State News

The State of Michigan will pay $600 million dollars to victims of the Flint water crisis. The settlement will be officially announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer tomorrow. 80 percent of the money will go to people who were age 18 or younger in 2014, when a switch in the city’s …

Michigan intends to take part in the federal program that would give an extra $300 per week to unemployed workers. The stipend replaces the $600 per week allowance originally granted under the CARES Act, which expired at the end of July. With Congress unable to agree on an extension, President …

The Michigan House of Representatives yesterday approved COVID-19 back to school legislation, and sent it on to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature. The three-bill compromise was worked out late last week, and approved by the state senate Saturday. State Representative Greg Markkanen of Hancock voted in favor. The plan …

There will be no Upper Peninsula residents on Michigan’s new Independent Redistricting Commission. The 13-member panel was filled today via a random drawing. It includes four Republicans, four Democrats, and five self-described independents. The Republicans are… Douglas Clark, 73: Rochester HillsRhonda Lange, 47: Reed City  Erin Wagner, 54: Charlotte Cynthia …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ annual Fall Surplus Land Auction contains little of interest in the Upper Peninsula. The only parcel in the Copper Country is a small lot on Third Street in Centennial Heights. There’s also a tiny parcel near Watersmeet, and a small landlocked parcel near Germfask. …

The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to begin debate this morning on a compromise plan to guide the reopening of Michigan K-12 schools this fall. The bipartisan deal that was worked out Friday between legislative leaders and Governor Gretchen Whitmer overwhelmingly passed the state Senate Saturday. One sticking point …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on how state forest roads should be used. The DNR updates its online maps each spring, and conducts an ongoing process to designate which roads are open or closed to public use for both off-road and conventional vehicles. Decisions are …

It appears that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer asked to be dropped from consideration for vice president weeks ago. The Associated Press is quoting a high-ranking Democratic Party official as saying that Whitmer sent a message to presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden late in the spring, requesting to be removed, and …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency through September 4th. Noting that every region in Michigan has seen an increase in the coronavirus infection rate, Whitmer said it was important to do everything possible to control the growth of the disease, including wearing masks, and maintaining social …

An FBI agent with a history of working with Native American tribes in Michigan has been appointed the state’s first coordinator for missing and murdered indigenous persons. During his career, Joel Postma has investigated missing children, runaways, drug crimes, and deaths in Indian Country in the Upper Peninsula. He also …