News

Washington, D.C.-Today, Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01) supported H.R. 2394, the “National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2015,” which passed the House by voice vote. The National Forest Foundation uses federal dollars as a match for private donations from individuals and companies to restore and enhance national forests and grasslands. Since …

With schedules full and vacations planned, summer is around the corner, but many still are finding a few hours to work together to make a difference for wildlife and those who enjoy it. Over the Memorial Day weekend, a group gathered in the Upper Peninsula, in south Marquette County, to …

LANSING – State Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) recently introduced House Bill 4683, which would require the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to adopt an energy plan for each of Gov. Rick Snyder’s regional prosperity zones. The Upper Peninsula is Prosperity Region 1, so it would get its own plan based …

Three Michigan Tech faculty members have received a Google Computer Science for High School grant to develop a UP-wide community of K-12 teachers trained to teach computer science to their students.  The kick-off event is a workshop on computer science and computational thinking August 17-19 at Michigan Tech. The workshop …

Washington, D.C. – Following reports of VA doctors over-prescribing opiates to veterans with chronic pain, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs held a hearing today on Pain Management at the Department. An addiction to pain drugs has been repeatedly cited as a cause for suicide among veterans. “With a veteran …

A state board could give a thumbs up or thumbs down Thursday to two groups that want to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. The State Board of Canvassers at their meeting in Lansing will review proposed language for ballot proposals from the Michigan Cannabis Coalition and the Michigan Comprehensive …

Incoming Michigan School Superintendent Brian Whiston told legislators in Lansing Wednesday that “there will be a plan” to put Michigan’s education system in the top ten. Whiston appeared before a joint meeting of several education related committees. He told lawmakers that Michigan “owes it to students” to come up with …

Legislation prohibiting a local government from passing laws requiring companies to provide certain benefits is up in a Senate committee this morning. Lawmakers and groups opposing the bill say each community in the state is different and should have its own unique set of laws. Those backing the legislation say …

The Michigan House has become the first chamber to approve a road funding plan in a post-Prop 1 world. The Republican-led chamber passed a dozen bills that will cobble together $1.2 billion to fund road repairs in the state. The most controversial of the bills eliminates the Earned Income Tax …

Faith-based adoption agencies that receive state money could turn away parents who want to adopt if there are conflicts with the agencies religious beliefs. The series of bills passed the Michigan Senate Wednesday, with one of the bills having to clear the House for a second time later in the …