News

Portage Lake District library has a new director. Dillon Geshel was hired into the position after a unanimous vote by the Library’s Board of Trustees. Geshel has been serving as interim director since the previous director retired. Geshel says he grew up in the area, so he’s familiar with the …

HANCOCK, Mich. – UP Health System – Portage is proud to welcome Debbie Lorenz, NP to its internal medicine staff in Hancock. Lorenz is partnering with Dr. Katriina Hopper and began seeing patients in late November. Lorenz will also be working with Nephrologist Dr. David Woltmann in the coming months to …

The trial against 36-year-old Isaac Laplander will not begin in a couple of weeks as scheduled. The Calumet man was set to face a jury trial starting on January 6th. Instead, he is expected to plea that day in accordance with a plea agreement that is in the works. Houghton …

Transgendered–a term more and more people are becoming familiar with, and not just because of pop culture. Gender identity is an issue facing many people right here in the Copper Country, and it can be tough especially on teenagers. The key to understanding is knowing the difference between sex and …

Calumet, Michigan—The Calumet High School Drama Club is pleased to announce it has received a $3,000 grant from the Keweenaw Community Foundation Youth Endowment Fund. These funds will support the Acting On It: Skills Development through Theatre program, which will provide students (grades 9-12) with opportunities for skills development and …

Michigan’s unemployment rate was slightly higher in November. State officials say the jobless rate rose one-tenth of a percent in November from October to 5.1 percent. The workforce rose by 21,000, total employment advanced by 15,000, while the number of unemployed increased by 6,000. The jobless rate is 1.4 percent …

Counties couldn’t force farmers to get a permit and pay a fee to do work on their own land under a bill that’s headed to the governor. That work includes clearing fence rows, installing irrigation or uprooting trees – anything that disturbs the soil that isn’t plowing or tilling. State …

A bill designed to help combat the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Michigan’s deer herd passed the Senate Wednesday. State Senator Rick Jones is the sponsor of the measure that eliminates a sunset on the Natural Resources Commission’s authority to continue bans on deer and elk baiting. He …

Legislation to allow people to park for free at state parks during free fishing weekends passed the Michigan Senate Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says allowing people to park for free on free fishing weekends could cost the department thousands of dollars. During a free fishing weekend in …

The debate in the Michigan House over how parents should be required get an immunization waiver for their kids will stretch in to 2016. During the waning days of the 2015 legislative session a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to reverse a rule requiring parents to sign the waiver, in-person, …