News

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been selected to deliver the Democratic response to the State of the Union address. President Donald Trump plans to make the annual speech to a joint session of the legislature on February 4th. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said they …

The governor signed a wide array of bills into law on Friday. Highlights include… – Legislation that expands the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone property tax exemption to encourage redevelopment in disadvantaged communities. – County boards of commissioners that want to take over the responsibilities of elected road commissions will need to …

Gasoline prices held steady again last week in the Copper Country. AAA Michigan’s survey puts the average cost of a gallon of unleaded regular at $2.54. That’s a penny lower than last week, 14 cents above the statewide average, and two cents above the national average. Keweenaw County remained at …

A third woman has accused a Michigan state senator of inappropriate sexual behavior. Melissa Osborn says Republican Peter Lucido made crude comments, leered at her, and touched her inappropriately at a conference last May. Osborn is a regulatory affairs specialist for a trade group. The allegation was first reported by …

The Copper Country’s mid-winter celebration takes place this weekend. Heikinpäivä will feature traditional tori markets beginning tomorrow at 10:00 at the Finnish-American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church in downtown Hancock. The parade will begin at 11:00 in front of the Scott Building. David Maki from the Finnish Theme …

There could be more cruise passengers visiting the Copper Country in the future. On the heels of news that Viking Cruise Line will include Houghton as a featured stop when it begins its Great Lakes cruises in 2022, City Manager Eric Waara told the council Wednesday night that Victory Cruise …

The Calumet Theatre will reveal its 2020 season at a performance by Copper Country native Erik Koskinen. The show will take place March 20th, which theatre executive director Marlin Lee says is historically significant… For the record, the first production at the theatre was a touring play called “The Highwaymen.” …

Six thousand more Michiganders were working last month, compared to November. That dropped Michigan’s unemployment rate slightly by a tenth of a point. Data released yesterday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget put the seasonally-adjusted rate at 3.9 percent. That remains above the national average of 3.5 …

The City of Houghton will hold an open house to share information about the proposed Lakeshore Drive Development. At last night’s council meeting, City Manager Eric Waara proposed that it take place February 11th between 5:30 and 7:00 at the City Center…  The open house comes after the first substantive …

A plan that could help expand access to high-speed broadband service in rural areas has passed the state House of Representatives. The two bills would require electric cooperatives to make their poles and easements for power lines available to carry broadband lines as well. In our region, that could open …