A Michigan Tech researcher has been appointed to a new board created to help protect the Mackinac Straits and surrounding waters. Governor Rick Snyder announced the creation of the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board last week. One of them was Great Lakes Research Center director Guy Meadows, who was named …

Seniors in the Houghton area can now take advantage of a program designed to help keep them fit. Silver Sneakers is a health and fitness program for Medicare-eligible individuals that have the program as part of their health plan. The program also allows members to get either a free membership …

The city of Houghton is on a list of the best sports cities in the country, albeit pretty far down on that list. Houghton comes in at number 302. The rankings by Wallethub.com were based on data such as the performance level of local teams, average ticket prices, attendance and …

As Michigan lawmakers consider legislation to regulate e-cigarettes, a new study says e-cigs may serve as a gateway to youth smoking. The study followed about 700 people aged 16 to 21. Lead author, Doctor Brian Primack, says they found that 38 percent of e-cig smokers progressed on to traditional smoking. …

Michigan’s OK-2-Say program, which allows high school students to submit confidential tips as a way to report safety threats before a tragedy occurs, is a success so far. That’s according to Katharyn Barron of the Michigan Attorney General’s office. She calls OK-2-Say the crown jewel in Michigan’s school safety program. …

Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley is recommending Michigan lawmakers put into law what the State Board of Education has already recommended: eliminating any use of seclusion and restraint of misbehaving special education students unless they pose a danger to themselves or others. The board adopted the policy in 2006, but it …

A special committee determining the fate of State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat will pick up where it left off today. On Tuesday Gamrat went before the committee asking for censure, amid a tearful apology. Today it could be Courser’s turn to testify. He’s been invited to come before …

Sixteen people escaped serious injury when a car blew a stop sign in Keweenaw County and pulled out in front of a van. Deputies from the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office were called out to the accident at the intersection of US-41 and M-26 just before 10:00 Sunday night. Officers say a passenger …

The North Woods Conservancy’s photo exhibit highlighting winning photos from its “Get to Know the North Woods” Photo Contest opened August 24 in the Keweenaw National Historical Park’s Visitor Center in Calumet. The exhibit continues through the month of September. The photo contest and exhibit celebrate the Upper Peninsula’s great …

Ongoing maintenance work on the Portage Lake Lift will move into the next phase this fall, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) cautions motorists to be aware of traffic impacts in the Houghton-Hancock area through December. Moving into the fall construction season, crews will be focusing on deck sealing, …