State News

U.S. Senator Gary Peters is in isolation because of COVID-19 concerns. The Michigan Democrat was seated close to Republican Senator Ron Johnson at a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee meeting. Johnson has since tested positive for COVID-19. Peters says he’s since tested negative, is feeling fine, and …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …