State News

Officers from the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team say they’ve broken up an MDMA distribution ring. MDMA is also known as ecstasy or molly. Detectives raided a home in Kingsford yesterday as part of a multi-state investigation. They seized MDMA tablets, evidence of ongoing MDMA distribution, and also found evidence …

The slow process of permitting marijuana processing and sale for personal use in Michigan took another step forward yesterday. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency released its process and rules for applying for adult-use marijuana licenses. The MRA will begin accepting applications November 1st. Applications for a state license as a grower, …

Former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says he will not run for office – any office – in 2020. In an interview with Bridge Magazine, Schuette discounted speculation that he would try to land a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court. Justice Steven Markman will be retiring at the end …

Today is Fall Student Count Day in our public schools. Attendance today will provide 90 percent of the basis for most Copper Country school districts’ state aid allocations. Students are encouraged to attend class, if at all possible. Students who have excused absences may still be counted if they start …

Michigan’s ban on flavored nicotine-based vaping products has officially taken effect. Yesterday, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens denied a request for a temporary restraining order to hold off the ban. The suit in question was filed by Marc Slis, who owns 906 Vapor in Houghton. The case …

If the November, 2020, election was held in Michigan today, President Donald Trump would not fare well. In head-to-head matchups, a new Epic/MRA poll has the president losing by 10 points to Joe Biden, by six points to Elizabeth Warren, by four points to Bernie Sanders, and by three points …

The fog is clearing in Lansing around Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 147 line-item vetoes in the state budget. Whitmer released the full list of x’d-out items late this morning. Along with most of the extra money the Republican-led House and Senate earmarked for repair of four downstate highway bridges, the cuts …

Backers of a petition drive to enact a ban on one type of abortion in Michigan say they’re more than halfway to their signature goal. The Michigan Values Life coalition includes Right to Life of Michigan, the Michigan Catholic Conference and several other anti-abortion groups. They want to outlaw the …

Michigan has a budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, but there are a lot of big, black lines on it.  Governor Gretchen Whitmer used her line item veto 147 times to scratch nearly a billion dollars out of the plan sent to her by the Republican-led legislature. The biggest deletion …

State employees have been told to report to work as usual Tuesday morning. The memo issued by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer late Friday is an indication that she will not issue wholesale vetoes of the state budget bills that were passed by the Republican-led House and Senate, and have all …