Update 12:40 p.m.:
We will carry the live feed of President Obama's speech in Marquette on our website at 1pm.
Update 12:01 p.m.:
Governor Snyder has released the following statement about President Obama's trip to Marquette:
“All Michiganders can take great pride in the national recognition earned by Northern Michigan University and the communities of Marquette County. Their partnership to expand high-speed wireless internet services through NMU’s WiMAX network wisely recognizes the critical need to enhance online availability in the 21st century. This cutting-edge approach benefits students and families while providing an essential tool that drives business development. “At the state level, we are working aggressively to provide additional online and self-service alternatives for Michigan residents. Expanding wireless capabilities in the Upper Peninsula complements our efforts and provides welcome conveniences to U.P. customers. The President is right to highlight this initiative as a model of cooperation and innovation. We welcome the President to Michigan and look forward to him sharing this Upper Peninsula success story across America. We also applaud NMU and the Marquette area as they get their well-deserved attention on the national stage. They are outstanding ambassadors for the Upper Peninsula and our entire state.”
Update: 10:58 a.m.:
Marquette, Michigan?? Wish we were going to Hawaii instead....
President Obama and his entourage of staff are flying aboard Air Force 1 to Marquette (Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is making his final flight).
The White House press corps is traveling along and they're not looking forward to the extreme cold temps.
Here's a "pool report" from the press:
Marine One touched down at Andrews approx 9:35 am. POTUS, wearing overcoat but no hat or gloves, on AF1 5 minutes later, followed by staff including Jarrett , Sutphen, Mastromonaco, and Gibbs, making his final flight as press secretary. AF1 rolling, with a flight time of just over 2 hrs from Andrews to Marquette, where the temp is said to be in single digits with a wind chill of -19. Pool fondly remembering travel pool in Hawaii just over a month ago.
7:12 a.m.
President Barack Obama will visit the city of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula today. The President will visit Northern Michigan University to promote his administration’s National Wireless Initiative.
It’s a program the President first announced during last month’s State of the Union Address.
The initiative would bring high speed wireless internet access to 98 percent of the nation’s population within five years.
Some say it’s a lofty goal, considering such technology is only now being built in major cities.
The initiative is part of the White House’s new focus on innovation and competitiveness as a way to “win the future.”
