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Billerud completes $50M “Project Wolverine” investment at Escanaba mill

ESCANABA — Billerud has completed its 18-month, $50 million “Project Wolverine” investment at its Escanaba facility, centered on rebuilding the mill’s wood yard with safer, more efficient and more sustainable systems. The work replaced aging equipment with new unloading docks and two rotary debarking lines, modernizing a core part of the operation and reinforcing the lasting role of Escanaba's mill within Billerud’s North American business. The plant’s current production specializes in graphic papers, such as textbooks, which account for one-third of worldwide gross ...

MDHHS awards contract for Healthy Kids Dental 
to Delta Dental of Michigan  

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Healthy Kids Dental contract to Delta Dental of Michigan. The program serves approximately 955,000 children under age 21 in Michigan. Healthy Kids Dental is a dental benefit program for children enrolled in Medicaid. It covers services such as X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and sealants at no cost to families. The program provides access to a network of dental professionals across Michigan and promotes patient-centered best practices for children. The goal of the program ...

Highland Copper’s Copperwood Project cited in White House proclamation on domestic copper supply

WAKEFIELD — Highland Copper’s Copperwood Project near Wakefield was referenced in a recent White House proclamation tied to strengthening tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and copper and expanding domestic supply chains. The administration framed the move around national security, industrial resilience and support for American production with the Copperwood project mentioned as part of broader efforts to grow U.S. mining capacity. The acknowledgement places an important local project to the region inside a national conversation about critical minerals, manufacturing and supply ...

East end oil spill closes boat launch

SAULT STE. MARIE – The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Natural Resources Division staff was notified at approximately 5:45 p.m. Friday about a potential oil spill at the McKay Bay boat launch, east of Cedarville in Mackinac County. Upon learning of the issue, staff contacted local and tribal law enforcement and began coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard on containment and cleanup efforts to prevent the spill from migrating to sensitive coastal wetlands. An investigation into the cause and full extent of the spill is ongoing. The boat launch is temporarily closed ...

State individual income tax rate for 2026 tax year determined

MARQUETTE – State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks, Senate Fiscal Agency Director Kathryn Summers and House Fiscal Agency Director Mary Ann Cleary have published their statutorily required calculation to determine the individual income tax rate for the 2026 tax year. Upon publication of the state of Michigan’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 – which ran from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025 – the state treasurer and agency directors determined that the general fund growth did not exceed inflation and a rate adjustment calculation was not ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago NEGAUNEE – Have basketball, will travel. Former Northern Michigan University cage standout Kyle David took to the friendly skies after graduating in 1994, eventually landing in a professional league in Denmark. He played for Stebensakt of Copenhagen last season and averaged 15 points a game for a team which finished second overall in the Danish Elite league. “After my college career was over, I still wanted to keep playing,” said David, a member of Shirt Tails of Iron Mountain in the Class A portion of the Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament. “A couple of ...