Local News

Isaiah Strieter’s counsel has requested the 18-year-old defendant be evaluated by a psychiatrist to determine if he should be held responsible for the murder of his mother. Strieter is charged with open homicide after allegedly killing 38-year-old Ashlee Harvey at their Coburntown neighborhood home on January 24th with a firearm. …

In the coming weeks the Houghton County Commissioners will meet with their department heads to talk about possible ways to spend funds the county will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act. That meeting will be on March 8th. A public hearing will follow, though that date has not been …

Rob Tarvis was elevated from the Calumet Village Council’s number two position to president at Tuesday’s meeting following Brian Abramson’s departure last week. He has been working closely with manager Amber Goodman on the budget, which was the primary focus of last night’s session. Goodman says Ordinance 157 was also …

22-year-old Dominic Zavaglia has been arrested on charges of Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Material and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime. During a search of his Hancock residence, city police and Michigan State Police’s Computer Crimes Unit were able to retrieve over a thousand photos and videos containing suspected …

Michigan State Police’s Calumet Post has a new leader. Sergeant Edward Zawada will oversee day-to-day operations at the Highway 41 location. He will be responsible for services provided in Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw Counties. Zawada graduated from the 121st Trooper Recruit School in 2008. He was assigned to the Calumet …

Laurium Village Council met on Tuesday night, dealing with openings on the council itself and the police force. Jaikob Djerf is stepping down from his seat, with his resignation being accepted with regret at the meeting. Applications are being taken for his replacement, with a posting already on the village’s …

Beginning in August, the City of Houghton’s two precincts will mirror the new county commissioner districts. Clerk Ann Vollrath says staff have specifically asked for the change. Talking to precinct workers, they are begging for us to not have it that way, because it’s so hard on Election Day. They’re …

A federal judge in northern California has ruled that gray wolves must be reinstated on the threatened and endangered species list, overturning a regulatory decision made late in the Trump administration. The opinion is drawing a range of reactions. State representative Greg Markkanen says the judge is not aware of …

UPDATE; Hancock City Manager, Mary Babcock has declared the “Let Run” over. If you were running your water due to freezing pipes or for prevention, it is time to stop letting your water run. The City of Hancock declared a “let run” for area residences on Friday. The policy suggests …

Per- and polyflouroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, have been found in shallow groundwater depositories near the Houghton County Memorial Airport. The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department has announced further testing to determine the scope of the problem. So far, 21 homes have agreed to take part in the water …