The Home Builders Association of Michigan is confident in its prediction of another good year for residential home construction. There was a 28% year-to-year increase for single-family home permits in the state for 2013. And it’s predicted that there will be a 20% jump this year when all is said …

Computer scientists at Michigan State University have built the first three-dimensional model of a human fingerprint. They say not only will it help today’s fingerprint-matching technology do its job better, but could eventually lead to improvements in security. The method, developed by Anil Jain, his MSU colleagues and research collaborator …

As many as 60 percent of public school districts in Michigan could be in violation of a state law passed in 2011 that made decisions about teacher placement and evaluation prohibited subjects of bargaining. That’s according to a new Mackinac Center for Public Policy study. The Center surveyed 130 school …

Local law enforcement officers face against fire fighters tomorrow night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena for the annual Pigs-N-Heat Hockey game. The game is a way to raise money for the Pigs-N-Heat fund that is used to assist families in need and Houghton PD Lieutenant Nick Roberts says it’s …

Tomorrow the Hancock Tori will take place at the First United Methodist Church on Quincy Street. Jeanie Medlin, one of the organizers of the Tori says there will be lots of great things to eat. The Tori will also feature local arts and crafts. Sandy Soring says they are expecting …

The Michigan Senate has approved and sent to the House bills that prohibit the selling of electronic cigarettes to those under the age of 18 in Michigan. Sponsors say the idea is to protect young people, since e-cigarettes deliver nicotine. Governor Rick Snyder and certain health advocacy groups oppose the …

Governor Snyder has legislation before him to remove all instances of of the words “retardation” and “retarded” from state laws. The House and Senate passed on Wednesday respective bills that would replace the words with “developmental disability” or “intellectually disabled.” The bills passed unanimously in both chambers. Republican Senator Rick …

Those who completed the Endurance Run as part of the SAE Snowmobile Challenge had the opportunity to showcase their snowmobile yesterday at the Copper Country Mall. Companies from all over the country came to see their work and speak to the students about the possibility of future employment. Christa Zimmerman, …

Michigan’s unemployment rate in January fell by a half percentage point to 7.8 percent, the lowest unemployment rate in the state since May 2008. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, total employment rose by 32,000 over the month and the number of jobless declined by 20,000. …

Three men from Bay and Saginaw counties have been charged in the slaying of a cougar. 42-year-old Troy Richard of Bay City, 68-year-old Theodore Richard of Munger and 43-year-old Todd Richard of Burt were arraigned yesterday in Schoolcraft County District Court. Richard pleaded guilty to the two misdemeanors in exchange …