Local News

The Hancock City Council is contemplating asking the City of Houghton to slow down on potential development near Coles Creek, the former site of the Michigan Smelter. It is a former superfund site and has documented issues with mercury, lead, and other toxins. The land has been privately owned for …

Finlandia University held its monthly Community Partners virtual discussion Wednesday at noon. Gathering education officials from local districts in addition to the college, business organizations like KEDA, and health representatives virtually, the goal of the talk was to explore the challenges COVID-19 is creating for all stakeholders. The Hirvonen College …

For the second time in the past week, the State Senate refused to confirm appointees sent up for consent and approval by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Wednesday morning’s action included placing holds on Andrea Dickson to the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees and Jason Morgan at Northern Michigan University. The vote …

Rukkila Negro Accounting’s Christina Smigowski presented the firm’s review of Hancock’s financial statements for Fiscal Year 2020 at Wednesday’s council meeting. Overall, the city was given a passing grade, with one red flag noted. City expenses persistently came in above what was budgeted and that required the council to approve …

The crowds weren’t quite as grand as usual, and there were fewer entertainment options on campus, but the all-nighter still successfully kicked off another Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech. There were plenty of places where snow had been scraped down to the grass but student organizations found enough to help …

Wednesday’s Hancock City Council meeting will have a heavy financial focus. They will review results from the most recent audit. City Manager Mary Babcock says she isn’t expecting any surprises to be revealed. On the agenda for new business, the council is expected to agree to work with Robert W …

Sunday’s Barneløpet ski race has been pushed back to February 21st. Expected high temperatures in the single digits caused race organizers, including the Sons of Norway, the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, and the City of Hancock to postpone from this Sunday. With the delay, deadlines associated with the event have …

The Calumet Downtown Development Authority met Tuesday for roughly 90 minutes. They discussed what services were available and what needs to be added or enhanced to help bring new business to the village. Incubators, like that provided at Michigan Tech, are well-known and help with the organizational structure of a …

New affordable housing options are coming to downtown Houghton thanks to grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The projects were greenlit last September by the Houghton City Council. Four apartments are slated to go in on the lower level of 308-310 Sheldon. They will face the rear of the …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is advising people to use extreme caution when going onto the ice in Delta County. In particular, they are worried about Saunders Point, Garth Point, Hunters Point, the Fayette and Ogontz access sites, Farmers Dock, and the mouths of the Escanaba, Days and Ford …