The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has awarded a total of $100,000 in deer habitat improvement grants in the Upper Peninsula to be allocated between a dozen recipients. “This grant cycle was extremely competitive,” said Bill Scullon, DNR field operations manager from the Norway Field Office and grant program administrator. …

The Hancock Education Association once again announces its HEA scholarship for Hancock Central High School Alumni.  Former Hancock students who are juniors or seniors in the education program at their university are eligible. Applications are available at www.hancock.k12.mi.us.  Click on the high school tab and scroll down to “HEA Scholarship”. …

While politicians love to say that education is their top priority, a new poll shows that voters don’t believe them. The poll, released by “Your Child,” a new advocacy group, shows 76 percent of respondents do not see our elected officials as making education a top priority. Only 17 percent …

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in January rose in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas. State officials say total employment declined in most regions over the month. And labor force levels increased moderately in the majority of Michigan’s major labor market areas. State unemployment market expert Jason Palmer …

The state is updating the number of people who were infected with Legionnaires disease in Genesee County during an outbreak in 2014 and 2015. The state Department of Health and Human Services says an additional person died of the disease. In total, 10 people died of Legionnaires disease and 88 …

Baby boomers are not only into retirement age, they’re also a large voting block and you see their power in public policy. So says the new president of AARP in Michigan. Chris Holman also says there’s a new block of voters right around the corner, millennials. Holman says that group …

Michigan natural resources officials are considering expanding the state’s hunting season for coyotes. There are currently two coyote hunting seasons in Michigan, the daytime hunt from July 15 to April 15 and the nighttime hunt from October 15 to March 31. The Natural Resources Commission is looking to expand both …

Craft brewers in the state could use social media to bolster their marketing efforts under legislation that’s cleared the Michigan House. State Representative Klint Kesto, R-Walled Lake, is sponsoring the bill and says breweries should be able to use Facebook and Twitter to plug events so long as no money …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed two additional free-ranging deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. One of the newly confirmed CWD-positive deer is a 9-month-old male from Meridian Township (Ingham County), and …

Nurses in Michigan, led by the Michigan Nurses Association labor organization, will march on the state Capitol Wednesday. They’re pushing for restrictions on things like the number of hours nurses have to work, as well as nurse-patient ratios. Dawn Kettinger of the MNA says it’s a safety issue for patients. …