News

Lawmakers in Lansing did finalize work on the state budget for 2015. The Michigan Senate voted to send the budget to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature. The spending plan totals $37.5 billion, an 11.6% spending increase over the current year. Democrats in the Senate voted against the budget, and …

There was a lot to discuss at yesterday’s Houghton City Council meeting. The zoning board of appeals held a public hearing regarding a request for a sign variance for a Downtown Houghton business and City Manager Eric Waara says the board has decided that some changes to the ordinance may …

The ribbon has been cut and Barkell Elementary School students have a new playground, equipped with a brand new slide and jungle gym pyramid. Teachers, parents and volunteers came together over the weekend and assembled the playground. Barkell PTO President Tara Packard says the support they received on this project …

Next week, the Michigan Department of Transportation will stop by the Lakeview Manor Community Room in Hancock to share their plans on the maintenance project for the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. The project is scheduled to begin this winter. Residents and business owners can review the plans for construction and …

Nearly 200,000 Michigan residents will benefit from the recently expanded “Pay As You Earn” repayment plan for federal student loans, according to a report released by the White House. President Barack Obama signed an executive memorandum on Monday expanding eligibility for the program to borrowers with loans made prior to …

State officials say 18 health insurance companies are seeking inclusion in the federally-run Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace in 2015, five more than participated last year. All but two of the companies submitted plans for the individual market and 11 offered plans for the small group market. Michigan Department of Insurance …

Narcotics police in the Upper Peninsula arrested a 60-year-old Rapid River man Tuesday on cocaine charges. The man is charged with two counts of Delivery of Cocaine and one count of Conspiracy to Deliver Cocaine. This arrest was part of an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a 62-year-old …

A full docket was on hand for the Houghton County Board of Commissioners meeting yesterday. The board approved a purchase agreement of a lot near the airport for the construction of a commercial facility for a local bus company. The Houghton County Medical Care Facility presented their upcoming structural changes …

An Ontonagon man accused of assaulting another man with a baseball bat has pled guilty to a lesser charge. A trial was originally scheduled to begin last week in Ontonagon County Circuit Court for 28-year-old Nicholas Yakovich, who is charged with felonious assault. Instead of going before a jury, Yakovich …

Two public hearings are scheduled to kick off today’s Houghton City Council meeting. The first will be in regard’s to the 2014-2015 budget and the other is regarding the Capitol Improvement Plan. Both will be also up for adoption by the council. Also, the council will look to approve a …