Marquette Daily: M-28 Pileup, NMU Honors, Campus Planning

Today in Marquette

Today’s first weekend of February in Marquette brings typical lake-effect cold, but also a mix of safety alerts, campus milestones, and planning updates that touch a lot of local lives.

Whiteout crash closes M-28 east of town

Winter driving proved hazardous Friday on M-28 in Chocolay Township, where a chain-reaction crash during whiteout conditions led to a multi-vehicle pileup, multiple injuries, and a shutdown of the highway east of town. Responders from township, county, state, and Marquette city agencies helped clear the scene, move traffic off the road, and transport patients to regional hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency managers also coordinated a temporary shelter and transportation for stranded drivers, and authorities are again urging motorists to slow down and leave extra space whenever snow and wind move in.

NMU dean’s list brightens winter

On the education front, Northern Michigan University has released the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester, recognizing students who posted standout grade-point averages. Hundreds of names from across the Upper Peninsula made the list, including many from Marquette and neighboring communities. For local families, it is a mid-winter bright spot and a reminder that despite stormy weather and long nights, students are still stacking up academic wins that will shape the region’s future workforce.

Trustees weigh schedule and construction plans

University governance was also in focus this week. The NMU Board of Trustees held a special remote meeting late Friday morning to adjust its February schedule, confirm committee assignments for the rest of 2026, and act on a construction authorization request. While many of the details are procedural, the decisions help set the table for upcoming budget conversations and campus building projects that affect everything from tuition planning to construction jobs and neighborhood traffic around the university.

February events on deck

Looking ahead through the rest of February, the campus and wider community calendar remains full. Upcoming events include a winter job fair for students and alumni, arts programming, and a Science Olympiad regional tournament that will bring middle and high school teams from around the U.P. into Marquette. It is a good weekend to check event listings, plan some indoor activities, and leave extra time on the roads if you have to travel.

Sources

• https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2026/02/07/multi-car-pileup-m-28-leaves-multiple-injured/
• https://www.miningjournal.net/news/local/2026/02/northern-michigan-university-announces-the-deans-list-for-the-fall-2025-semester/
• https://news.nmu.edu/around-nmu
• https://nmu.edu/events-and-announcements/events-calendar