Local News

The COVID-19 numbers in our region continue to climb. Yesterday’s update from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department includes 142 more confirmed positives, 51 more probables, and four more deaths, since the previous update was posted late Thursday. 66 of the confirmed positives are in Houghton County. Baraga County had …

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department has a new medical director. Dr. Robert Lorinser practiced family medicine in Marquette from 1989 to 2011, then spent five tours at locations around the world as a Regional Medical Officer with the United States Foreign Service. He is already serving as the medical …

Hancock Middle School has a new principal. Jesse Kentala has spent 15 years as an English teacher and guidance counselor at the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City area schools. He coached the Blue Bolts basketball team for 14 seasons. The Hancock Board of Education approved his hiring at its meeting last night. …

Gogebic Community College will move to distance delivery format beginning tomorrow. All classes and labs will be affected, except for nursing labs and clinical rotations. Most faculty and staff will also work remotely. Facility doors will remain locked for the duration of the Epidemic Order issued by the Michigan Department …

Three U.P. Republican state legislators have now responded to Governor Whitmer’s order to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. In a joint statement released yesterday afternoon, State Senator Ed McBroom, and Representatives Greg Markkanen and Beau LaFave accused the governor of playing political games by releasing her decision after …

Hancock teachers have a new contract. The two-year deal was ratified by the union and the board of education last week. According to Hancock Superintendent Steve Patchin, teachers will get salary increases of 1.5 percent this year, and next year. There will also be a one-time bonus next December, which …

A cache of guns and illegal drugs has been seized by investigators at a residence near Skanee. Detectives from the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at the home on the L’Anse Indian Reservation on Thursday. Officials say the warrant was the result of a five-month investigation. …

The COVID-19 numbers in the Western Upper Peninsula have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Last night’s update from the Western U.P. Health Department includes a whopping 229 new positive cases confirmed across the five-county region since the last report was released late Monday. An additional 50 probable cases …

In the midst of the pandemic, Calumet Electronics Corporation is expanding. The company has purchased the historic Calumet and Hecla Bathhouse, which will be renovated, and serve as the company’s headquarters. Construction is also underway on a 35,000 square foot expansion of the company’s manufacturing facilities. That project should be …

Northern Michigan University has introduced two new scholarship programs designed to help Upper Peninsula students. Both were approved yesterday by the Board of Trustees. The Transfer UP-Winter Awards will provide up to $1,000 for transfer students who wish to enroll for the first time at NMU for the Winter 2021 …