Good morning, Marquette.

Marquette County emergency warming centers remain available for residents without power.

LoveMarq Church at 728 W Kaye Avenue offered shelter last night with food and rides, and Chocolay Township Hall at 5010 US-41 South will be open today from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with water and snacks available (no pets allowed).

A winter storm caused widespread power outages, and local organizations opened warming centers to help residents—Chocolay Township Hall Meeting Room on US-41 South opened Tuesday while LoveMarq Church provided shelter and refreshments earlier this week.

Downtown businesses prepare for New Year’s Eve on West Washington Street, where a child-friendly ball drop will occur at 8 p.m. and an adult event will start at 11 p.m. distillery spaces will expand + road closures run from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Spectrum has activated over 3,100 WiFi access points to help customers stay connected as it assesses storm damage & partners with power companies to restore services in the area.

Spectrum TV customers may use the TV app for programming while repairs are underway.

Michigan's minimum wage will increase from $12.48 to $13.73 on January 1, 2026 + the plan aims to reach $15 by 2027 while neighboring states offer lower wages, potentially affecting worker earnings and business costs.

Several districts in the RESA have refused state funding from Section 31aa of Michigan School Aid after reviewing new rules that may waive legal privileges and shift from prevention to reaction.

Tuesday's press release said districts will rely on other funds for student safety and mental health.

Doctors in Upper Michigan are recommending surgery to cure GERD since over-the-counter treatments only mask the heartburn symptoms.

Aspirus Health General Surgeon Dr. Josh Pogorelec explains that the surgery could rebuild a valve to stop reflux.

MDARD reminded residents affected by the recent blizzard to keep refrigerators and freezers closed so a full freezer can remain safe for two days (if power is out) and instructed that perishable items over 40 degrees be discarded; the agency urged using bottled or boiled water for safety.

Snow from Monday’s blizzard may cause roof leaks as melting ice forms dams that trap water, and Dan Perkins from Dan Perkins Construction said poor insulation is a factor (he advised using a snow rake to remove the buildup).

Northern Michigan University freshman Tobias Pitka was named captain of Slovakia’s team before they beat Germany 4-1 on Saturday & the world junior hockey championships in the Twin Cities run through Jan.

5.

Due to a power outage at (the PEIF), NMU’s men’s and women’s basketball games with Davenport set for Jan.

1 are postponed to Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., while the Jan. 3 contest with Grand Valley State remains scheduled; tickets for Jan. 1 will be honored.

Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Baumgartner snowboarded at Ski Brule in Iron River on Tuesday to inspire the next generation as he preps for qualifiers ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

He will travel to China in January to compete in races.