Local News

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The task force investigating replacement options for the outdated and overcrowded Houghton County jail is pursuing four possibilities.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 …

Applications are due soon for this year’s James Bogan Health Administration Scholarship. The $5,000 award is presented by the Portage Health Foundation to a resident of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon Counties pursuing a Master’s level degree in the healthcare field. Completed applications and cover letters must be received at …

The Village of L’Anse has made the final payment on a loan that spurred development of the industrial park on Lambert Road. The loan was arranged by the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region and the Michigan Department of Transportation to build a Class A road to the development, …

The State of Michigan will create a committee of industry experts to help guide development of the mining industry. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4227 into law yesterday, officially creating the Committee on Michigan’s Mining Future. Introduced by state Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) in February, the committee will make …

As received from Aspirus: Aspirus At Home has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2018 calendar year. The annual SHPBest™ award program …

The new Upper Peninsula Energy Task Force will hold its first meeting this afternoon in Marquette. The 1:00 session at the Northern Center Ballroom will be open to the public. One of the first orders of business will be to establish a series of listening sessions across the U.P., to …