News

The grills will be blazing and the outdoor stage will be rocking at Houghton Rotary Club’s 30th annual BridgeFEAST, this weekend at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park, brought to you in partnership with UP Health System–Portage. The excitement begins at 5 p.m. Friday, June 19, with tasty offerings from Library Restaurant …

The state will be handing out $3.6 million in grant funding to combat invasive species in Michigan. Applications for funding proposals for 2015 are now being accepted through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, a joint effort of the departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality and Agriculture and Rural Development. …

Legislation dubbed by opponents the “Death Star” bill that would block local governments from setting wage, benefits or leave requirements is headed to the governor. The measure would not apply to local ordinances already in place. House Speaker Kevin Cotter says he was asked to alter the bill so it …

Michigan’s unemployment rate is up for the first time September 2013. State officials say the jobless rate in May increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.5 percent, breaking a string of 20 consecutive months of rate reductions. A spokesman says more people were looking for a job last …

You could encounter some delays when crossing the Mackinac Bridge. Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney says they’ve been installing hardware and software upgrades in toll lane booths but encountered some glitches that have resulted in the delays. One of the benefits of the upgrades is that you’ll be …

Someone who purchased a lottery ticket in northern Michigan is a multi-millionaire and may not even know it. Lottery officials say a $3.5 million Lotto 47 jackpot is still unclaimed, six months after the winning ticket was bought at the Pellston General Store in Pellston during the heart of the …

Michigan Lawmakers are moving forward on a measure to effectively lower the minimum wage for 18 and 19 year olds. The proposal, approved by a senate committee Wednesday, raised the ire of Democrats, who say 18 and 19 year olds are adults. Sponsors like Senate Republican Margaret O’Brien of Kalamazoo …

Governor Rick Snyder has signed a $54.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2015. The budget spends about $1.7 billion more than the current year and includes a $70 to $140 per pupil increase for K-12 schools, $85 million for skilled trades jobs and $400 million for roads. Snyder says the …

Voters could eventually cast an absentee ballot for no reason at all under a bill making its way through the Michigan legislature. All you’d have to do is apply for an absentee ballot in person and show a photo ID. The absentee voting legislation was not voted on in the …

Lawmakers in the Michigan House have given the go-ahead to a series of bills designed to regulate rideshare companies in the state. Those backing the bills say they address lingering issues like insurance coverage and have built-in protections for cab companies and customers. Opponents, however, think it gives companies like …