First Lady, Second Gentleman visit UP, Soo Locks
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff wrapped up their visit to the Upper Peninsula this afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie. Emhoff is Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband.
After a community listening session about health care with members of the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the two toured the Soo Locks where construction on the new lock continues. Biden talked to Army Corps engineers and personnel while touring inside the Soo Locks. The 1004-foot-long Mesabi Miner was inside the Poe Lock when Biden was present.
She did not field any questions from the media nor make any direct statements to the media during the tour at the locks.
Completion of the new lock is expected to be in 2030, according the the Army Corp of Engineers. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the “Water Resources Development Act” that authorized to spend $3.2 billion on the new lock. Prior to that, in 2018, then president Donald Trump signed into law “America’s Water Infrastructure Act” that authorized funding for $922 million to initiate the lock expansion project.
Soo Leader
Port of Green Bay has strong start to the season, moves nearly 205k tons of cargo
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Brown County officials say the Port of Green Bay is off to a strong start for the 2024 shipping season as nearly 205,000 tons of cargo have already been moved during the months of March and April.
According to a release, exactly 204,659 tons of cargo have been moved through the Port of Green Bay so far this season which is significantly more than in 2023 (186,066 tons), 2022 (101,252 tons), and 2021 (132,423 tons) within the same time frame.
Officials say five commodities have been both imported and exported so far this season with the totals being as follows:
- Petroleum – 72,006 tons
- Cement – 54,904 tons
- Salt – 35,839 tons
- Limestone – 25,580 tons
- Coal – 16,330 tons
Moving these commodities in and out of the Port of Green Bay was a total of 21 ships compared to just 17 ships last year.
Port of Green Bay
Make Your Plans Now for Soo
Boatnerd Picnic, Freighter-Chasing Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 27-38. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-27-28-2024/—
