On November 1, 2017, Freelancer Communications purchased analog low-power station WLLZ-LP, making it a sister station to WMNN-LD. On December 21, 2017, WLLZ-LP changed its call letters to WXII-LP and launched a new logo to reflect common ownership, with channel 26 gaining a new logo as well.
2019–2022[]
On December 9, 2019, MI News 26 became NewsNet Northern Michigan, coinciding with the debut of its new set and on-air graphics to align more closely with its national counterpart, albeit retaining the More Local, More Often slogan.
2022–present[]
On April 18, 2022, NewsNet Northern Michigan and its national counterpart debuted new logos and on-air graphics, which are accompanied by the new slogan, News... as it used to be.
