News

State Representative John Kivela hopes to return to Lansing sometime next week after suffering what he described as major internal blood loss this week. Kivela, who was arrested last month for having a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, hasn’t been at the Capitol since. To date …

Two bills revamping election laws in Michigan could be on the fast-track to approval. One bill, which would allow people to vote absentee without giving a reason, passed out of a committee Wednesday even though it wasn’t on the agenda. And a measure to eliminate straight-ticket voting is on the …

Hunger is a continuing problem in the Copper Country. Stop the Roar of Hunger is a new initiative from the Portage Health Foundation (PHF) to raise awareness and funds to help fight this problem. Recent statistics show that the need cannot be understated. PHF Fund Development Assistant Chelsea Goodreau said, …

If you didn’t bag a buck, don’t worry, you weren’t alone. Michigan’s firearms deer season wrapped up Monday night at sunset. Looking at the early numbers, DNR Biologist Brian Roell says that firearm season was very poor when they compared it to the last ten seasons. The Marquette DNR Check …

Collaborations, events, and a new website were talked about at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and elections. The purpose of this meeting is to elect board members into open positions and update the chamber members on what the chamber accomplished in the past year and what to look …

Now that the state firearms deer season is over, State Representative Scott Dianda wants to hold hearings on what can be done to increase the deer herd in the Upper Peninsula. Many factors have contributed to the dwindling number of deer—namely the propagation of wolves in the U.P. and some …

It was quite a goof. The Office of the State Employer has overpaid more than $100,000 in disability benefits to a state employee. The Michigan Auditor General says officials failed to confirm the employee’s income with the Unemployment Insurance Agency. The audit says the employee received nearly $136,000, about $101,000 …

Governor Rick Snyder is asking Secretary of State John Kerry and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to engage the Council of Governors to discuss the issue of refugee vetting in depth. There have been security concerns about the refugees. Governor Snyder was the first governor to suspend acceptance of Syrian …

A Michigan House committee has begun the daunting task of sifting through a 20 bill package of juvenile justice reforms. Toni Bunton was one of a number of people who testified in favor of the bills. She was charged as an adult when she was 17 and sent to an …

Legislation to allow people to park for free at state parks during free fishing weekends has passed the Michigan House. The measure cleared the chamber on an 87-19 vote. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says allowing people to park for free on free fishing weekends could cost the department …