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Governor Whitmer has signed an executive order which temporarily allows the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Unemployment Insurance Agency and other administrative hearings to be held by video conference or by phone, as opposed to in person hearings. The order also allows for e signatures in place of written signatures. Governor …

Michigan Senator Gary Peters helped pass the third COVID-19 package, which will expand unemployment benefits, support small businesses, and hospitals and health care professionals. The bill includes Peters’ Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, which will create an unemployment compensation program to help those unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. …

The Portage Lake District Library and Hancock Public School Library want you to know that despite the fact they are closed, they still offer many online programs. You can check out the Portage Lake  District Library Facebook Page and Tumblebook Library for e-books, quizzes and educational games. No library card …

The Houghton City Council held their monthly meeting last night, for the first time, it was held electronically. This was due to numerous state and federal declarations aimed at keeping people home, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public comments brought both support and opposition to the marijuana ordinances.  City Manager Eric …

Two professors from Michigan Tech, and one from Texas A & M are working on a way to store energy generated by alternative power sources, by using abandoned underground mining sites here in the Copper Country. If their work is successful, it could be the blueprint to provide continuous power …

Local retailers, while noticing a drop in overall sales, during the COVID 19 Pandemic, are remaining upbeat and want residents to know, supply chains for the most part are strong. Ben Campioni from Pat’s Foods in Calumet had this to say. Campioni added his family is working hard to keep …

Michigan has just under 1,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 24 deaths. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula now has two confirmed cases. One in Chippewa County, and one in Marquette County. The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department states 65 people have been tested in Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties. Twenty …

Michigan’s own Ford Motor Company is teaming up with 3M in Minnesota and GE Healthcare out of Chicago to produce medical equipment including air purifying respirators, ventilators and face shields. The company hopes to assemble up to 100,000 face shields per week, and increase it’s 3-D printing capacity to produce …

Due to the state’s many executive orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers are advising Michigan stores to no longer accept bottle and can returns. The Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, Midwest Independent Retailers and the Michigan Retailers Association released a joint press release saying stores should stop accepting returns, …

The City Council of Houghton will hold their monthly meeting tonight, electronically, in accordance with several recent executive orders signed by Governor Whitmer, which include no gatherings of more than 10 people,  allowing cities to hold meetings electronically, and the most recent “Stay Home Stay Safe” Order, to slow the …