Bay College held its graduation ceremonies Saturday at the Bay College Gym in Escanaba. The graduates were celebrated by hundreds of family and friends, as well as the college’s faculty and staff, Board of Trustee members, and administrators.

“Here at Bay College, we have continued to navigate changing student demographics, evolving enrollment trends, shifting societal expectations, and an ever-changing political and economic landscape that continues to influence how we serve and support and advocate for our students and for our communities,” said Bay College President, Dr. Nerita Hughes.

Hughes added that more students are taking classes on-line, something that has led to a big change to the traditional college education delivery model.

“We have seen changes in who our students are, how they access education, and what they need to succeed. We have responded to uncertainty with innovation, to challenges with resilience, and to change, with intentional transformation.”

The student commencement speaker was Abigail Rich, who moved to Escanaba from North Carolina along with her twin brother, Jacob. She talked about being home-schooled from the fourth grade on, and how Bay helped her to feel like she belonged after long stretches where she felt out of place.

“At Bay College, I wasn’t left to figure things out on my own,” Rich said. “The Office of Accommodations helped me with what I needed to succeed. My professors met me with patience and encouragement. TRIO gave me guidance, structure, and a place where I felt normal. Counseling Services reminded me that I didn’t have to carry everything by myself.”

Rich also cited her joining the Norse women’s softball team in the 2025 season as a big part of her journey at Bay. Even though the team won just one game that season, and she had never played softball before, Rich says being part of that team helped in her development as a person and as a student.

Now, Rich has graduated from Bay with a 3.9 Grade Point Average, will be transferring to Northern Michigan University to pursue a criminal justice degree. She interned with the Gladstone Public Safety Department, and this summer, Rich will be a cadet with the Michigan DNR.

“I know I’m not the only one who has felt out of place at some point along this journey,” Rich told her fellow graduates. “Maybe you were balancing work, school, and family. Maybe you were the first in your family to go to college. Maybe you struggled in ways that no one can see. Whatever your story is, you made it here! And if there’s one thing I hope you take with you today, it’s this. None of us had to feel like we belonged to move forward. We simply kept showing up.”

The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation has announced a $1.4 million commitment to Build U.P., the housing development fund managed by InvestUP, to provide funding for the Upper Peninsula’s growing Career and Technical Education (CTE) housing partnership.

The investment, announced at the 2026 InvestUP CEO Summit, will help sustain and expand efforts already underway with Intermediate School Districts (ISD) and state-approved CTE Construction Trades programs that are constructing homes in communities across the Upper Peninsula.

The commitment will help advance a program that addresses two of the region’s most pressing challenges at once: the housing shortage and the need to build the next generation of the skilled trades workforce.

Through this partnership, students gain experience in residential construction while simultaneously helping bring new single-family homes to market in communities that need them. Just as importantly, the program helps position students to stay in the U.P. after graduation with marketable skills, industry exposure, and relationships that can lead to employment opportunities.

The Build U.P. CTE Partnership Program has already helped launch home construction projects through participating ISDs in communities including Escanaba, Houghton, Hancock, Cedarville, L’Anse, and Manistique.

This significant investment from the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation positions the program not only for future growth across the region, but also to create opportunity through providing preference to U.P. suppliers.

“This commitment from the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation builds on the strong early success of Build U.P.’s CTE Housing Partnership Program. We have already seen how this model can create new housing, strengthen local building trades programs, and open doors for students. This support will help us carry that momentum forward and expand a solution that is meeting real needs in communities across the U.P.” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP.

The partnership between Build U.P. and regional CTE and building trades programs is helping restore a model that once gave students real-world residential construction experience while directly benefiting their communities.

With the funds to help cover development costs, schools are able to move beyond shop-based instruction and put students on active job sites where they take part in planning, budgeting, construction, and project completion.

The President of the Kobasic Foundation, Danica Stanciu, added, “We see this as an investment in the future of the Upper Peninsula. Consistent with the legacy left by my father, we believe in the potential of our next generation, the importance of strong communities, and the value of partnerships that create lasting regional impact, like the Build U.P. CTE Partnership.”

Stanciu went on to also say, “This investment also offers a challenge to other companies, organizations, and individuals to invest in the region as that investment is critical if the U.P. is going to embrace the opportunity that is before it. It is the Kobasic Foundation’s hope that this investment motivates others to follow our lead.”

“With this investment, the Kobasic Foundation just builds upon its legacy of supporting skilled trades and education in not only Delta County but the Upper Peninsula,” added Trent Ballinger, Director of Career and Technical Education for the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, which recently received a sizeable investment from the Foundation into a state-of-the-art welding facility. “At a time when our communities are losing working-age population, and we are in desperate need locally of skilled trades workers, investments into programs like this are helping our students build their competitive advantage.”

In addition to helping create new homes, the program is intended to generate expanded interest in the building trades for the U.P.’s construction industry.

Build U.P. is also working to strengthen the initiative by connecting participating programs with U.P.-based building component manufacturers, helping schools gain affordable access to materials while exposing students to regionally made products that are part of the local construction economy.

“The support from Build U.P. and the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation makes it possible for students to receive the kind of experience that stays with them. They are not just learning construction skills in a classroom setting. It gives students the opportunity to work through real planning, building, and problem-solving while contributing to a project that addresses an important need in their own community,” added Corey Soumis, Director of Career and Technical Education for the Copper Country ISD.

According to Fittante, the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation’s donation will build on the early success of the Build U.P. CTE Partnership Program, which, in 18 short months, has seen one home already built and sold, with five more homes currently under construction, and 160 students across the U.P. engaged in the program.

Possession season for walleye on Upper Peninsula inland waters opens Friday, May 15.

Anglers hoping to target walleye in Lake Independence or Teal Lake in Marquette County should be aware of a regulation change for walleye on those two waters that is now in effect.

All walleye smaller than 15 inches and those between 18 and 23 inches are protected from harvest and must be released.

The new protected slot limit is inclusive, meaning that walleye from 18.0 inches to 23.0 inches must be released. The minimum size limit for possession remains at 15 inches.

The daily possession limit for walleye on these waters also remains at five fish; however, only one of those five walleye can be more than 23 inches long. Information on this regulation can be found on page 13 of the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations.

The Management Plan for Walleye in Michigan’s Inland Waters, published in 2022, provides a framework to guide walleye management efforts. A protected slot limit is one of the regulatory tools listed in the plan to help sustain walleye populations.

This regulation type is used by fisheries managers to protect spawning females to benefit recruitment (fry growing into mature fish), as well as to improve the quality of the fishery; this kind of regulation can produce both more and larger walleye in a population. These changes can build resilience within a walleye population when it is faced with variable environmental conditions that can lower recruitment or increased competition from a changing fish community.

Fishing regulations, like the walleye protected slot limit on Lake Independence and Teal Lake, are enacted through Fisheries Orders by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. The commission has exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game and sportfish, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides recommendations and scientific guidance on proposed regulatory changes.

The NRC considered several lakes for this protected slot limit, including Lake Gogebic and Pomeroy Lake (Gogebic County); Gratiot Lake (Keweenaw County); Big Manistique Lake (Luce and Mackinac counties); Milakokia Lake (Mackinac County); and Lake Mary, Stanley Lake and Winslow Lake (Iron County).

Lake Independence and Teal Lake were approved for the limit in Fisheries Order 206. (See materials from the September 2025 NRC meeting for more information.)

To learn more about walleye and how Michigan manages walleye populations, visit Michigan.gov/Walleye.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) is partnering with Gogebic Community College to offer a free Law Enforcement Career Academy from June 7 to 12, 2026.

Open to individuals aged 16 and older, the career academy is designed for those curious about careers in law enforcement. It will take place at Gogebic Community College, located at E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI 49938.

Participants will be mentored by MSP troopers and officers from local law enforcement agencies throughout the academy. Activities will include moderate physical fitness, patrol techniques, first aid and CPR training, defensive tactics, crime scene investigation, and live, controlled scenarios. All activities will be conducted in a safe and structured environment.

“This is a great opportunity for young people to have fun, learn something new, build positive relationships with local law enforcement, and explore career opportunities they could pursue right here in the Upper Peninsula,” said Lt. Ben Eckola, MSP Eighth District Public Information Officer.

The career academy is open to students from anywhere, not just Gogebic County residents. Meals and lodging are provided free of charge. Registration must be completed by May 31, 2026.

To register or learn more, please contact Trooper Joe Renaud at renaudj@michigan.gov or Rebecca Bramlett, Instructor of Criminal Justice, at rebeccab@gogebic.edu. For more information about MSP career opportunities, please visit www.michigan.gov/MSPjobs

Originally developed by the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1970s, the DRE program was created to address impaired drivers under the influence of drugs rather than alcohol. Today, it operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and several countries worldwide. Michigan adopted the program in 2009 and held its first DRE school in 2011.

DRE certification requires the successful completion of three phases of training including 72 hours of hands-on and classroom instruction where students learn to measure vital signs, evaluate pupil size under various lighting conditions, and conduct standardized impairment assessments. The final phase involves performing supervised evaluations and a comprehensive certification exam.

DRE schools are made possible through funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with instruction provided by experienced law enforcement professionals, prosecutors and subject matter experts from across Michigan.

This class represents agencies across the state, including:   

• Auburn Hills Police Department
• Berrien County Sheriff’s Office
• Birmingham Police Department
• East Grand Rapids Department of Public Safety
• Eastpointe Police Department
• Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
• Michigan State Police Gladstone Post
• Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post
• Michigan State Police Lapeer Post
• Michigan State Police Negaunee Post
• Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post
• Michigan State Police Traverse City Post
• Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office
• Rochester Police Department
• Saginaw Township Police Department

With the addition of these 15 new DREs, there are now 142 statewide.

The Dream Maker Children’s Museum Board is honored and beyond excited to announce that the former Carnegie Library building on 7th street in Escanaba will soon come back to life as the home of the children’s museum.

After countless hours spent on wants, needs, pros and cons lists and several different location tours the team stepped into the former library and everything just felt right.

“I think each of us had a unique “aha” moment upon entering the building,” Andrea Tourangeau, DMCM board member said. “For some it was the historic charm, others the bright and open feeling, and for myself I was intrigued by the location but it was just the “holy cow, this is it” feeling when I stepped inside that really won me over.’”

Board member Karissa Dagenais agreed.

“I missed the first walk through of the building, but when I was sent just a few pictures of the inside, I instantly knew this was it.”

The space offers more than nostalgia, with its large windows, strong bones and open floor plan, the former library is a dream space for the future community gem.

The goal for the Dream Maker Children’s Museum is to establish a community space that connects children and families through imagination, exploration, and learning.

The museum will offer a safe, indoor and outdoor space that will immerse visitors in experiences and create lasting memories.

The innovative, hands-on and interactive exhibits will be designed to inspire young minds and reflect the rich history and unique culture of Delta County.

“For all of that to happen in a building that still sits famous to locals and was a foundation for the learning taking place here for decades, decades ago feels magical to us,” Tourangeau said.

The building has been preserved and structurally maintained by Paul and Marcia Neumeier for the past 30 years, and they are happy to see the noble building going back to serve the community.

“Paul and Marcia kept the building sound, and they have been so helpful and supportive to the process, equally excited to see the building reach its full potential,” said Karissa Dagenais, DMCM board member.

The Dream Maker Children’s Museum board is incredibly grateful to the community for their support so far.

‘The community donations and well wishes really have helped carry the project forward thus far, the enthusiasm made it impossible for us to give up,” Tourangeau said. “Now the heavy lifting begins, a core value of the Dream Maker Children’s Museum is that it will be affordable and accessible for everyone.”

“We can’t make that happen with a mortgage and financing the costly renovations needed to make the building accessible and to bring it up to code. There are grant opportunities out there we are honed in on, and we need matching funds for some of those as well.”

To learn more about the various sponsorship opportunities you can call Andrea Tourangeau at 906-786-9300 ext. 101  or email dreammaker4kids@gmail.com.

To stay updated on progress, upcoming events, and ways to get involved, please like and follow the Facebook page: Dream Maker Children’s Museum. A web page is also in the works.

“Representative Steve Adamini was a great friend, insightful and thoughtful legislator, and downright fun to be around,” said Governor Whitmer. “He dedicated much of his life to the underdog and was one of my dear friends from my time in the legislature. I always gravitated toward the Yoopers: smart, funny, and down to earth. Steve embodied all of these characteristics and so much more. My thoughts are with his kids and grandkids.” 

Former state Representative Steve Adamini was born in Marquette, MI, graduating Negaunee High School in 1963. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Adamini went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.  

He served in leadership roles across Marquette and for the State of Michigan. Prior to his time in the Michigan House of Representatives, Adamini served on the Michigan Transportation Commission. Locally, he chaired the Airport Board and Democratic Party in Marquette County. He also served as the city and county attorney for Marquette and on the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. 

Public good and civic duty guided Adamini’s career. His early work as a senior partner at Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman and Greenlee, P.C. supported veterans and underrepresented individuals. Throughout his lifetime, Adamini took on many pro bono cases and worked with Alcoholics Anonymous to support those struggling with addiction. 

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and service of former Representative Steve Adamini by lowering flags to half-staff. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day. 

Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

The Pipeline Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in the Nation’s Energy to Assure Safety (PIPELINE) Safety Act would reauthorize and significantly increase funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) safety programs for five years.

These critical programs help Michigan effectively inspect and enforce safety standards for more than 100,000 miles of pipeline currently in operation throughout the state. The bill additionally requires pipeline operators to protect against the growing threat of cyberattacks, such as the Colonial Pipeline attack in 2023. 

The bill also includes a provision led by Peters to pave the way for a PHMSA “National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Leak Detection.” The center would conduct research into state-of-the-art pipeline leak detection technologies that can help efficiently identify a spill and improve our response to a potential incident. If passed into law, the center would be established in the Great Lakes region. 

“We must ensure our pipeline infrastructure remains strong. This bipartisan bill will help protect both public safety and our environment by working to prevent accidents and improve protections for this critical infrastructure,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety. “Michiganders particularly know that we must do all we can to prevent a Great Lakes oil spill. I’m proud this bill has a provision I fought for to establish a Center of Excellence in the Great Lakes region to strengthen our ability to detect and respond to potential dangerous pipeline leaks.” 

“Michigan Tech greatly appreciates Senator Peters’ leadership in advancing a National Center of Excellence for Pipeline Hazardous Liquid Leak Detection through the Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Act,” said Michigan Technological University’s President Richard Koubek. “By bringing together government, industry, and academia, the Center would help advance research, improve detection technologies, and strengthen pipeline safety nationwide. Michigan Tech appreciates the opportunity to support Senator Peters’ vision of protecting the environment while supporting the nation’s critical energy and industrial needs.” 

Peters introduced the Pipeline Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in the Nation’s Energy to Assure Safety (PIPELINE) Safety Act alongside U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Todd Young (R-IN). 

Peters has made it a priority to strengthen U.S. pipeline infrastructure and improve our response to pipeline spills. In 2018, he authored and passed legislation creating the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise to study the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and help develop effective responses to protect the Great Lakes.

Peters then announced that the Center would be dual headquartered in Michigan at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Sault Ste. Marie and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor to maximize its research and operational capabilities. Peters led the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Center for Freshwater Research and Education at LSSU, which is home to the Center of Expertise, in 2022.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is spending about $1.4 million to resurface approximately 2 miles of US-2 from Kent Street to Traders Mine Road in Iron Mountain, Dickinson County. The project will include asphalt cold milling; drainage structure adjustments; concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs; asphalt resurfacing and pavement markings. The project began this week and will run through the end of June.

Motorists should expect single-lane closures with traffic shifts. Milling and paving will occur at night, according to M-DOT spokesman Dan Weingarten told RRN News.

M-DOT will also spend is about $3.4 million to resurface approximately 10.5 miles of US-2 from west of the US-2/US-41 intersection in the village of Powers to west of the Dickinson/Menominee county line. The project will include asphalt base crushing, shaping and resurfacing; joint repairs; paver placed surface seal and pavement markings. This project includes a five-year materials and workmanship pavement warranty and a three-year pavement performance warranty. This project tentatively starts next Monday and runs through the end of August. Motorists should expect single-lane closures with traffic regulators.

And M-DOT will spend about $9.5 million to resurface approximately 2 miles of US-2 from the Wisconsin state line to Airport Road, Iron County. The project will include asphalt crushing, shaping and resurfacing, drainage improvements, guardrail, signs and pavement markings. This project is covered by five-year materials and workmanship pavement warranties. The project will start this Wednesday and will run through late October.

Motorists should expect single-lane closures with temporary traffic signals.

Voters in the Munising Public Schools approved a sinking fund millage proposal to make repairs in the district. The vote on Tuesday was 791 yes to 680 no.

Munising Schools had tried three previous times to get a proposal passed, and all failed. One of those times, in 2024, lost by two votes. This one is a 1.5 mill increase for five years that will raise about $400,000 every year.

“We are very proud tonight of our community,” Munising School Suprintendent Mike Travis told RRN’s Casey Ford. “We’re honored by its support commitment to our children and to the future of our school district. I can certainly sleep easier knowing that the district will be able to make facility and equipment upgrades that will make learning and teaching helathier, and more comfortable for our amazing students and staff.”

Most of the repairs will be made in the Mather Elementary School, where officials have said the boilers in the heating system are 33 years old and need to be replaced. Another big project will be replacing windows, many of which don’t open anymore.

“I’m thankful of the army of helpers on the staff and in the community that made this time, the fourth time, the charm,” Travis added.