News

The Michigan Tech Winter Carnival is still nearly a month away, but the City of Houghton is getting prepared for the popular annual event. At Wednesday night’s city council meeting, city public works director Mark Zenner said preparations are under way for the carnival. Zenner said that city crews are …

Governor Rick Snyder will not be heading to Switzerland next week for an economic meeting. He has canceled the trip on the advice of his doctors after rupturing an Achilles tendon while running in Florida. The governor was planning to go to the World Economic Forum on January 21st. He …

The Better Business Bureau in Michigan has issued a warning about phony messages sent to your Google or Gmail accounts. One of the phony messages says “You have exceeded your email limit quota.” Another tells you that “you have a deferred email.” The text is hyperlinked in both, implying that …

The General Motors victim compensation fund has approved three new death claims in the past week. That brings the total so far to 45.  Additionally, there have now been 67 injury claims approved, nine more than a week ago.  All of the claims are linked to accidents caused by a …

Governor Rick Snyder has signed 21 bills focusing on various transportation-and education-related issues across Michigan. The bills range from fighting cyberbullying to streamlining regulations for professional development to making sure veterans attending community college have access to benefits. Snyder also signed additional bills designating memorial roads and highways across the …

The Michigan Supreme Court took oral arguments Tuesday on whether 50,000 state government civil servants are subject to the state’s Right to Work law. The employee unions claim that the state constitution gives the power to the Civil Service Commission to set conditions of employment and therefore Right To Work …

A new study from a Michigan State University political scientist says that even though the ballot proposal to raise the sales tax a penny may have growing support among elected officials and interest groups, it may still be in trouble. Matt Grossman, in an article published in the journal Politics …

Saturday night’s closure of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge may simply be inconvenient if you’re hoping to grab a late night hamburger…but what if you are faced with a real emergency? With the two closest hospitals both located on the north side of the canal…Houghton Emergency Measures Coordinator Jack Dueweke …

Houghton County is one of 50 semifinalists for the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a nationwide competition challenging communities across the USA to reduce energy consumption. The community which most drastically reduces energy consumption will be the winner of a $5 million dollar prize. A celebratory kickoff/announcement is being held today …

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners chose Albert Koskela to serve a two-year term as board chairman at its organizational meeting Tuesday night. Koskela, who has served previously as board chairman, will be joined by Tim Palosaari as vice-chairman. Palossari’s term is for one year. Kim Stoker of WUPPDR gave …