News

There is no longer a vacant seat on the Houghton City Council. The council voted in long time Houghton resident John Sullivan, Sullivan fills the vacancy left by former Councilman Gernot Joachim and will serve the remainder of the term until the election next November. The council also made a …

Legislation to ease regulations on small copper mining operations passed the state Senate Tuesday. Bill sponsor Senator Tom Casperson says the bill creates separate rules for smaller native copper mining operations. Opponents say the measure should include provisions allowing for more local input and for geochemical tests at potential mine …

The straight ticket voting checkbox would be absent from the Michigan ballot, under a bill that cleared the legislature Wednesday night. The legislation passed mostly along party-lines in both the House and Senate. Majority Republicans backed the measure saying it would allow the voting public to fully engage in the …

University of Michigan researchers are reporting some good news Wednesday regarding drug use among American teenagers. The news is contained in the results of the latest national survey from the U of M “Monitoring the Future” series. It says the use of both alcohol and cigarettes have reached their lowest …

A bill to eliminate the parental rights of a rapist cleared the state Senate Tuesday. Under current law, parental rights can be terminated after a rape conviction, but this legislation would ask for only clear and convincing evidence to terminate parental rights. Supporters of the legislation say rapists should not …

The governor has signed a bill into law aimed at cutting in to a substitute teacher shortage in the state. The new law will allow retired teachers to return to the district they retired from – and not lose their pension benefits or health benefits – so long as they …

Preventing teenage prescription drug overdoses is the goal of a bill signed into law by the governor Wednesday. The legislation would exempt those under 21 from criminal penalties when trying to get medical help for themselves or another person for a prescription drug overdose. Supporters say the current law serves …

Gray wolves will remain on the endangered species list despite an 11th hour attempt to have them removed. Some members of congress were hoping to work removing gray wolves from the endangered species list into a massive congressional tax and spending plan, but it didn’t make the cut. State Representative …

Local businesses are being sought out to advertise in publications that promote Michigan Tech athletics outside the area. The problem is, these solicitors have nothing to do with Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech’s Associate Athletic Director for External Relations Joel Isaacson said, “They’re selling program advertising space and we’re just concerned …

Inmates in the Houghton County Jail will soon benefit from a new kitchen. The design for renovating the old kitchen and putting on an addition for a walk-in cooler/walk-in freezer were approved by the Houghton County Board of Commissioners at their final meeting of 2015 Tuesday. The project still needs …