A Hancock man facing criminal sexual conduct charges is having his case bound over to Circuit Court. 37 year old Michael Kangas had a preliminary exam in Houghton County District Court yesterday. He’s charged with three counts of second-degree CSC. Two of the counts are said to involve separate incidents …

Insurers in Michigan say the past seven weeks of winter weather has resulted in a dramatic increase in auto and property insurance claims in Michigan. And with the increase in claims there’s always the chance it could mean higher insurance premiums. The Insurance Institute of Michigan says however it’s too …

The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter released its first gubernatorial scorecard Wednesday, that evaluates Rick Snyder’s performance on energy, environment, good government and related issues during his first three years as governor. Sierra Club Political Chairman Richard Barron says Governor Snyder scored a “somewhat pathetic” 22-percent reflecting a failing grade on …

Health officials continue to urge Michigan residents to get a flu vaccination, as influenza activity continues to rise. The Michigan Department of Community Health says there has been an increase in hospitalizations from the flu in every age group and at least six deaths have been reported this flu season. …

Taxpayers have footed the bill for more than $200,000 to assist a single controversial cattle farmer in the western Upper Peninsula against wolf attacks. That’s according to newly obtained documents by Mlive.com. The documents detail a Department of Natural Resources memorandum that shows growing frustration with 68-year-old John Koski, well …

Assistance to low-income utility customers in the U.P. will be available due to a grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission. SEMCO, the Salvation Army, Superior Watershed and TrueNorth were among the 14 organizations across the state to receive funding and will now have a chance to help those effected …

Tonight will be the first Houghton city council meeting of 2014 and there is much to discuss. Leftover from 2013 is a proposal to make amendments to the Houghton zoning code. The first two resolutions of the new year deal with deficit elimination plans, one for the Downtown Development Authority, …

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates declined in most of Michigan in November, but the rates did increase in three regions. The U.P. was one of those three. Among the counties with a double-digit rate were Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon. Houghton County’s unemployment rate was a little less than 8%. That news …

The Michigan House Fiscal Agency is projecting $1.1 billion in additional revenue for the state through 2016. The HFA estimates show the state ending Fiscal Year 2013 with about $373 million more in the General Fund and more than $56 million more in the School Aid Fund. It projects $154 …

Health officials say flu, measles and pertussis were among the diseases the state saw higher cases of during 2013. But according to figures released by the Department of Community Health, chickenpox, West Nile Virus and typhoid were among the diseases that had fewer instances last year. Flu cases diagnosed and …