Local News

Democrat and Republican representatives from several Midwest states have introduced a new bill aimed at overhauling ice breaking operations on the Great Lakes in the winter months. The goal is to make commercial shipping viable year-round, but that would require major changes to how the Coast Guard conducts itself.  Currently, …

Michigan was one of many states that implemented a deadly policy forcing COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes and allowing the disease to spread among our most vulnerable population. The state legislature has been investigating that decision since last summer through a newly created panel. Senator Ed McBroom was a …

A recent crash involving a snowmobile and passenger car on Ingot Street has the City of Hancock taking steps to try and keep more accidents from happening. Manager Mary Babcock addressed work being planned by MDOT at a busy crossing on M-203 west of downtown. I did talk to them …

In Wednesday’s Detroit Free Press, it was revealed that the University of Michigan is deactivating the MCards of 375 students, making it impossible for them to enter campus buildings. The school requires regular COVID-19 testing and has systems in place that remind students after three weeks that they need to …

Realtor Kristine Weidner will be named the listing agent for 13 unsold Spruce Haven neighborhood lots in Hancock at Wednesday night’s council meeting. City Manager Mary Babcock says that it will be the first time in six years the properties have been on the market in an official capacity. Twelve …

The UP Health System Regional Blood Center says it is running critically low on certain blood types and is encouraging people to make donations. Donor tech Molly Cline, who works at the Hancock location, lists what is in need. We are short on A-Positive, O-Negative, and A-Negative blood types. She …

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Houghton Planning Commission, the body created two subcommittees to address the issues before it. Each committee will have four commissioners in addition to an undetermined amount of regular folks. One committee will focus on the parking deck and the other on the downtown development …

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department says it is seeing gaps for the first time in vaccine appointments reserved solely for those 65 and older. That suggests supply has finally caught up to demand and the organization can get more aggressive in expanding who gets the shots. There are plans …

Attorney David Kallman says that he expects an agreement between Café Rosetta and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to be reached as early as Tuesday afternoon. That would pave the way for the restaurant to potentially reopen this Thursday pending an on-site examination performed by the agency. …

Bridgefest organizers announced the cancelation of this year’s event just before noon on Tuesday. The festival was initially scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, June 17-20th. Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce President Mary Myers says the decision was incredibly difficult to make and is promising that some events may still go on …