Local News

The Calumet Theatre is looking to expand its base of volunteers. Executive Director Marlin Lee says there are lots of jobs that need to be filled… Lee says volunteers are essential in keeping the theatre open… You can find out more at an open house tonight at 7:00 at the …

The City of Houghton is studying traffic on and around the Houghton-Hancock Bridge. At last night’s City Council meeting, Police Chief John Donnelly said that the goal is to try to find ways to limit bridge openings to times when traffic patterns will be disrupted the least. Donnelly noted that …

A proposed revision of the City of Houghton’s Solid Waste ordinance did not advance at last night’s City Council meeting, because of a point raised during the public hearing. A citizen asked if something could be done to prevent the mess caused when bagged trash is placed at the curb …

The City of Houghton has revised its rental housing ordinance. At last night’s council meeting, City manager Eric Waara said that the new rules will streamline the licensing process by allowing the Zoning Administrator to grant a license to a conforming property, instead of requiring that all licenses be issued …

The Houghton City Council will hold two public hearings on proposed new ordinances at tonight’s meeting at the City Center. Ordinance 298 updates rental property licensing and inspection in the city. Ordinance 299 updates the city’s solid waste and recycling policies. The council is scheduled to vote on both ordinances …

The U.P. Regional Blood Center has issued an urgent call for blood donations. The Center’s web page indicates that supplies of A+, A-, B+, B-, O+ and O- are critically low. Blood donations tend to fall off during the busy summer months, while the need often increases. Giving blood is …

The task force investigating replacement options for the outdated and overcrowded Houghton County jail is pursuing four possibilities. Houghton County Commissioner Tom Tikkanen provided the board with an update at yesterday’s meeting. The task force has split into sub-groups. One is revisiting an expansion proposal similar to that which was …

The County Board lent its support yesterday to an effort to upgrade the region’s infrastructure, in the wake of last year’s Father’s Day Flood. Keweenaw Land Trust Executive Director Evan McDonald briefed commissioners on a task force called Keweenaw Resiliency. He described Keweenaw Resiliency as a partnership of organizations and …

Road construction around the UP Health System-Portage campus in Hancock could pose some access challenges over the next several weeks. Hospital officials are emphasizing that there will always be a way to get to the hospital, and that all services are continuing. Here is access information provided by the hospital:  …

The new U.P. Energy Task Force met for the first time yesterday. The group was established by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to find sustainable ways to provide more reliable and less expensive energy in the Upper Peninsula. Members include energy providers and users, along with consumer and environmental advocates. In the …