Community

MSP brings teen defensive driving training to the Upper Peninsula

Upper Peninsula, Mich. — The Michigan State Police (MSP) hosted Teen Defensive Driving Programs in Brimley and Gladstone on August 15 and 16, 2026. The programs gave a total of 63 teens hands on training and practical skills to help them become safer drivers. Thirty-three students in total attended the Brimley sessions on August 15, followed by 30 students in total at the Gladstone sessions on August 16. Participants included teens from across the Upper Peninsula, the Lower Peninsula, and even some out-of-state teens took part. The training included behind the wheel instruction in ...

Statewide survey shows important role for local newspapers in promoting transparency

LANSING, Mich. — A recent statewide poll shows Michigan voters trust local newspapers and their digital platforms to provide them with accurate information about the actions of elected officials. The poll of likely November 2026 voters commissioned by EPIC-MRA showed that Michigan voters ...

Music at the Marketplace

UPCAP announces September events and retreat for regional family caregivers

The Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) has announced two upcoming events in September designed to provide education, resources and relaxation for non-professional family caregivers across the region. The first initiative is the Dementia Caregiving Series, a three-part online program designed for family caregivers of people with dementia. The one-hour online sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Sept. 15, 22 and 29 from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern time via Zoom. During the three online sessions, participants will learn basic information about dementia and its impact on ...

More families may now qualify for Michigan WIC program

LANSING -- The income guidelines for the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children Program were recently adjusted due to federal guidelines, and more Michigan families may now qualify for benefits. Under the updated WIC income eligibility guidelines, a family of four can now qualify with an annual income of up to $61,050, an increase of more than $1,500. WIC, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, provides vital support to families by offering supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and ...

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement urges responsible driving as busy Labor Day holiday nears

ESCANABA — Impaired driving — whether caused by alcohol or drugs — poses a constant threat on our roads. Late summer and the Labor Day holiday period are among the deadliest times of the year for crashes and fatalities involving impaired drivers. Over the Labor Day holiday weekends from 2021 to 2025, there were a total of 46 driver fatalities in traffic crashes in Michigan. In those crashes, 39.1 percent of the drivers killed were alcohol- and/or drug-impaired, according to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center. In 2025 alone, of the 1,002 fatal ...