News

This week several volunteers at Portage Health were recognized at the 23rd annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. In 2013, 90 volunteers provided more than 16,000 hours of service at the hospital. Portage Health President and CEO Jim Bogan distributed pins and flowers to volunteers recognized for service milestones, ranging from 500 …

The Michigan House Thursday approved bills designed to raise up to 500 million more dollars for Michigan roads and bridges without raising taxes, although critics are coming from several different directions. The bills, among other things, earmark one percent of the state’s use tax for the State Trunkline Fund. The …

Police across Michigan arrested 451 drunk drivers during a three-week impaired driving crackdown that covered St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA basketball tournament. Of those arrested during the March 12 – April 7 period, 85 were charged under the state’s high Blood Alcohol Content law. That’s down from the 510 …

The University of Michigan has broken ground on a facility in Ann Arbor to test driverless vehicles. The Michigan Mobility Transformation Center’s test site will be a 5-mile road — complete with twists and turns and a cityscape designed to simulate a real-world driving experience. It will be built on …

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville has introduced legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage, but could also negate a ballot proposal seeking a bigger increase. Richardville’s bill would increase the minimum wage to $8.15 an hour by September 1, 2014. As written, his measure would repeal the current minimum …

Governor Rick Snyder has declared states of emergency in five additional Upper Peninsula counties because of winter water and sewer main damage. Chippewa, Delta, Gogebic, Luce and Mackinac counties have been added to the governor’s declaration for Marquette County from April 17th. The state of emergency makes sure all state …

Sixteen high schools each sent a team of four students to take part in the 25th annual Bioathlon at Michigan Tech earlier today. The students rotated between four different competitions throughout the day. Event organizer Jeff Lewin says the teams do a lot of preparations to get ready for these …

The Finnish American Heritage Center will be hosting a professional retail workshop later today at 5:30 p.m. The event will educate local businessowners as a part of the Reshape Downtown Hancock Initiative. Two guests will be present: Laura Marohnic, a financial & strategy specialist from the National Association of Small …

For the ninth year in a row, Michigan Technological University ranks as the number one university nationwide for the number of Peace Corps Master’s International students currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Michigan Tech has 32 graduate students overseas, earning the University top spot on the Peace Corps’ annual ranking …

Escanaba voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum on Tuesday that would allow the city to close the power plant if the sale to Escanaba Green Energy falls through. Mayor Marc Tall says he is “gratified” that the referendem passed, by a vote of 509 to 229. That was well above the …