Local News

Projects for a new coffee shop and another marijuana retailer in Houghton are a step closer to proceeding, after the city’s planning commission approved their site plans last night. The marijuana shop will be located in the former Bambu Restaurant on Ridge Road. Owners say they’ll employ around 20 full-time …

The Hancock city council, planning commission and downtown development authority will hold a joint session tonight. The agenda calls for discussion about the city’s master plan, along with updates about city projects and the police department. See it here. https://www.cityofhancock.com/news-view.php?target=1068 The meeting will be held in the Wiitanen Room at …

Two Upper Peninsula projects will receive financial boosts from the state. The Michigan Strategic Fund will provide $1.4 million to help the Keweenaw Co-op’s relocation to the former Bruno’s Motors building in downtown Hancock. The Co-op plans to expand the building by 50 percent, and maintain around 28 employees. The …

Marijuana retail is boosting the budgets of several local governments. Two local jurisdictions which allow marijuana retailers receive a share of the state fees and taxes collected from those businesses. The state released its 2022 revenue-sharing figures yesterday. The proceeds per outlet came to 51,841.21 With three outlets, the city …

The Portage Health Foundation is making $100,000 available to help boost mental health treatment options in the region. PHF Executive Director Kevin Store said the grant offering was prompted by reported increases in anxiety, suicide ideation, violent crime rates and addiction issues.  In the 2018 Upper Peninsula Community Health Needs …

The current staff shortage across the nation has begun to affect areas of local government, especially with local law enforcement and emergency services. And forcing some departments to rethink how they market law enforcement to perspective officers. One thing that is helping departments such as Houghton police, are first responder …

A trial date has been set for a Covington man charged with drunk driving resulting in the death of two people. Ryan Orzechowicz, of Covington, is scheduled for a jury trial on July 10th, after waiving his rights to his circuit court arraignment on February 15th. On November 4th, Orzechowicz …

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department board has approved the new regional health code.  Citizens expressed a wide range of opinions on the document during a public hearing last night. Contractors who install septic and sewage systems generally agreed that the new regulations will help when creating new developments in …

Iron River police are looking for the person who robbed a bank in that city yesterday morning. Officers were called to the Flagstar Bank Branch around 9:30.  Surveillance video captured images of the suspect wearing sunglasses, a yellow and black jacket with a hood, and Khaki pants. The suspect fled …

The Houghton City Planning Commission’s meeting tonight will include a public hearing regarding a request for a special use permit. NU Group, LLC, wants to open a marijuana retail outlet at 1301 Ridge Road, in the former Bambu Restaurant building. The commission could act on the request, following the hearing. …