Although the Michigan Supreme Court has struck down Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency authority to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t expect anything to change immediately. Whitmer has 21 days from the release of the decision last Friday to request a re-hearing. Typically, court orders do not take effect until after appellate …
Read More »State Employees Now Get Parental Leave
State employees now have the option of taking up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, following the birth or adoption of a child. The new policy took effect when the new fiscal year began yesterday. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the birth or adoption of a child requires time and …
Read More »Whitmer Sends Well-Wishes to Trumps
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is wishing President Donald Trump and his wife Melania a speedy recovery, following their COVID-19 diagnoses. In a statement released this morning, Whitmer noted that the virus doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, a Republican or a Democrat, young or old. She added that she hopes …
Read More »Houghton, Baraga Among State’s Worst COVID Counties
The most hard-hit COVID-19 counties in Michigan are now all in the Upper Peninsula. Six counties are currently in the “Code Red” category – Houghton, Baraga, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee and Delta. Iron County is being hit the hardest, with a rolling average of 115 new infections per week, adjusted per …
Read More »Whitmer Signs Michigan Budget
Michigan begins its 2020-2021 fiscal year today with a budget in place, and none of the controversy that consumed last year’s process. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the budget into law yesterday. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has reduced tax revenues and increased state expenses, base funding for K-12 schools, community …
Read More »Thousands Apply for Frontliner College Program
Michiganders are lining up quickly to take advantage of the new Futures for Frontliners program. The initiative provides a tuition-free pathway for essential workers who do not have a college degree to obtain one, or earn a technical certificate. Since the program launched just over two weeks ago, more than …
Read More »Whitmer Extends COVID-19 Emergency
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended Michigan’s ongoing State of Emergency to October 27th. Whitmer has used the State of Emergency to issue executive orders to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview Tuesday morning on KBear 102.3, Whitmer said the orders have helped Michigan come back from being one …
Read More »State Budget Agreement Reached
There will be no repeat of last year’s contentious state budget battle. Wednesday, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders announced that they had agreed on a financial plan for the next fiscal year. The $62 billion dollar outline was quickly approved by both the House and the Senate. …
Read More »Bergman Named PREVENTS Ambassador
U.S. Representative Jack Bergman has been named as a National Ambassador to the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Task Force. Bergman is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General, and has prioritized veterans’ issues during his time in Congress. September is National …
Read More »Peters Calls for SCOTUS Delay
United States Senator Gary Peters has called on President Donald Trump to delay naming a nominee for the Supreme Court. While eulogizing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Senate floor yesterday, Peters said the government has more urgent matters., and should focus exclusively on COVID-19 relief. President Trump …
Read More »