What is the debt ceiling and why Michigan should care if the U.S. defaults
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Drama continues to mount in Washington, D.C., as House Republicans demand deep spending cuts from the Biden administration in return for their vote to raise the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling and avoid fiscal calamity. At risk is whether the nation will be able to pay its bills, many of which involve […]
Flush with cash, Michigan lawmakers try again to pass state septic code
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly tried, and failed, to end Michigan’s reign as the only state lacking comprehensive regulations to prevent septic systems from polluting its waters. As pollution problems grow more pronounced in communities across the state, Sen. Sam Singh said he believes the umpteenth […]
Ticks in Michigan. What you need to know and how to protect yourself.
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) The prevalence of ticks in Michigan has increased over the years and climate change hasn’t helped. Warmer winters have resulted in more active ticks, potentially extending the typical April-September season through some of the the winter, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. While ticks are most […]
Proposal to ban solar developments on farmland withdrawn amid confusion
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) A Howell-area mushroom grower wants Michigan voters to ban large-scale solar on Michigan’s farmland. But what counts as large-scale? And what would a ban mean for farmers who already have solar panels on their land? Those questions tripped up members of the State Board of Canvassers Friday as they considered […]
Cell phone driving ban stalls in Michigan; critics say plan too harsh
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — A bipartisan effort to require hands-free phone use while driving has stalled in Michigan, after lawmakers worried the legislation would disproportionately target low-income and rural residents. After passing a House Transportation Committee with unanimous support last week, House Bill 4250 — the first piece of the three-bill package — […]
Michigan automatic expungement: What convictions qualify, how to check
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) This month, Michigan became the latest state in the nation to automatically wipe past eligible criminal convictions from public records. More than 1 million felonies and misdemeanors have been erased from residents’ records since the automatic program took effect on April 11, and state officials say the process is designed to run […]
A new Michigan legislative committee on mental health gives parents hope
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Please help. I’m in the emergency room. My child is trying to kill me … They want to send us home. Please help. What kind of locks can I put on the inside of my younger children’s doors so my older child doesn’t kill them? The messages that come though […]
Michigan Democrats eye hate crime reform, look to add LGBTQ protections
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) After adding LGBTQ protections to the state’s anti-discrimination law, Michigan Democrats are eying the next area of civil rights reform: Hate crime laws. A trio of Democratic lawmakers, along with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, introduced legislation Wednesday morning to expand the definition of a hate crime in state law, […]
Michigan business leaders mildly hopeful despite lagging GDP, income
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan business leaders are expressing a bit less pessimism this spring than last year, even as concerns remain about inflation, a potential recession and the ability to hire enough workers. Recent surveys representing the viewpoints of retailers, commercial borrowers and executives at Michigan’s largest companies show that fewer think the state will […]
Michigan brine brouhaha: Proposed limits for unpaved roads prompt dustup
by Lauren Gibbons & Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) A salty solution sprayed onto many of Michigan’s unpaved roads each summer is causing a major dust-up between the state’s environmental agency and local road commissions. Michigan has some 36,000 miles of unpaved roads, which are treated with brine to tamp down on dust. But like the rock […]
