State News

Licensed Professional Counselors will continue to be able to diagnose and treat patients in Michigan. 10,000 counselors have been providing that service to 150,000 state residents. Recently, that service was threatened by a new interpretation of the law governing their licenses by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants more Michigan workers to qualify for overtime pay. The current federal standard was set 15 years ago, and requires that overtime pay be given to those who make less than around $24,000 per year. That level will be raised to around $35,500 on January first. Whitmer …

Signup is underway for those who would like to serve on Michigan’s new legislative redistricting commission. The commission will be charged with drawing state house and senate, and U.S. house district boundaries based on data from the 2020 census, for elections beginning in 2022. It will be formed based on …

A Traverse City produce distributor has recalled a big bunch of apples. North Bay produce says 2,297 cases and two bulk bins may have been contaminated by listeria. No illnesses have been reported, and the recall is voluntary. North Bay says the products include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Fuji, Jonamac and …

Former Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon will face a criminal trial over her role in the Dr. Larry Nassar case. Simon is accused of lying to investigators who were looking into charges that Nassar sexually assaulted hundreds of young women he treated while working as a sports physician …

The budget impasse continues in Lansing. Crucial programs for schools, law enforcement, hospitals and other issues remain unfunded following the line item vetoes issued by Governor Getchen Whitmer and the transfers made by the state administrative board. Republicans say they’re willing to negotiate… but they want a commitment from Whitmer, …

As promised, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is asking the state Supreme Court to reinstate Michigan’s ban of flavored nicotine-based vaping products. Whitmer filed the request Friday. She had issued the emergency order September 4th. It took effect October 2nd, but was quickly struck down by the Michigan Court of Claims. Whitmer …

As provided by the Mackinac Bridge Authority: The Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) has found its new chief bridge engineer: longtime Assistant Bridge Engineer Julie Neph. Neph, who has been with the MBA for the majority of her career, will begin her new role on Nov. 3. “I’m thrilled to see …

Talks on relaxing Michigan’s legislative term limits continue in Lansing. House and Senate leaders have been meeting with officials from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Voters Not Politicians – the group that led the recent drive to reform legislative districting. Participants say nothing has yet been decided, but it …

A State House committee has passed a group of bills designed to loosen controls on handguns. The Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee advanced the measures yesterday. They would allow concealed carry in hospitals, daycares and churches, make concealed pistol licenses optional, and relax restrictions on carrying handguns in vehicles. …