News

Houghton voters will have a chance to weigh in on the city’s proposed Lakeshore Drive redevelopment project. 185 signatures have been turned in to place an advisory question on the August 4th ballot. The language reads, “Should the sale of the Waterfront Parking Deck Property (sic) be postponed until the …

Members of the Hancock Police Department have spoken out in support of city council member John Haeussler, following a discussion about the city budget at the council’s June 17th meeting. Remarks made by Haeussler that were reported to members of the police force led them to believe Haeussler supported reducing …

Children in the Copper Country could return to school this fall – if there’s no uptick in COVID-19 cases. As promised, Governor Gretchen Whitmer rolled out the “MI Safe Schools Road Map” yesterday. The 63-page document sets out the structure and guidelines for the reopening of K-12 schools… The plan …

The Upper Peninsula State Fair will not take place this year. The Fair Authority announced yesterday that COVID-19 restrictions on crowd size would make it impossible to stage the event. Midway provider Skerbeck Entertainment has also been notified by the state that its activities are not yet permitted. Organizers say …

Michigan’s Lewis Cass office building in Lansing has a new name. Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week rechristened it the “Elliott-Larsen Building.” The new name honors Republican State Rep. Melvin Larsen and Democratic State Rep. Daisy Elliott who wrote Michigan’s civil rights legislation in 1976. Whitmer also called on the legislature …

A second legal opinion has confirmed the position taken by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel that the Michigan State Capitol Commission has the authority to ban guns in the capitol building. The commission generally concerns itself with benign issues such as capitol building maintenance. It was thrust into the spotlight …

Canal View – Houghton County has passed the first test necessary to consider reopening to visitors. More than 500 residents and staff members have been tested for COVID-19 infection, and all the tests have been negative. Administrator Kim Salmi credits the staff’s faithful adherence to screening and prevention processes. Staff …

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a tuition increase at Northern Michigan University, but many students won’t feel it. The NMU Board of Trustees this morning raised tuition for resident undergraduates by $215 per semester – that’s nearly 4 percent. However, the board reallocated some financial assistance resources to provide a …

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has rejected a call from a group of Republican U.S. Representatives for an investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at nursing homes. The request was signed by six U.S. House members, including first district representative Jack Bergman. Nessel noted that similar letters had …

Saying that COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our state budget, state leaders yesterday announced a bipartisan agreement to cut costs. The joint release from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield marked an unusual bipartisan moment. The three said the arrangement provides …