Michigan tax revenue up, but economic unknowns loom
by Lauren Gibbons (BridgeMichigan) Michigan is entering the new year with a projected budget surplus — but looming trade policy changes under President-elect Donald Trump, high costs of living and fluctuating inflation rates could be a drag on the state’s economic future, forecasters said Friday. The state is expected to bring in $33.18 billion […]
Amid outcry, solar farm owner says it no longer wants Michigan forest to expand
by Kelly House (BridgeMichigan) A proposal to lease 420 acres of state land near Gaylord for a solar energy development is on shaky ground after attracting criticism from lawmakers, including calls for “mass firings” of state employees involved in the plan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will issue a public notice Tuesday of its intent […]
Michigan House GOP leader on FOIA reform: ‘Don’t get your hopes up’
by Jordyn Hermani (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan remains one of only two states that fully exempts the governor and lawmakers from public records requests, and new House leadership appears uninterested in immediately changing that. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, told reporters during a Thursday roundtable that expanding the state’s Freedom of Information Act […]
Sick with norovirus? Do all of Michigan a favor: Stay home
by Robin Erb (BridgeMichigan) Norovirus continues to threaten Michiganders in the new year — with case counts among the highest in five years and no indication that they might fall soon. The highly contagious stomach bug isn’t easy to kill. Hand sanitizer is a poor weapon against it. It lingers on surfaces for days. And […]
Michigan high schools embrace artificial turf, but safety concerns persist
by Donté Smith, Capital News Service (Bridge Michigan) LANSING – Artificial turf fields are becoming a hallmark at high schools across the state with the Michigan High School Athletic Association reporting around 100 high schools now playing on them. AstroTurf, one of the largest artificial turf installers in the state, notes that 14 of the […]
Billionaires, dark money dominate record-setting Michigan election spending
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) So-called dark money organizations and ultrawealthy donors were the largest reported spenders in Michigan state politics during the 2024 election cycle, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of campaign finance records. Members of the billionaire DeVos family of west Michigan were again the biggest individual spenders, collectively donating nearly […]
‘Human composting’ of dead available in Michigan as long it’s not done here
by Anna Rossow, Capital News Service (Bridge Michigan) LANSING – The popularity of a cheaper and environmentally friendly burial alternative is rising in the U.S., but Michigan has yet to legalize it. Human composting transforms the body into soil, according to Earth Funeral, a human composting company with locations in Washington and Nevada.Human. Human composting, which […]
Michigan ‘lifelong education’ department turns 1, touting growth in free pre-K, college
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was creating a department to focus on pre-K through college, there were skeptics. One year later, the director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential says she’s proud of MiLEAP’s work so far. “We have really done well with expanding our access to pre-k […]
Michigan’s total deer harvest is down, but hunters shot more bucks in ’24
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan hunters have killed fewer deer so far this year than at the same point in 2023. As of Friday morning, hunters had killed 266,009 deer, down 3%. That’s a drop of more than 8,200 deer. Antlerless deer harvests are down 7%, which accounts for most of the overall […]
Michigan awards more than $5 million in grants to expand recycling efforts
by Donté Smith, Capital News Service (for Bridge Michigan) For the third year in a row, Michigan’s recycling rate has hit a record-high, according to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Michigan’s recycling rate has risen from about 14% before 2019 to over 23% now. Officials say they expect the state will reach a […]
