Michigan may see ‘mild’ recession in 2023, but it also has a $9.2B surplus
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan could see a slowdown in economic growth in the coming years, as state economists projected Friday a “mild recession” may be on the horizon nationally. But the state estimates it will have a combined $9.2 billion in surplus by the end of this fiscal year — […]
Meet Michigan’s new lawmakers: They’re younger, more educated, less diverse
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) A few months ago, they were local government officials, nurses, teachers, veterans, real-estate agents, farmers, and business owners. Starting this month, they’ll officially represent their communities in the Legislature, and they’re a force to be reckoned with. Nearly half of the House of Representatives — 54 of 110 members — are new […]
For Michigan golfers with bad aim: biodegradable golf balls
by Camryn Evans, Great Lakes Echo (Bridge Michigan) Have you ever stopped to wonder what happens to those golf balls that you used for driving practice out by the lake? Roughly 300 million golf balls are discarded or lost in America alone every year, according to John Waddington, the founder of Golf Educate. The Danish […]
Two years after Jan. 6 riots, 11 convictions in Michigan
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — One man dragged an injured police officer toward a mob and struck others with a flagpole. Another wrestled a policeman and then struck other officers with a baton. Others simply walked into the U.S. Capitol after rioters had already broken through, including two men who have since sworn […]
After Oxford, Michigan Democrats see gun safety as part of school agenda
by Tracie Mauriello, Chalkbeat Detroit (Bridge Michigan) A school safety task force formed in response to the deadly 2021 Oxford High School shooting didn’t include any gun control measures in its final recommendations to the Legislature. But that doesn’t mean they’re off the table. After sweeping Michigan’s statewide races again and capturing a majority in […]
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a force in politics, to retire. Who may run in 2024?
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a political trailblazer and longtime force in Michigan, announced Tuesday that she will not seek re-election and will instead leave Congress when her term ends in two years. In a statement, the Lansing Democrat said she was “inspired by a new generation of leaders” to “pass […]
Audit: Michigan unemployment agency still struggles with COVID-era claims
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Years of problems within Michigan’s embattled Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) continued into 2022, a new state audit revealed Friday, as the agency continued to be challenged by massive oversight gaps that peaked with the surge in claims after the pandemic hit in spring 2020. The state’s latest audit — the fourth in a series — focused […]
3M to stop making PFAS ‘forever chemical.’ Michigan asks, what took so long?
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Global chemical and consumer products maker 3M — which has paid out $2 billion to states in water contamination lawsuits and faces more challenges, including in Michigan — will halt production of PFAS chemicals and eliminate them from its many products by 2025. The Minnesota-based company [NYSE: MMM] announced the change Tuesday, saying the move was […]
New Michigan House Republican Leader Matt Hall: Democrats need our help
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Rep. Matt Hall had hoped to succeed outgoing Republican Rep. Jason Wentworth as the next Michigan House speaker in 2023. Instead, he’ll lead a slightly slimmed-down caucus after Democrats won the legislative majority in November. But the Comstock Township Republican isn’t letting the changing of the guard get him down […]
New Michigan Senate Leader Winnie Brinks: Let’s end ‘toxic time in politics’
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — It’s been quite a decade for Winnie Brinks, who entered politics 10 years ago as a reluctant write-in candidate and is now poised to become the first female Senate majority leader in Michigan history. Brinks, chosen by her colleagues to lead the Senate next year as Democrats take […]
