3/26/2025

UPPER MICHIGAN - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has distributed $150,000 in grants to 28 registered animal shelters in the state including two shelters in the U.P. The Animal Welfare Grants are funded by Michigander who choose the Animal Welfare fund box on their state tax returns. One hundred percent of those contributions goes directly to help better care for local animals. Since 2010, MDARD has distributed more than $2 million to over 333 animal shelters. The Department of Ag and Rural Development received 65 applications for this past grant cycle from organizations across the state. The Delta Animal Shelter in Escanaba will receive just over $1,500 and the Ontonagon County Animal Protection Agency will receive $4,000.

3/26/2025

MELLEN - Those who visit Mellen and Copper Falls State Park are sure to be delighted by the scenic rock formations, waterfalls and river gorges, and now the park has another feature to offer. Former Park superintendent Kent Goeckermann had always recognized the need for a reservable facility for park goes, but over his 30-year tenure, tight budgets always pushed that project to the end of the list. The concession building in the park has a pavilion and is well visited by parkgoers but cannot be reserved. In the early 2000’s, the Friends of Copper Falls State Park was organized, with the goal of building another pavilion. in 2021, a funding through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant through the Wisconsin DNR was awarded and the project started to take shape. The Friend also took over running the gift and concession shop with all the profit going toward the pavilion fund and launched fundraising efforts. The project was finished and dedicated this past Fall and now reservations can be made for a $55 fee for the pavilion.

3/26/2025

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Total spending on Wisconsin’s pivotal Supreme Court race has reached more than $81 million, including more than $17 million by groups funded by Trump adviser Elon Musk. Those figures are according to a tally Tuesday by the Brennan Center for Justice. The $81 million is the most on record for any U.S. judicial race, breaking the $56 million spent on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court contest in 2023, when majority control also was at stake. Turnout during the first week of early voting ahead of this year's race also exceeds levels from two years ago. It's the latest sign of the high interest in the contest for control of the court, which has drawn attention from President Donald Trump.