Local News

Houghton County continues as the COVID-19 hot spot in the latest report from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.  Since their previous update was released late Thursday, 93 more positives have been confirmed in the five-county region. 68 of those are in Houghton County, with 20 in Gogebic County, three …

The effort to vaccinate the general public in the Copper Country against COVID-19 is officially underway. Aspirus began inoculations yesterday. UP Health System-Portage is set to begin this afternoon, with Baraga County Memorial Hospital scheduled to start on Thursday. Laurium resident Kathy Hendrickson received her first COVID-19 vaccine Monday. Image …

A woman injured in a Keweenaw County snowmobile crash January 2nd has died. Keweenaw County Sheriff’s deputies confirm that 25-year-old Sutton Beck from Hartford, Wisconsin succumbed to her injuries at a hospital in Duluth. She had been transferred there after initial treatment at Aspirus Keweenaw. The crash occurred on Trail …

Seniors who typically get help filling out their income tax forms at the Portage Lake District Library will not have the opportunity this year. The service provided by AARP will not be offered, because of COVID-19 concerns. Library Director Dillon Geshel says they’ve received dozens of calls asking about the …

Local veterans hoping to get COVID-19 shots through the Oscar G. Johnson VA Center may need to wait a while. Center director Jim Rice says his facility has received 1,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine. All have been either used or allocated to health care workers, Community Living Center patients …

UP Health System-Portage has scheduled its first COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The clinics are only for those aged 65 and older. They will be held tomorrow between 5:00 and 7:00, Thursday between 3:00 and 7:00, and Saturday between 11:00 and 3:00. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by calling 483-1775.

The Lake Linden-Hubbell School District will move entirely to online learning this week. In a letter to the community, Superintendent Brad Codere said two elementary school students tested positive last week, and a positive test of an employee has forced out all but one member of the kitchen staff. Codere …

Another fine has been levied against Calumet’s controversial Café Rosetta. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Wanda Stokes levied a $2,500 contempt of court penalty Friday morning, after business owners refused to honor her earlier order to stop providing indoor service, in violation of the state’s Epidemic Order. In her decision, …

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Stephanie Krieger with the Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force says the term “human trafficking” can encompass a wide variety of activities… “Quite simply put, one person exploits another person for monetary value.” That can include forcing people into the sex trade, or …

As received from the Western U.P. Health Department: The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) announces that the agency is set to begin COVID-19 vaccination of residents age 65 years or older. The first clinics will be held beginning Monday, January 11, at both the Hancock and Bessemer locations, with …