State News

Cold temperatures may cause some problems for your phone. Verizon’s Steve Van Dinter says you can also buy an insulated phone cover to keep it warm. And if you’re planning to be outside or drive through some treacherous weather, bring a portable charger with you such as the Mophie Powerstation.

Buick’s Super Bowl ad is drawing some criticism. As we hear from AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert.  

Removing the state’s pension tax — Governor Rick Snyder says there’s not enough room in the budget to allow that. Tax on public pensions was signed into law as part of a budget balancing plan in 2011. Following President Trump’s executive order calling for a travel ban from seven predominantly …

To help improve Michigan’s competitiveness in the blueberry industry, the state’s blueberry producers have approved a referendum to establish a ‘Michigan Blueberry Research & Education Program.” It’ll be run by a new Michigan Blueberry Commission, made up of seven producers appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. The program will be fully …

Democrats have been speaking all night on the U.S. Senate floor opposing Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, of Michigan, have both spoken against her confirmation. Only a select number of Republicans have taken the floor to support DeVos, of west Michigan.

We hear about cyber security it all of the time.  Now many Michigan manufacturers have to comply with new Department of Defense guidelines. Here’s Elliott Forsyth with the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. Forsyth says updating cyber security guidelines could take months, while costing manufacturers a few thousand dollars. He says …

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow hopes the fifth time will be the charm for her “Bring Jobs Home Act,” being re-introduced in Washington. The Michigan Democrat says the bill is pretty straightforward–it closes loopholes for companies which outsource while rewarding companies that return jobs and business stateside. Despite the simplicity, Stabenow’s …

General Motors CEO Mary Barra called a meeting Friday with President Trump “a constructive discussion on how to support a strong and competitive U.S. economy.” AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert says the GM CEO is part of a group of business leaders called on to advise the President.

U.S. employers ramped up hiring last month and more Americans began looking for work, a sign that President Donald Trump has inherited a robust job market. More from business editor Murray Feldman. The 227,000 jobs added last month was the most since September and higher than last year’s average monthly …

Governor Rick Snyder, back from a trade mission to Israel, is front and center this week with his new budget recommendations. Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick has a peek at what to expect in the message.