Michigan’s $7 million ‘tampon tax’ is officially over
by Zahra Ahmad (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — As of Thursday, Michigan women and their families no longer have to pay the state’s so-called “tampon tax” on feminine hygiene products. In November, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation exempting menstrual products from the state’s 6 percent sales and use tax. The repeal officially took effect this week. […]
Michigan petition seeks 9 days of early voting, funds for absentee ballots
By Sergio Martínez-Beltrán LANSING — A coalition of voting-rights groups is launching a ballot initiative to change the Michigan Constitution to allow early voting and publicly subsidize absentee ballots. The ballot proposal, Promote the Vote 2022, could cancel a different initiative pushed by Republicans that would tighten election laws and require voter IDs. Khalilah Spencer, […]
Michigan DNR camping reservations up 8 percent. Book now for busy sites.
By Zahra Ahmad (Bridge Michigan) Reservations for Michigan state park’s campgrounds are up by 8 percent compared to this time last year, and popular sites are going fast. Campers can reserve overnight stays at state parks six months in advance. Those wishing to spend the summer holidays there should not wait to book a reservation, […]
Virtual learning and the end of Michigan snow days
By Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) Will school snow days soon be a thing of the past? As a winter storm swept through Michigan Wednesday, many schools closed for winter weather, but Detroit Public Schools Community District and Ann Arbor Public Schools pivoted to online learning. Both districts had already used up the number of days the state allotted to cancel […]
Duck and goose populations booming in Michigan. Other birds? Not so much.
by Zahra Ahmad (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s duck and geese populations are soaring as receding water levels created the perfect wetland breeding conditions last year, even as most bird species struggle. Waterfowl are breeding in record numbers: a recent state study found duck populations are up 191 percent and Canada goose populations are up 21 percent […]
Ann Arbor pours money into green affordable housing. Will others follow?
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Five years ago, developers and government officials in Ann Arbor launched a project to bring eco-friendly construction to the masses. It was a novel concept and very on brand for the progressive, affluent college town. The idea was to have local government subsidize some up-front costs of green housing and reserve […]
COVID may be here to stay. So much of Michigan is weighing risks, moving on
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) COVID-19 is still raging across much of Michigan, with some of the highest rates of new infections ever recorded and many hospitals nearing patient peaks. Outside those hospitals, though, much of Michigan has weighed the risks and concluded it’s safe to resume pre-pandemic activities. Highway traffic is up, while crowds […]
Activists push Michigan for bolder, faster climate efforts
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) As Michigan regulators consider how to transition the state away from fossil fuels by 2050, activists want them to focus more heavily on housing, transportation and rooftop solar. During the first of two scheduled listening sessions as state regulators circulate the draft climate plan published this month, activists on Wednesday lauded the […]
Updating Michigan energy rules on new homes faces pushback from builders
by Ted Roelofs, Michigan Environment Watch (Bridge Michigan) Updating Michigan standards last addressed in 2015, state officials are to consider a new, more energy-efficient home construction code this year ─ likely sparking a battle between home builders and environmentalists who back stronger energy mandates. “These provisions are critical,” said Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer of […]
Whitmer: Cut taxes, boost schools. Michigan GOP agrees, but devil’s in details
By Yue Stella Yu, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Could there be common ground after all between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans who control the Legislature? On Wednesday, the Democratic governor used the last State of the State address of her first term to propose tax cuts, investments in mental health initiatives and the biggest […]
