Local News

The Copper Country continues to be one of the state’s hottest COVID-19 centers. The most recent report issued by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department shows 91 new confirmed positives in the five-county region. 72 of those are in Houghton County, which also reported 41 new probable positives. Baraga County …

The urgent need for blood continues across the Upper Peninsula. The U.P. Regional Blood Bank will hold a blood drive this afternoon between 2:00 and 6:00 at the L’Anse Township Hall in L’Anse. Donating blood is safe, as long as you are healthy. Most blood types remain in short supply, …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to clarify the order that eliminated her authority to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency in Michigan. Whitmer wants justices to explain exactly when the authority ends. She has maintained that there is a grace period during which she has the …

This is Homecoming Week at Michigan Tech. This year’s theme is “A Happy Little Homecoming.” “Little” is the operative word – many of the traditional events have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are still a few things on the schedule, though, including some online and socially-distanced outdoor …

The Michigan Department of Transportation will resurface US-41 from east of the M-203 intersection to Reservation Street in Hancock beginning this evening. Milling and asphalt paving will be done at night. Minor concrete work and storm sewer repairs will be done during the day. The project should be completed by …

The seventh annual Ride Against Abuse Community Awareness Event for the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home will begin tonight at 6:00 at the Calumet AmericInn. The event will start with a ceremony to remember victims and celebrate survivors. Participants will ride their motorcycles from Calumet along M-26 through Lake Linden …

Lots of Copper Country residents turned out Saturday for free COVID-19 tests. Western Upper Peninsula Health Department Health Officer Kate Beer said they were nearly overwhelmed… [BEER B]. “We had scheduled about 500 tests today, and I believe we’re going to hit the 600 mark rather easily.” In fact, with …

This year’s first Eastern Equine Encephalitis diagnosis has been recorded in the Copper Country. A horse in Baraga County tested positive for the virus. EEE is carried by mosquitoes, and can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. Cases are rare, but more than a third of those who become …

The KBIC fall cleanup begins today. The L’Anse District will be covered this week, and the Baraga District next week. Items to be picked up should be left at the curb by 7:00 am. There is no need to register. Only Tribal households will be served. Businesses will not be …

UPDATED to include Whitmer response. The Michigan Supreme Court today struck down Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders governing the state’s emergency COVID-19 response. In a 4-3 decision, justices ruled that Whitmer’s use of the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act was inappropriate,, and the act itself is an “unlawful delegation …