A unique partnership is focusing on improving and maintaining conifer cover, which is essential to winter deer survival in the Upper Peninsula. The Department of Natural Resources and Plum Creek Timber Company are working together to manage more than 16,500 acres of industrial forest land for winter deer habitat. The …

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau says the fastest-growing county in Michigan is Keweenaw County, whose population rose 1.7 percent between 2013 and 2014. Allegan, Kent, Ottawa and Wexford counties also showed population growth of at least one percent over the July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014 …

Veterans in nine counties will find it easier to file a federal benefits claim with an accredited county veterans service officer, thanks to grants awarded by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The County Incentive Grant program was created last year with $250,000 to fund new county departments of veterans affairs, …

The two companies that are administering state standardized tests for 2015 will continue that work for the next three years under contracts awarded Thursday by the Department of Education. Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan says Data Recognition Corporation and Measurement, Inc. were the two highest scoring bidders and are …

The state Senate Thursday unanimously approved legislation that would ensure active-duty military parents are not punished for not appearing in court over custody disputes while serving overseas and that they would retain custody as long as the child is in a safe environment. The measure would mandate that – unless …

A state House committee has approved a package of bills designed to save local communities money by eliminating February elections where turnout is often low. Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Republican chair of the House Elections Committee, said the bills started out last term as simply stating an increase in a …

Got milk? For those who don’t, one Michigan lawmaker has introduced legislation that calls for a government-regulated non-profit breast milk bank. State Representative Erika Geiss says a breast milk bank is a place where mothers who are nursing can donate their excess milk. The Taylor Democrat believes breast milk donated …

The state Senate has approved a bill that would give Michigan judges their first pay increase in 15 years. Currently, the salaries for judges of the state’s Court of Appeals, circuit court, probate court and district court are based on a percentage of the salary paid to a justice of …

The Michigan House Thursday passed a measure to allow drivers to present “electronic” proof of insurance during a traffic stop, instead of being required to have a paper copy of it. The bill is the result of complaints from some insured motorists who say they’re penalized just because they forgot …

The state House has passed legislation that would cut off welfare to families with a repeatedly truant child. The bill would codify a policy already used by the Department of Human Services that allows families removed from assistance to reapply after a child attends school for 21 days. Bill sponsor, …