Local News

The Portage Lake District Library is beginning a delivery service for homebound patrons. Officials say they’ll bring materials to cardholders who live within the library service areas of the City of Houghton and Portage Township… and to those who live no more than 10 miles outside the service area boundaries. …

Michigan Technological University has joined the growing list of colleges that will consider student applications without an ACT or SAT score. Director of Admissions Allison Carter says students with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale now have the option to apply …

The Houghton County Memorial Airport is getting $544,000 from the Department of Transportation for improvements. The money comes via a Federal Aviation Administration grant, supplemented by funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. A release from U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow indicated the funding will …

A Public Health Advisory has been posted for Portage Lake, Torch Lake, and the Portage Canal because of a bloom of potentially toxic algae. Officials with the Western U.P. Health Department say harmful algal blooms can look like spilled paint, pea soup, floating scum, mats, green sheens, clumps, or streaks …

As received from KI Sawyer International Airport: Sawyer International Airport, County of Marquette, is excited to announce flights will be doubling beginning July 2020. SkyWest (dba Delta) Air Lines will increase their flight schedule to Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis (MSP) beginning July 2nd, with additional flights the beginning of the …

Houghton voters will have a chance to weigh in on the city’s proposed Lakeshore Drive redevelopment project. 185 signatures have been turned in to place an advisory question on the August 4th ballot. The language reads, “Should the sale of the Waterfront Parking Deck Property (sic) be postponed until the …

Members of the Hancock Police Department have spoken out in support of city council member John Haeussler, following a discussion about the city budget at the council’s June 17th meeting. Remarks made by Haeussler that were reported to members of the police force led them to believe Haeussler supported reducing …

The Upper Peninsula State Fair will not take place this year. The Fair Authority announced yesterday that COVID-19 restrictions on crowd size would make it impossible to stage the event. Midway provider Skerbeck Entertainment has also been notified by the state that its activities are not yet permitted. Organizers say …

Canal View – Houghton County has passed the first test necessary to consider reopening to visitors. More than 500 residents and staff members have been tested for COVID-19 infection, and all the tests have been negative. Administrator Kim Salmi credits the staff’s faithful adherence to screening and prevention processes. Staff …

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a tuition increase at Northern Michigan University, but many students won’t feel it. The NMU Board of Trustees this morning raised tuition for resident undergraduates by $215 per semester – that’s nearly 4 percent. However, the board reallocated some financial assistance resources to provide a …