News

For the 64th year, the Houghton County Fair will offer one last hurrah for the summer. The fair opens at 3pm today and visitors can expect the usual highlights and attractions, but Fair Board Member Bonnie DeCaire-Jones says there will be even more of them. Though there won’t be any …

The city of Houghton is in the process of updating its charter. A commission reviewed the current charter beginning in 2012 and found 22 items that needed to be updated. The charter was written in the 1960’s. Not all of the amendments can be changed at once…so the city selected …

Houghton has a new city attorney. The city council voted at Wednesday’s regular meeting to appoint Calumet native James Cone to the position. Cone replaces long-time serving city attorney David Mechlin of Vairo Mechlin Tomasi. Mechlin has been handling legal issues for Houghton for 22 years. City Manager Eric Waara …

Despite billions of dollars being spent by automakers to add advanced technology in their new vehicles, a new J-D Power and Associates study shows much of that technology going unused. The study surveyed 4,200 new vehicle owners and lessees. It found that just one of five owners has never used …

As an estimated one million Michigan citizens begin drafting their fantasy football teams, a state senator is pushing legislation to ensure the game stays legal in the state. While fantasy sports betting is not illegal in Michigan, Senator Curtis Hertel says it falls in a gray area of law. Betting …

A small group of people gathered in front of U.S. Senator Gary Peters downtown Lansing office Wednesday in hopes of convincing him to back the Iran nuclear deal. He’s one of a handful of Democratic U.S. Senators on the fence. Rabi Michael Zimmerman says the deal is essential for world …

Two vacant teaching jobs – one month goes by – and not a single person applies. That’s the reality facing Upper Peninsula school superintendents and it’s only going to get worse. Lou Steigerwald, superintendent of Norway-Vulcan Area Schools, surveyed other U.P. superintendents and found most expect to lose 25 percent …

A public policy survey of local leaders across Michigan shows less than half feel the state is headed in the right direction. Tom Ivacko, program coordinator at the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan, which conducted the survey says – surprisingly – Republicans led …

When the National Park Service was formed 99 years ago, the Quincy Mine Hoist was bustling with activity. Today the site is still pretty busy, but as part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. Park Ranger Kristen Hiske says the staff works hard to educate people about the history of …

An anonymous gift from an alumnus to Michigan Technological University will provide an endowed department chair for the University’s largest academic department. The $3 million estate gift from the donor, whom the University refers to as “Jack,” will fund the Endowed Department Chair in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM). This marks …