State News

Nearly 3.5-million Michiganders are expected to travel for the holidays. Roughly 90-percent of those traveling will do so by car. Susan Hiltz with AAA Michigan says the forecast is a 2.5-percent increase over last year’s figure.

Last minute holiday shopping is revving-up. Tom Scott with the Michigan Retailers Association says this is traditionally the busiest time of the shopping season. But has harsh winter weather put a damper on that? Recent figures show holiday shopping was up 10-percent at the beginning of holiday shopping season.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has closed another snowmobile trail in the western U.P. Trail number 160 in Gogebic County is closed until further notice until bridge and trail repairs can be made. The 25-mile-long trail heads north from Trail No. 2 in Ironwood before traveling northwest and connecting with …

If you’re flying this holiday season, listen up. A first of its kind study looks at the mental health of airline pilots. Health Reporter Dr. Deanna Lites has details.

Wall Street will be keeping a close eye on GM stock Thursday. AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert says GM sells more vehicles in China than any other U.S. carmaker.

It’s the holidays’ dirty little secret: Regifting. It happens often at office parties or other holiday get-togethers. National Regifting Day, generally celebrated today–the third Thursday in December. Marci Lash heads the Contemporary Etiquette Institute in Ann Arbor. She says some gifts get recycled more than others. She says regifting is …

Michigan’s unemployment rate has jumped for a third straight month. A report from the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget says unemployment is up to 4.9 percent, up two-tenths of a point from October. The number of unemployed was up by 12,000 people last month. Analysts say the increase …

The Michigan Farmer’s Association has been tracking the number of markets in the state since 2006 and has seen an increase. Amanda Shreve, program director with the association, says in 2006, there were 90 markets, and now more than 300. Proof, consumers are interested in buying local. Shreve says Michigan …

  Do you have a live or fake Christmas tree this year? Even though Michigan is the third top producer of live Christmas trees in the country, the answer might surprise you. Executive director of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association, Marsha Gray, says more people have fake trees in their …

The end of the year is fast approaching. So did you reach your goals and resolutions for the year to run that marathon or lose those 20-pounds? If not, you may be feeling some regret. Health reporter Dr. Deanna Lites has more.