State News

Ice Fest is happening this weekend in Munising. The annual festival features ice climbing at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Park Ranger Bill Smith says beginners are welcome. Smith says several hundred people attend Ice Fest because it has some of the best ice in the Midwest.

A big event in sled dog racing today with the UP 200. Ron Hewson is president of the UP Sled Dog Association. Hewson says the UP 200 is one of the most widely attended races and temperatures are expected to be in the 40’s. In the past, it’s been as …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers throughout the state to assist with its annual frog and toad survey. Declining populations of frogs, toads and other amphibians have been documented worldwide since the 1980s. Studies suggest amphibians are disappearing due to habitat loss, pollution, disease and collection. Michigan’s …

Common Core could soon be history in Michigan. Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick has more.

Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters has introduced a new bill that would require American companies to reveal whether their employees actually work in his country or in others. The bills would make sure that federal contracts, which are funded by taxpayers, would go to American companies with jobs here in …

Vice-president Mike Pence has some recommendations about tightening up the federal elections system, courtesy of Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. She says one thing would be to make Social Security information available to clear dead voters from the voter rolls. Johnson also recommends removing those registered in more than …

Republican members of the Michigan House of Representatives will hold a press conference at 1:00pm to announce the principles and priorities that will guide the House Republican caucus over the coming two year term. House Republicans want to emphasize a more transparent government with a public declaration of their legislative …

A Republican-led House panel has voted to cut Michigan’s income tax and eliminate it over a nearly-four decade span–despite “serious concerns” voiced by Governor Snyder. Supporters say the bill would reduce the 4.25 percent tax to 3.9 percent. Then, it would drop 0.1 percent per year until it reaches zero. Opponents say the …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is recommending an increase by 160 bear hunting licenses to be issued throughout the state. As the population of black bears increases, so too does the number of nuisance complaints, mostly in the northern lower peninsula. The DNR believes there is about 12,000 black …

Comedian & actress Chelsea Handler is joining forces with Congressman Dan Kildee, of Flint to protect funding for Planned Parenthood. Kildee says they’re starting a petition “Stand with Chelsea and Dan”. For anyone who’s interested in the petition, go to www.dankildee.com.