News

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is again hosting public forums throughout the state, inviting residents to discuss local and statewide fisheries management activities and concerns. They’re calling it “Conversations and Coffee with DNR Fisheries Division” and it will take place Thursday starting at 7pm at the Portage Lake District Library. …

Sixty prospective State Police troopers have reported to the department’s training academy in Lansing for the first day of the 129th Trooper Recruit School. Training runs 22 weeks, and covers firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, ethics and other areas. Graduation day is August 26th of this year. Those …

The average price of a gallon of gas in Michigan went down five cents over the past week, according to AAA. Michigan’s statewide average is $1.96 per gallon. That’s not only down a nickel from last week, it’s 49 cents less than this same time last year. However, it’s also …

A new report says only 33 percent of every dollar raised by professional fundraisers hired by charities, actually reaches the charity. The fourth annual Professional Fundraising Charitable Solicitation Report comes from the Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says the report identifies the total amount raised by charities as well as …

The sponsor of a series of bills to increase the speed limit on some interstates and highways in the state hopes to revive his legislation in a few weeks. State Representative Brad Jacobsen says, under the legislation, the speed limit would go up to 75 miles an hour on rural …

Most Michigan voters would support legalizing recreational use of marijuana, according to a new poll. The survey by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA found that 53 percent would vote “yes” on a ballot proposal to legalize and tax marijuana, 45 percent would vote “no” and two percent are undecided. Support is up six-points …

The most controversial piece of a criminal justice reform package conceived in the Michigan House and backed by the governor is most likely on the backburner in the Michigan Senate. The presumptive parole legislation would allow non-violent prisoners to be released when they’re first eligible to be paroled. The House …

The people of Flint Tuesday will get a chance to tell state lawmakers about how they’ve dealt with and feel about the Flint water crisis. A joint legislative committee examining the water contamination problems in Flint plans to hold a marathon eight hour hearing in Flint so it can hear …

With each light bulb swapped, the Copper Country is becoming more energy efficient. The Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) is helping to make that happen with the first of two Great LED Light Bulb Swaps held Saturday in Calumet. The first 100 households were able to swap out one incandescent bulb …

Peterlin Distributing in Calumet is taking part in the energy saving effort. The company says they are upgrading the lighting in its 34,000-square-foot warehouse by installing energy-efficient LED bulbs that will save energy and cut costs. Peterlin contracted Hancock-based Blue Terra Energy to install the new lights. The new bulbs …