1/08/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - Michigan health experts say influenza is on the rise across the state and has led to increased hospitalizations. cases of the flu, RSV and pertussis are especially on the rise across the state with most cases in children.  According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services about 78% of toddlers have been vaccinated with one dose. And that needs to be closer to 95% coverage in order to prevent an outbreaks.

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.