10/07/2025

IRONWOOD - The Gogebic Community College Foundation’s annual “Celebration of Achievements” Banquet is on Thursday, the 16th, at the David G. Lindquist Student and Conference Center. The GCC Foundation Board will honor Distinguished Alumni and Faculty Member Jim Dahlin, Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College Walt & Dona Edwards, Distinguished Alumnus Ryan Heinonen, and Outstanding College Trustee John Lupino. A reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program. The public is welcome. Tickets are $40.00 and can be purchased from a Foundation Board member or by calling the college.

10/07/2025

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Justice is asking a judge to immediately put on hold his order that would require elections officials to verify the citizenship of all 3.6 million registered Wisconsin voters before the next statewide election in February. The state justice department, which represents the Wisconsin Elections Commission, on Monday asked for a stay pending an appeal. The fight over verifying the citizenship status of voters in Wisconsin comes as President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has sought voter records from at least 26 states, including Wisconsin.

10/07/2025

MICHIGAN - As housing prices keep going up in Michigan, lawmakers are considering ways to provide more property tax relief. 

Two bills with bipartisan support would expand the homestead property tax credit by raising the property value cap and increasing income eligibility levels. Jason Lachowski with A-A-R-P Michigan says these proposals would help older Michiganders in particular, by easing their tax burden and allowing them to stay in their homes and communities.

                    0:13  "It's difficult to absorb the rising costs that we've seen for things like food, utilities and more – and then property increase, tax increases can have a major impact then, on an older adult's household budget."

If the bills pass, the property value cap would increase from 135-thousand dollars to 161-thousand-700 dollars. The income limit for singles would be 71-thousand-700 dollars, and 141-thousand-700 for joint filers.  Critics have said efforts like these would put a strain on Michigan's budget and possibly increase home prices by upping demand. Lachowski cites an A-A-R-P study showing 85-percent of adults over age 45 say higher property taxes will make it harder for them to stay in their homes. He adds these bills have support across the aisle, which he says is key this year with Michigan's divided legislature.

                    0:14  "This package of bills is the perfect example of where the two parties, as different as they can be, have come together to identify a problem, identify a solution, and are going to push for it for passage."

Republicans control Michigan's House by six members, and Democrats control the Senate by just one member. Both bills are now in the Senate Finance Committee. The legislative session is scheduled to end on December 31st. Lachowski says the bills have gotten a strong response from A-A-R-P's one-point-two million members in Michigan. He believes they have enough support to reach the governor's desk, and urges lawmakers to make that happen.

                    0:09  "If they want to bring financial relief to Michiganders all across our beautiful state through the homestead property tax credit, there is a way we can reach that."