Local News

In a recent decision, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray ruled that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has the right to set procedures for post-election examinations and denied GOP requests for a mandatory forensic audit of absentee ballot signatures. Benson said earlier this month that the audit performed by …

The unemployment rate is one metric to gauge the health of the labor force, but it’s not the only one. At times it can even be deceptive. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget made this point in a recent release. The January unemployment rate statewide made impressive gains, …

Tuesday’s Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education meeting marked the final evaluation for George Stockero. The superintendent is leaving on a high note, having received a “Highly Effective” rating. The board said it was particularly impressed by Stockero’s communication abilities since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There …

Tom Merz was appointed chairman of the newly formed subcommittee created to address the future of the big parking deck in downtown Houghton. He was officially nominated by member Mike Needham. There was no voting conducted as per rules established at a prior Planning Commission meeting. Dan Liebau was named …

The Michigan Department of Transportation restarted a project Tuesday on M-26 to replace bridges over the east and west branches of the Firesteel River. Some earth work was done last fall before construction was halted for the winter. It poses some interesting challenges for planners due to the lack of …

COVID-19 is picking up across the state, but not locally. Metro Detroit and north to Port Huron and into the “thumb” of the Lower Peninsula is spiking. The Copper Country remains in check. Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw Counties combined for 14 cases over the weekend. That compares to 41 new …

Brush fires broke out last weekend in parts of the Lower Peninsula. The risk has been classified as high as far north as Menominee and Escanaba. With sunny, warm conditions expected across the Copper Country all week, it won’t be long before the snow is gone and it becomes our …

Houghton High School Principal Cole Klein gave a report to the district’s Board of Education on Monday night, congratulating the band programs for grades seven through 12. He said it was a challenge just to practice, having to be spaced throughout the auditorium rather than sharing a stage together. Wind …

On Friday, March 12th, troopers from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post and deputies from the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office arrested one man and one woman for selling methamphetamine throughout the area. Both are thought to have distributed the narcotic in Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw Counties. 30-year-old Joe Julio of …

When the Franklin Square Inn makes its debut as a Hampton Inn property, new guests will encounter significant changes. Jennifer Julien says that parent company Hilton designs the hotel chain with upscale sensibilities in mind. The lobby ceiling is required to be a certain height, but the current building is …