End of federal child tax credit expansion risks more Michigan kids in poverty
by Sarah Atwood, Capital News Service (For Bridge Michigan) LANSING — The expansion of a federal tax credit extended to low-income families during the pandemic lifted more than half a million Michigan children out of poverty, according to the Michigan League for Public Policy. The expansion ended at the close of 2022, and advocates worry […]
Used car prices are falling, but ‘seller’s market’ likely to last for years
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) DETROIT — A dip in used car prices is helping to push inflation lower — however slightly — but longer-term sales shifts and higher interest rates mean that today’s decline won’t offset a tough resale market for car buyers. Inflation data released Thursday show used U.S. vehicle prices continue to fall from their […]
Who gets paid minimum wage in Michigan? Only 1% of workers, as pay soars
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s minimum wage jumped to $10.10 an hour from $9.87 on Jan. 1, but for the first time in decades, that pay is well below what many employers can even consider offering entry-level workers. Instead, business owners are paying $1 to $4 more an hour in order to find employees […]
Lakes Michigan and Huron join list of lakes with PFAS-tainted smelt
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) More than a decade after state regulators issued their first “do not eat” advisory for PFAS-tainted fish, the list of affected Michigan waterways keeps growing. Michigan health officials this week urged people to limit meals of rainbow smelt caught in lakes Michigan, Huron, and three inland waterways because the fish […]
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 […]
