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

The governor has signed a bill into law allowing people to park for free at state parks during free fishing weekends. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources worries allowing people to park for free on free fishing weekends could cost the department thousands of dollars. During a free fishing weekend …

Riding a motorcycle without an endorsement on your driver’s license could get expensive under legislation that passed a Michigan House committee Tuesday. The measure would increase the fine for a first offense from $100 to $500 and up to $1,000 for a second offense. Jim Rhoades with ABATE Michigan hopes …

Emails sent to and by Governor Rick Snyder relating to Flint’s water crisis have been subpoenaed as part of a class action lawsuit against the state. The subpoenas, which were delivered Monday, are also seeking text messages and other documents that passed through the governor, his staff or Flint’s former …

Governor Snyder’s request for $28 million to help Flint with its drinking water crisis could see action on the state Senate floor this week. The supplemental appropriations bill moved swiftly through the House last week and is set for a hearing Wednesday in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof …

Legislative leaders in the Senate are not reacting positively to the attorney general’s probe into the Flint water crisis. A.G. Bill Schuette announced Monday that a former prosecutor and FBI chief would head up his office’s investigation into high lead levels in Flint water and whether any state laws were …

Local government and school officials are challenging a recently passed state law that blocks them from discussing ballot proposals 60 days before an election. Scott Eldridge, the lawyer representing the group bringing the lawsuit, says the measure is a gag order preventing public officials from addressing their constituents about matters …

Thirty inches of snow will make life hard on anyone, but as usual the Copper Country finds a way to make the best of it. Since the season’s biggest storm struck the U.P. ten days ago, snowmobilers have begun to flock to the area. The winter tourism season had been …

HANCOCK — It’s been played by folk musicians for more than 600 years, but the nyckelharpa isn’t an instrument that’s a regular part of the music scene in the Copper Country. Until now. Minnesota-based musicians Jaana Tuttila and Cheryl Paschke, both members of the Finn Hall Band, will perform a …

HOUGHTON — Although prayers are the most important act of worship in Islam, the religion goes beyond that to set divine regulations for all life activities in a very balanced way. The presentation by Dr. Ahmed Taha presents the Islamic concept of life and its teachings in directing the spiritual, …