1/08/2026

MICHIGAN - State Sen. Aric Nesbitt is demanding an audit of all childcare programs run under Michigan’s Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, also called MiLEAP this after reports of widespread fraud cases in Minnesota.  In a written statement, Nesbitt said “The state must ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent to help families, not foreign scammers.”  A MiLEAP official said accountability and transparency are central to the organization’s work, adding that childcare programs are subject to regular oversight by state and federal entities.  As a result of ongoing investigations in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz has dropped his reelection bid and the Trump administration has frozen all federal childcare funding to Minnesota and several other states. Michigan’s federal childcare funds are intact for now. 

1/08/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - The Michigan DNR has begun offering applications for licenses for this spring’s turkey hunt.  The drawing for the U.P. will be March 2 with 6,000 licenses being offered with the application window open until February 1st. Starting March 9, if you were not successful in the drawing, there will be extra tags available for purchase.  A new rule this year is if you have a youth hunter with you, you do not need to apply for a license for them. Instead, you can just purchase a tag. Another new rule is you will need to register your harvest, similar to how you register your deer harvest.  The application for a turkey hunting license is starting at $5. When you get it, you will be charged $15 to purchase the license, along with the base license, which will cost you $11.

1/08/2026

IRONWOOD -  Stormy Kromer in Ironwood has created 36 custom “GO JESSIE 2026” hats for three-time Olympic medalist cross-country skier Jessie Diggins’ supporters at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Chairman Bob Jacquart was inspired after seeing a photo of Jessie’s father, Clay Diggins, wearing a classic Stormy Kromer. After connecting with Clay last October and becoming friends, Jacquart made the hats for family and friends, which Clay believes will give Jessie “energy.” Although from Minnesota, Jessie has strong ties to the U.P. skiing community where she trained. Make sure and mark your calendars to support Jessie and to look for one of the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Michigan’, those special hats, during the televised events.