News

Gas prices increased from last week, AAA Michigan reports. Michigan’s current statewide average is about $2.42 per gallon, about 11 cents more than last week’s average and about $1.27 less than this same time last year. This is the fifth week in a row that the statewide average weekly gas …

Ice coverage continues to grow over the Great Lakes and now stands at 88.3% as of Sunday. The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids says the coverage is ahead of last year by about 7% and the peak is expected in the next few weeks. The all-time record for ice coverage …

Eighty-five prospective troopers reported to the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing Sunday for the first day of the 128th Trooper Recruit School. For the next 21 weeks, between wake-up at 5 a.m. and lights-out at 10 p.m., the recruits will receive training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, …

While a legislative committee this week could vote to eliminate film tax incentives in Michigan, incentives for three film projects have been approved by the Michigan Film Office. They are: “My Soul to Keep,” “Swish Master,” and “Golem.” All three will be produced by Exxodus Pictures Studio, based in Detroit. …

Look in most any home in Michigan with a computer, and you’ll find software that’s far more advanced than what is used in some state government departments around the country. For example, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs told lawmakers in Lansing last week that the system used …

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is staying on the sidelines concerning the state’s May 5 road and sales tax proposal. President and CEO Rich Studley says while they appreciate the governor’s push to fix Michigan’s roads, there’s not a consensus within the chamber’s membership to support or oppose the statewide …

They say to let sleeping dogs lie–and if they ran in this weekend’s CopperDog 150 or 40, they deserve the rest. Four hundred sled dogs hit the trails Friday night–racing in the single stage 40 mile race or the grueling three-stage run that took the mushers to the tip of …

Multiple short closures of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge have been scheduled for this week. The Michigan Department of Transportation advises that the closures will likely result in delays for motorists. Closures are scheduled to begin today and continue through this Friday. Motorists should expect intermittent 20-minute closures between 7 …

Are they endangered or are they not?  The argument continues over whether wolves in Michigan should be protected by law. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has filed an appeal of the December ruling by a federal district court that returned the wolves to the federal endangered species list. This followed …

Escanaba’s Basic Marine Shipyard has been fined $243,000 for 18 safety violations. Scott Allen of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that the company has a repeated poor safety record, and does not care about the safety of its workers. The OSHA Region Five office in Chicago conducted …