Business + Labor

Retired teacher faces eviction from ‘hot area’ in Detroit

BY: - April 18, 2019

Eloise Halliburton is in a fight to save her Detroit home. She says that Michigan First Credit Union (MFCU) wants to evict her from her condominium near Woodward Avenue in the trendy New Center section of Detroit. The 73-year-old retired public school biology teacher believes that gentrification could be the reason. “In my opinion, it’s […]

Ananich: Won’t endorse yet in Flint election, says Dems will work with GOP on roads

BY: - April 18, 2019

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich is nearing a full decade of service in Michigan’s Legislature, and he doesn’t mince words while looking back: “I think we’re going to look back at the tenure of [Republican former] Gov. [Rick] Snyder as one of the worst things to happen to Michigan,” the Democrat said when asked about […]

White House lists Flint mayor at Opportunity Zone Conference

BY: - April 17, 2019

President Donald Trump spoke at a conference Wednesday at which Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was scheduled to be in attendance, according to a White House official. The president’s remarks were tailored to creating new economic opportunities in areas “that have been left behind,” the White House office said. The Opportunity Zone Conference was meant to […]

COMMENTARY

Column: Michigan needs a ‘rural ombudsman’

BY: and - April 17, 2019

Michigan’s official state motto is: “Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice,” or, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Michigan is a large state composed of great and struggling cities, sprawling suburbs and our often-forgotten rural communities. We are asking our new governor, Gretchen Whitmer, who visited all 83 counties during her campaign, to […]

Whitmer signs bill meant to ‘streamline’ pot biz applications

BY: - April 16, 2019

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Tuesday that her office says “clarifies and streamlines the licensing process” for medical marijuana and hemp growers. Whitmer signed Senate Bill 203, which defines an applicant for a medical marijuana or hemp business as someone with a stake of greater than 10 percent in a company. It also requires them […]

Michigan House Dems await GOP counter-proposals on road funding

BY: - April 16, 2019

Michigan House Democrats mostly feel like they’re biding their time, as they await a Republican counter-proposal to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call for a 45-cent gas tax hike to “fix the damn roads.” Whitmer has said she knows that voting to raise the gas tax that much — which would give Michigan the highest fuel taxes […]

Magic Johnson-backed state fairgrounds redevelopment moves forward

BY: - April 15, 2019

The long-vacant Michigan State Fairgrounds on the border between Detroit and Oakland County could soon see new life. On Monday morning, the state’s Land Bank Fast Track Authority announced that it had closed on a deal with real estate firm Magic Plus LLC to acquire 16 acres of the disused fairground. The city of Detroit, […]

COMMENTARY

Rick Haglund: Republicans hit Whitmer by playing up urban vs. rural divide

BY: - April 13, 2019

Republican lawmakers who are dealing with a Democratic governor for the first time in eight years have already hatched a strategy to take back the seat: Claim at every turn that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is a city slicker who favors urban interests over the needs of the state’s rural population. My initial snarky reaction was […]

U.S. House panel investigating DTE, other utilities, for industry group ties

BY: - April 11, 2019

Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. is one of eight utility companies under investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, according to a statement on Thursday by the committee. The committee, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), is investigating the involvement of DTE and other utilities around the country with […]

U.S. House passes bill to revive Obama-era net neutrality rules

BY: - April 10, 2019

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted on Wednesday to approve legislation that would reinstate former President Obama-era net neutrality rules that prevent internet service providers from meddling with web traffic. The legislation, dubbed the “Save the Internet Act” from U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) passed the House 232-190, largely along party lines. One Republican, Bill […]

NFIB rejects Whitmer road-funding plan

BY: - April 8, 2019

The membership of one of the state’s leading small business advocacy groups is vigorously opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 45-cent gas tax increase aimed at fixing Michigan’s roads. The Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ (NFIB) rejection of the plan put it somewhat at odds with other business groups around the […]

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MSU grad student union says new contract hurts foreign students

BY: - April 5, 2019

Michigan State University’s graduate student employee union is crying foul over the university’s rejection of its latest contract re-negotiation, which it says will negatively impact international employees. Members of the union filled an MSU building lobby Thursday to grade papers in protest of the latest contract and the university nixing several union proposals. Those would […]