copper Country. Why did they come?

Members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, along with their national League of Women Voters organization, joined "No Kings 2.0" as an official non-partisan partner to stand in solidarity with partners and oppose hate and authoritarianism.

According to Mary Marchaterre, treasurer of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, "The League has consistently and boldly spoken up in the face of rising authoritarianism." 

Members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country display their posters during the Oct. 18 "No Kings 2.0" rally in Houghton. Pictured here, from left, are Fredi deYampert, Kristina Owen, Barry Fink, Vicky Bergvall, Mary Marchaterre, and David Nitz. (Photo courtesy Mary Marchaterre)

The common cause -- that America has no kings and will not tolerate authoritarianism -- was shared by everyone I spoke with. 

"I had to be at the No Kings walk because so many of our democracy safeguards are being removed," said Ruth Gleckler, retired military and community volunteer. "It was a beautiful day to walk across the bridge and be with people who care about our country enough to be there."

Amy Weekley, a member of Keweenaw Indivisible, said: "I attended the No Kings demonstration because I am appalled by this administration’s complete disregard for the rule of law and for our Constitution. I, like many Americans, am desperate for a return to checks and balances rather than hyper-partisan pandering….As a country, we are better than this. We need to care about each other. We need to help each other. None of us is free until all of us are free."

Amy Hjerstedt attended with her 13-year-old son (and their dog). She explained their reason for being here: "The No Kings rally’s message is something most Americans can get behind. Harkening back to our collective power to resist rule by one powerful person, I could feel our local people attempt to stand together to push back in a joyful, artistic assemblage."

Carol MacLennan, professor emeritus of Anthropology at Michigan Tech, was in Marquette and initially planned to join the rally there, but she instead drove back to Houghton on Saturday morning in order to be with people she knew.

"I believe that these nation-wide marches are one of the best ways to express an opinion on the current state of our nation," Carol said. "I found myself inspired again to do the work it takes to keep democracy intact: pay attention, do what I can to help out on local initiatives, talk with others who think differently, explore new strategies and possibilities for effective vigilance with friends."

Craig Waddell, emeritus professor of Rhetoric at Michigan Tech, provided some basic history against the backdrop of the No Kings Day march: "The 'No Kings' principle goes back to the founding of our country and the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution, including Articles I and II, which separate the powers of Congress and the president. As James Madison -- our fourth president and the principal author of our Constitution -- wrote, 'The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands . . . may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.'" (The Federalist Papers, No. 47, 1788).

Craig explained the current context of what happens when the nation -- supported by a United States Supreme Court decision -- rejects the separation of powers in favor of a unitary all-powerful executive: "This is why, in her dissenting opinion on the Supreme Court’s July 1, 2024, 6-3 vote on Trump v. United States (on presidential immunity from criminal prosecution), Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, 'The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the [Court majority’s] reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. . . . The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.'"

In addition to resisting authoritarianism and supporting democracy, attendees also said that it was important to be among other people in an atmosphere of unity, joy, and hope.

Again from Amy Weekley: "The demonstration was such a lovely display of unity, joy, and hope. It was so nice to be there with hundreds of other people who want for us to be better as a country, and the honks and thumbs up from so many passing cars were really uplifting. It made me feel less alone."

Steve Blackburn, communications vice-chair for the local Houghton County Democratic Party, said this of his experience: "As a first timer at one of these rallies, it reminded me of the enthusiasm and energy I saw for Kamala and Tim at the rallies they held last fall. Not only enthusiasm but more importantly joy. People were in good spirits and peaceful. There were large American flags being carried about, and I saw many patriotic slogans on signs among the crowd. I don’t know where Speaker Johnson got his information from about who would show up for these rallies, but he clearly did not know what he was talking about. I spent my time on the bridge smiling and waving enthusiastically at every passing car, and I did my best to catch the eye of the drivers and passengers. MANY gave thumbs up and smiled or waved back. A few tried their darndest to ignore me. One young man gave me the bird. I consider that to be my 'informal survey' of the support of the rally, and I have to say it was very positive."

Commenting after the event, Sandy Vaupel said, "As far as how I felt, I am always amazed at how emotional I get when at an event, and that emotion is mainly awe. It was a privilege to share a stage (of sorts) with the two inspirational speakers there. I am in awe of, and grateful to, those who sacrifice so much to organize these events. I really appreciate all the people who gave up a big part of their Saturday to participate, and even those who bother to honk their horns in support. It feels like family, only bigger and better."

Displaying their signs and flags to oncoming traffic, participants in the "No Kings 2.0" march line the Portage Lift Bridge in a peaceful demonstration. (Photo © and courtesy Tiff DeGroot)

What’s next after this second No Kings March? What do attendees expect and what do they want to happen now?

Steve Blackburn made this local observation: "Even in a county like ours that turned out for Trump last November, the dissatisfaction with his administration is very palpable." 

Amy Weekley added, "I hope that as we move forward, we can turn this momentum into action and change. Our numbers grow at each of these events, and we are all hungry for an action plan to effect change. We need to keep pushing forward!"

Amy Hjerstedt endorsed an action advocated by Kiko Silvelet: "One of the speakers explained how our real resistance will be felt when we use our purchasing power. Trump and politicians will pay attention to our demands when we band together to stop buying and working on the same day(s). While rallies are fun for us and they bring a little awareness for the day, the resistance is felt when we stop supporting businesses that support the status quo, stop using social media, and stop participating in the economy that currently does not care about our democracy or quality of life. After the speaker, my thirteen-year-old son, who also attended the No Kings rally with me, and I talked about what more we can do that can make an impact. We don’t use social media (I stopped when Zuckerberg gave money to the Trump Inauguration) and I refuse to shop on Amazon for family purchases. But what is one more way we can help push back? We are hopeful the people at the rally will continue to lead and coordinate the joyful group of local people to do what the speaker recommended and ask all to stop working and shopping. Imagine if we all did that for a day or a week. Our politicians would take notice and our resistance would be felt." 

Some concluding thoughts.

First, many thanks to Keweenaw Indivisible for organizing this event and for making it safe for all those who came to publicly proclaim that there are no kings in America. This is no small thing, given the advance threats that violence would be not just possible but probable. The day was peaceful, surprisingly peaceful in that there were no big trucks bearing Trump flags, honking to drown out speakers, and spewing black exhaust at the crowds. Thanks also to everyone who was willing to share their thoughts with me and to be quoted. That, too, is an act of resistance and courage.

Second, we expected more people to No Kings Day 2 than came to No Kings Day 1 in June. And come they did. Estimates are about 850. The people who were "counting" attendance by giving out candy went home with none of the 1000 pieces of candy they had to distribute. We are told that people are not paying attention, that they are uninformed and unaware of what is going on and do not care. I don’t think that is true. The fact is that our friends and neighbors who were not at the No Kings Day have lives to lead, bills to pay, families to tend to, jobs they must go to even on a Saturday. But as they were out and about, driving across the bridge, those friends and neighbors -- hundreds of them -- honked, cheered, smiled, gave thumbs up, and expressed their support. And those are only the ones who happened to be on the bridge. There are thousands of others. Support is out there. And it is growing. I read somewhere after the No Kings Day event that the march itself was not the point; the march was the recruitment drive. Let’s hope that is true.

What is next? On the occasions that I’ve had to speak, my message has been consistent. It is unchanged today: we must continue to show up, to speak up, to vote, and to not give up. 

*Editor's  Note: Guest author Valorie Troesch is a retired attorney and resident of Torch Lake Township. Keweenaw Now wishes to express our appreciation for Valorie's volunteering to cover the No Kings 2.0 event and report on it here.