Local News

Hancock’s extensive new zoning ordinance is officially on the books. After hearing from more than a dozen residents at a public hearing last evening, the city council voted 5-2 to enact the first major update to the code in a half century.  Citizen comments included concern about the “mixed use” …

The Houghton city council celebrated the first actual visit to the area by the Viking Cruise ship Octantis last evening. At the council’s regular meeting, City Manager Eric Waara said the day went smoothly… All indications are people had a great day here. Everything worked out well. People got to …

CLK School District teachers have a new contract. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board of education ratified the agreement that runs into 2024. Details about the pact were not released. The board approved hot lunch prices for the upcoming year, and ratified contracts with food providers. Ivan Niemi was named an …

Finlandia University has earned re-accreditation for the school’s nursing program. Finlandia received their re-accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Finlandia University offers two tracks for education in nursing, through their Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and an online RN-BSN program. The university’s renewal will last for 10 …

This morning Viking Cruises made their debut stop in the Portage Canal. The 665 foot long ship arrived to the Keweenaw just before 8 am this morning, docking near the U.S. Coast Guard Station – Portage in Dollar Bay. From there the cruise liner’s occupants were tended by a smaller …

Houghton County is supporting an effort to install location markers on ATV and snowmobile trails. The effort is spearheaded by Joe Schneller, who recently completed signing the trails in Keweenaw County. The markers give location information that rescuers can use to locate stranded trail users in remote areas. At their …

The City of Hancock could approve its new zoning ordinance at a special council meeting tonight. City Manager Mary Babcock says the first major rewrite of the zoning rules in more than a half-century has been in the works since November of 2020… The Planning Commission did a lot of …

The City of Houghton will consider a change in its parking ordinance this evening. The proposed revision would allow the council to change fines for violations by resolution. Currently, updating the fine structure requires modifying the entire ordinance. Officials anticipate the change will give city officials more flexibility to adapt …

The Allouez Township Fire Department has finished moving into their new home. For years the department saved money from a township millage to finance the construction of a larger facility to house their truck and equipment. In total the new building cost about 900,000 dollars, and the department did have …

The Upper Peninsula Cyber Security Institute (UPCI) at Northern Michigan University will host the first Cyber Security Symposium at the end of August. The symposium will bring together state, federal and private cyber security leaders to the area to discuss a variety of topics around being safe in an increasingly …