News

State lawmakers are considering legislation to mandate school expulsion for students that make death threats to teachers. Under the bill, students in grade six or above could be permanently expelled for making verbal death threats against a teacher. Former Grand Rapids area teacher, Diane Jelki, is supporting the legislation. She …

Talks between the governor and the four legislative leaders on how to fund road repairs in the state hit a snag Tuesday. Governor Rick Snyder says while talks had been going well he and the four tops have reached an impasse. The sticking point, according to Snyder, is what the …

Michigan is a signature away from becoming the latest state to ban powdered alcohol after the Michigan House passed a bill banning the sale of it Tuesday. The measure already passed the Senate. Lawmakers in favor of the ban say the product is being marketed to kids and looks like …

A Michigan House committee has passed a series of bills cracking down on people who make methamphetamine. One of the bills would increase the fines and jail time for someone who is caught making meth near a school or library. A second set of legislation would cut someone a break …

Attempting to get someone to buy certain allergy and cold medicines for the purpose of making methamphetamine would be a misdemeanor, under bills that cleared the full Senate Tuesday. A common ingredient in these medicines is ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, both key ingredients in making meth. It’s currently a felony to …

A state Senate committee late Tuesday approved, on a 4-to-1 vote, legislation that would make some changes to Michigan’s open carry laws. The measure would allow people with the right permit to conceal carry in schools, as opposed to open carry. Current state law doesn’t allow people to conceal carry …

With Fall colors reaching their peak for the season, some of the best views of the Houghton-Hancock hillsides can be found while on the Mont Ripley chair lift. The ski hill’s Copper Hoist Chair lift takes spectators on a 7-10 minute ride to its eastern peak, where there’s cider and …

HOUGHTON—Up to 175 area residents will get complimentary home energy assessments the week of Oct. 19-24, thanks to a pilot program linking the US Department of Energy (DOE), Efficiency UNITED and the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). The Home Energy Score program is open to anyone who 1) is a …

[Hancock, MI] The Portage Health Foundation recently awarded the Village of L’Anse $15,000.00 to install new fencing as part of the Village’s Third Street Park Enhancement Project. The fencing is anticipated to be installed by the end of October. The Village of L’Anse applied for funding under the PHFoundation’s outdoor …

Michigan is the ninth most money-savvy state in the country, according to a new study from Gobankingrates.com. The ranking is based on several factors tied to financial health, such as residents’ use of banking services, their saving and investing behaviors, and the availability of statewide financial education policies. Number one …