News

The Michigan Senate isn’t rushing into finding a long-term funding fix for the state’s roads. Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof says lawmakers have other priorities to tend to first — like the state budget. Meekhof isn’t ruling out a tax increase as a possible solution and also expects lawmakers to spend …

State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require that the state compensate the wrongfully convicted. Democrats, Senator Steve Bieda and Representative Stephanie Chang, announced legislation Thursday that would create the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act. Bieda says the state currently offers nothing to exonerees, but under his bill the state …

The Michigan House has unanimously approved a bill that would do-away with a fee parents who wanted to adopt had to pay to be added to a statewide database. The fee, $100 up front and $50 a year, was becoming a disincentive for parents who wanted to adopt foster children …

The Michigan House, by an overwhelming margin, has approved legislation prohibiting new Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credit agreements. The MEGA program had been blamed for what was called an unexpected $9 billion tax liability to the state. MEGA agreements offer big tax credits to businesses that locate in Michigan …

The Michigan Senate is set to become “Ground Central” for the prevailing wage debate next week. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof says a bill to repeal the state’s prevailing wage act, which requires contractors to pay union wages and benefits to workers on government funded projects, will go before a …

Governor Rick Snyder says he will not run for president in 2016. The governor’s recent travels around the country sparked speculation that Michigan’s “One Tough Nerd” might like to try his hand at the presidency. But Snyder Thursday put the rumors to rest, releasing a statement saying he has no …

Michigan Tech invited dozens of high school students to a biology competition that featured challenges in the field and in the laboratory. The 26th Annual Department of Biological Sciences Bioathlon brought together roughly 60 students from 15 different high schools as they compete for cash prizes using basic biology skills. …

The Houghton County Fair Board will meet tonight at 7:00pm in the SISU Room of the Houghton County Arena. Fair dates for 2015 will be August 27th to the 30th.  Office hours are Wednesdays from noon to 3:00 or by appointment. The deadline to register market swine is May 15th …

As this year’s open-water fishing season gets under way, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that fisheries personnel will be collecting data (about anglers’ fishing trips) at lakes, rivers and Great Lakes ports. DNR creel clerks will be stationed at boat launches and piers, asking anglers questions as they …

Prop 1 may have failed but road maintenance continues in the Copper Country with two additional projects set to get underway. The first involves the resurfacing of M-26 in Houghton and Ontonagon Counties beginning today. The Michigan Department of Transportation will resurface 20.8 miles of M-26 from US-45 north to …