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S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald

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In 2024, a record-breaking 936 Thanksgiving Turkey Trots were hosted across all 50 U.S. states, attracting over 1.1 million participants and raising more than $3.6 million for charities. This figure comes from comprehensive data compiled by RunSignup, a leading race management platform that tracked events nationwide, showing a 21% increase from 2023. Florida led with 56 events, followed by other populous states like California and Texas.

For 2025 (as of late November), early indicators suggest a similar or slightly higher total, with at least 70 new races identified and low event churn (under 2%). Registration trends show events averaging 39% of 2024 totals already, pointing to continued growth in this beloved holiday tradition. These races—mostly 5K fun runs or walks—emphasize family participation, costumes, and community support, with over 90% held on Thanksgiving Day itself

Michigan West

Join us for the oldest race in Kalamazoo, the #WMU Turkey Trot! 🦃 Lace up and run with us on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Registration closes Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Celebrate the race with an awards ceremony for the top male and female in both run and walk categories, and… pic.twitter.com/E7JeUDg8Wz

— Western Michigan University (@WesternMichU) November 12, 2025

An Expanded Study of School Bond Elections in Michigan

Gallery: School Bond Referenda

As of January 2022, there were a few municipalities in the United States that allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections, but no entire states. These municipalities included:

San Francisco, California: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in school board elections.
Chicago, Illinois: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in school board elections.
Takoma Park, Maryland: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in local elections.

It’s worth noting that these policies may change over time as local governments make decisions regarding voting rights. For the most up-to-date information, it’s best to consult the specific laws and regulations of each municipality or state.

“Election Day, 1944” | Norman Rockwell for the Saturday Evening Post

School bond elections — either at county or district level — are processes through which communities vote to authorize the issuance of bonds to fund various projects and improvements in their local school districts. The elections determine the quality of educational settlements –new school buildings, renovating existing facilities, upgrading technology, and improving safety measures. The outcomes of these elections directly affect the quality of education and learning environments for students within the county. Successful bond measures can stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and attracting families to the area.

Community involvement and voter turnout are essential in determining the allocation of resources and shaping the quality of life for its citizens. In recent years, however, voter ambivalence about the education “industry” in general, the rise of home schooling and other cultural factors, complicate choices presented to voters.

Financial Services

Michigan ANSI SDOs

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WLXS 900 AM

Michigan West

Facilities Services: Grand Valley State University

LIVE: WDBM-FM Student Radio 89 MHz

Michigan Central

Michigan Upper Peninsula | Michigan West | Michigan East

Michigan State University Infrastructure Planning & Facilities

Standard For Towers And Antenna Supporting Structures

Concrete Matters

Great Cities Begin With Sidewalks

Autumn Wind

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Sisu

Standards Michigan Upper Peninsula

The Finnish presence in Northern Michigan stems from mass immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1870 and 1929, over 350,000 Finns arrived in the U.S., with Michigan drawing about 40% due to its copper and iron mines, lumber mills, and farms.

Recruited from Norway’s mines starting in 1864, they settled in towns like Hancock, Calumet, Ishpeming, and Ironwood, drawn by the region’s harsh winters, long summer days, and forested terrain mirroring Finland’s.

By 1930, nearly 75,000 Finnish descendants lived there, forming the largest ethnic group in five northwestern UP counties (35% Finnish heritage per recent census). They built saunas, cooperatives, and Lutheran churches, including the Suomi Synod (1890) and Finlandia University (1896, since closed).

Cultural festivals like Heikinpäivä and pasties (adapted from Cornish miners) endure, sustaining a “Sauna Belt” legacy amid mining booms that rivaled California’s Gold Rush.