News

The soon-to-be former Evangel Baptist Church building on College Avenue will be converted into apartments. Developer Derek Bradway has purchased the property. He has presented plans to the city of Houghton to renovate it, add a second level to a portion of the structure, and create 40 small efficiency units. …

The potential redevelopment of the parking structure property between downtown Houghton and the waterfront will be known as the Lakeshore Drive Project. The effort had initially been called a “waterfront development.” The committee investigating options wanted to emphasize that there will be, in fact, no actual waterfront property involved in …

Today is World Polio Day. The disease that caused paralysis, forced victims through excruciating therapy, and confined some to iron lungs has nearly been wiped out. The worldwide vaccine effort has been led by Rotary International, and its local clubs – including those in Houghton, Hancock, Calumet and Ontonagon. Houghton …

The L’Anse Area School District finished the last school year with a thin budget surplus. Superintendent Susan Tollfeson said confirmation of the $173,000 surplus came at Monday’s board of education meeting, as the district’s annual audit was successfully completed and approved. Tollefson told us the board also approved the sale …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is shutting down its Upper Peninsula roadside parks for the winter. Keweenaw County parks will close tomorrow. Parks in the rest of the western U.P. will shut down a week from today. Roadside parks are typically reopened in early May, depending on weather.

A semi truck driver was arrested early yesterday after his rig jackknifed across US-45 four miles north of Watersmeet. State police troopers who arrived on the scene shortly after 3:00 am found the highway blocked, and the driver drunk. He was taken to the Gogebic County jail. His identity has …

Talks on relaxing Michigan’s legislative term limits continue in Lansing. House and Senate leaders have been meeting with officials from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Voters Not Politicians – the group that led the recent drive to reform legislative districting. Participants say nothing has yet been decided, but it …

A State House committee has passed a group of bills designed to loosen controls on handguns. The Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee advanced the measures yesterday. They would allow concealed carry in hospitals, daycares and churches, make concealed pistol licenses optional, and relax restrictions on carrying handguns in vehicles. …

Victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual abuse and human trafficking could keep their addresses secret under legislation approved unanimously by the Michigan Senate yesterday. Participants in the program would receive an identification number. Mail intended for them would be sent to a state government address, and then forwarded. Driver’s licenses …

The Houghton City Council will hold a public hearing tonight about a proposed federal grant. The $199,900 stipend from Rural Development would be used to help purchase a police vehicle, two dump trucks, a wheel loader, a skid steer loader, and an excavator thumb. Public comment is welcome. The hearing …