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Michigan Health Officials Sound Alarm as Nitrous Oxide Emergencies More Than Triple Since 2019
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says nitrous oxide related emergencies have jumped from 10 in 2019 to 47 in 2025, and expects the count to climb this year. Officials are urging parents to recognize the products and understand the risks.
Whitmer Signs Eight Bipartisan Bills to Invest in Michigan Universities and Community Colleges
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed eight bipartisan bills that expand capital outlay project authorizations across Michigan's universities and community colleges and help balance the Fiscal Year 2027 budget without raising taxes. The measures unlock more than $1.3 billion in project authorizations across 27 higher education institutions.
Michigan Jobs Slip Statewide as Unemployment Hits 5%, but West Michigan Manufacturing Holds Strong
Michigan lost 25,000 employed workers in August and its unemployment rate climbed to 5.0%, with manufacturing bearing the largest payroll losses. Yet West Michigan manufacturers continue to report strong conditions and shortages of skilled workers, underscoring a growing divide among the state's regional economies.
Michigan Supreme Court Sends Oxford High School Shooter Case Back to Appeals Court
The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered the Court of Appeals to review the life-without-parole sentence of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, examining issues including ineffective counsel and whether his guilty plea waived his right to appeal.
Whitmer announces first disbursement of Neighborhood Roads Fund
Local agencies across Michigan are receiving their first payments from the Neighborhood Roads Fund, a key element of the state's new long-term road funding package worth nearly $2 billion annually.
Michigan Senate Passes Bills Adding Corrections Officers to State Police Pension Plan
The Michigan Senate passed three bills 27-8 last week that would add Department of Corrections officers, conservation officers, and others to the State Police pension system. The measures aim to ease prison staffing shortages but face a difficult path in the House.
U.P. Lawmakers Urge Legislature to Pass MDOC Officer Pension Bills
Four Upper Peninsula state lawmakers are calling on the Michigan Legislature to move bills that would allow Department of Corrections officers and conservation officers to join the Department of State Police pension system. The bills passed the Senate 27-8 last week but face a hostile House.
MEDC to Cut 15 Percent of Its Workforce Amid Revenue Decline and Legislative Scrutiny
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced it will eliminate up to 15 percent of its workforce through layoffs and unfilled positions, citing declining revenue and a reduced budget. The cuts come as the agency faces growing scrutiny over its grant programs and oversight.
A complete guide to what Michiganders will vote on this November
The November 2026 midterm elections will decide a new governor, a new U.S. senator, every seat in the state legislature, the Michigan Supreme Court, and two statewide ballot measures. Here is everything Michiganders will see on the ballot this fall.
Two Michigan Bills Seek to Restrict E-Bike Use by Minors
State lawmakers in Lansing introduced two bills that would add licensing, helmet, and age restrictions for teens riding e-bikes in Michigan. The measures follow a spate of local restrictions across Southeast Michigan municipalities.
Whitmer Announces First Disbursement of Neighborhood Roads Fund, Directing $240 Million to Local Projects
Governor Whitmer announced Monday that local agencies across Michigan are receiving their first payments from the Neighborhood Roads Fund, the centerpiece of the state's new long-term road funding plan, with $240 million committed to local bridges, public transit, and rail grade separations.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry Drops More Than 20,000 Names After Supreme Court Ruling
Michigan's public sex offender registry has been cut by more than 20,000 names following a Sept. 9 Michigan Supreme Court decision that bars retroactive application of 2021 registration requirements to people whose offenses occurred before July 1, 2011.
Michigan to test pay-per-mile road charge in 2027 pilot as gas tax revenue slips
MDOT will spend $7.65 million and recruit 1,000 volunteer drivers to test a mileage-based fee that could eventually replace some or all of the state fuel tax.
Whitmer Directs EGLE to Re-Review Line 5 Tunnel Permits After Michigan Supreme Court Ruling
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and EGLE Director Phil Roos announced Wednesday that state regulators will re-examine permits issued in July for Enbridge's proposed Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, following a Michigan Supreme Court decision that expanded the scope of environmental review required for major infrastructure projects.
Corewell Health Announces $1.7 Billion Investment in New Hospital Towers in Grand Rapids and Troy
Corewell Health says it will invest $1.7 billion in new hospital towers at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and Beaumont Troy Hospital, citing rising patient demand and both hospitals operating above 90% capacity.
Michigan third grade reading scores fall to 12-year low even as literacy reforms take hold
New M-STEP results show just 38.2% of third graders in Michigan are proficient in English Language Arts, down from 38.9% the prior year. It is the lowest third grade reading proficiency in the 12-year history of the exam, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Education.
Michigan Jobs Up 0.3 Percent in Q1 as Saginaw Leads County Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Michigan employment rose 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026 to 4,357,500 jobs. Saginaw County posted the largest gain among the state's ten largest counties, while wage growth fell below the national average in six of them.
Michigan Supreme Court Rules 50-75 Year Juvenile Murder Sentence Unconstitutional
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that a 50-to-75 year sentence for a youthful offender convicted of second-degree murder is an unconstitutionally excessive de facto life sentence, in People v. Eads.
Poll: Michigan voters approve of Gov. Whitmer with 51.5% backing ahead of November
A new WDIV/Detroit News poll finds that 51.5% of Michigan voters approve of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's job performance, compared to 43.1% who disapprove, with the November 2026 general election approaching.
Michigan "Money Out of Politics" Proposal Survives Legal Challenge, Secures November Ballot
The Michigan Supreme Court on Thursday declined to overturn the certification of Proposal 2, a ballot initiative that would ban political donations from DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and companies with state contracts over $250,000. The measure, backed by Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, now heads to the November 3 ballot despite a lawsuit from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Protect MI Free Speech committee.
Michigan Strategic Fund Awards Controversial Copperwood Mine Up to $50 Million in State Grants
The Michigan Strategic Fund voted 7-2 Tuesday to direct up to $50 million in state grants to the long-debated Copperwood copper mine in the western Upper Peninsula, a project that would be the region's first new copper mine in more than 70 years.
Michigan Citizenship Voting Amendment Officially Dead After State and Federal Supreme Courts Reject Ballot Bid
A proposed constitutional amendment requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in Michigan has been blocked from the November ballot after both the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court denied the campaign's final legal challenges.
State Sen. Jim Runestad moves to repeal Michigan's data center tax breaks
A Republican state senator plans to introduce legislation that would repeal sales and use tax exemptions granted to data center developers, a move that supporters say protects taxpayers and opponents warn would chill investment.
UAW's Fain urges Michigan workers to back Democrats in November midterms
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain used Detroit's Labor Day parade on Sept. 7 to rally union members to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm election, where control of Congress and key Michigan races are at stake.
Whitmer signs her final bipartisan budget, cutting spending below both parties' proposals
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed her eighth and final budget as governor on Tuesday, a balanced FY 2026-27 plan worth about $75.2 billion that came in below the House and the governor's original proposals.
Michigan State Police Complete National Trust Building Campaign Pledge
The Michigan State Police have completed the 36-month IACP Trust Building Campaign Pledge, reaffirming policies and trainings around bias-free policing, use of force, and community relations.
Michigan Plans 2027 Pilot for Pay-Per-Mile Road Funding System
Michigan is moving ahead with a $7.65 million study and pilot program to explore charging drivers based on miles driven instead of gasoline purchased, amid a projected $113.6 billion transportation funding gap through 2050.
Michigan invests $7.5 million to explore geologic hydrogen buried beneath the state
The Michigan Infrastructure Office announced a $7.5 million investment to research and explore geologic hydrogen, a clean energy source that forms naturally underground. The funding follows an executive directive from Governor Whitmer and aims to determine whether the state sits on a vast, untapped energy resource.
Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak climbs past 14,700 cases as state health officials warn of ongoing threat
Michigan health officials reported 14,718 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis as of September 3, with 366 hospitalizations and two deaths, in what authorities call one of the largest foodborne illness events in recent U.S. history.
Michigan third-grade reading scores hit 12-year low as M-STEP results released
The Michigan Department of Education released 2026 M-STEP results on Friday, showing third-grade English Language Arts proficiency fell to 38.2%, the lowest in the exam's 12-year history. Overall, only 44% of students in grades 3 through 8 are proficient in reading. State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko acknowledged the results are not where Michigan wants them to be, even as new literacy laws begin to take effect.
Canada's retaliatory tariffs poised to hit Michigan manufacturing, constraining $1.5 billion in exports
Canada's new retaliatory tariffs, taking effect Sept. 8, could constrain about $1.5 billion worth of Michigan exports, according to a Detroit News analysis. The measures target iron, steel, aluminum and derivative products, hitting Michigan's manufacturing sector hard and adding a new wrinkle to the state's U.S. Senate race.
U.S. Supreme Court orders Michigan to respond in emergency citizenship ballot fight
Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh has ordered Michigan election officials to respond by noon Wednesday in an emergency application seeking to put a proof-of-citizenship voting amendment on the November ballot. The case marks the first time in recent state history that a Michigan ballot-access dispute has reached the nation's high court.
James Calls Michigan's 2026 Elections "Ground Zero for This Republic"
Republican gubernatorial candidate John James says the November race in Michigan is a national test, and he took aim at progressive Democrats in a new interview.
Rural Township Bills Stall in Lansing as Crisis in Local Government Grows
Bills that would help Michigan's rural townships fill clerk vacancies and hire back-office support have stalled in the Legislature even as officials warn of a coming crisis in the state's front-line units of government.
Sault Tribe Board Weighs Delaying Constitutional Vote as Director Proposes Withholding Board Pay
At its September 1 meeting, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians board will consider rescinding its unanimous May authorization of a Secretarial Election on a proposed three-branch government. One director wants the board's compensation forfeited if it reverses course, while a rival resolution presses ahead with implementation planning.
Advocacy Group Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Force Proof-of-Citizenship Amendment onto Michigan Ballot
After Michigan election boards rejected a proof-of-citizenship ballot petition, the group behind it has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to order the amendment onto the November ballot before the Sept. 4 deadline to finalize the state's ballot.
Michigan governor candidates and attorney general unite in push to overhaul MEDC
Both top gubernatorial candidates and state Attorney General Dana Nessel are calling for sweeping changes to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, as new grant fraud allegations and a Senate Republican bill package intensify pressure on the taxpayer-funded agency.
Coffia, Byrnes Reintroduce FOIA Bills to Subject Governor, Legislature to Public Records Law
Reps. Betsy Coffia and Erin Byrnes reintroduced legislation to require the Michigan Legislature and governor's office to comply with the state's Freedom of Information Act, ending one of the last exemptions in the country for lawmakers and the executive branch.
Michigan's new budget pushes state workers back to the office
The newly passed Michigan state budget sets a target of at least 80% in-office attendance and requires every state department to adopt a uniform return-to-office policy, ending years of widespread remote work.
Michigan Law Blocks License Points for Automated Traffic Camera Tickets
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new law ensuring that automated camera traffic tickets in construction zones and for passing stopped school buses can only result in fines, not points on a driver's license. The legislation addresses concerns that the cameras can identify a vehicle but not necessarily the person driving.
Michigan Capitol Commission Drops Flock Cameras as Statewide Surveillance Backlash Grows
The Michigan State Capitol Commission will not install Flock Safety's automatic license plate readers around Capitol Square, following privacy concerns and a wave of municipal actions across the state to limit or eliminate the surveillance cameras.
Nessel Challenges Sixth DOE Order Forcing J.H. Campbell Coal Plant to Run
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she will challenge the federal Department of Energy's sixth order forcing Consumers Energy to keep the J.H. Campbell coal plant operating until November 2026, more than a year past its approved retirement date, as hundreds of millions of dollars in costs pile up.
Michigan House advances bipartisan eight-bill package to tackle primary care shortage
A bipartisan group of Michigan House lawmakers introduced an eight-bill package aimed at closing the state's growing primary care gap, setting an investment target for state-contracted health plans and creating a new state commission and office of primary care at MDHHS.
Michigan to Give Schools $40 Million to Enroll More High Schoolers in College
Michigan is directing $40 million in new state funding to expand dual enrollment, prioritizing districts where more than half of students are economically disadvantaged. The investment aims to lift Michigan's dual-enrollment participation, which ranks among the lowest in the nation.
Escalating U.S.-Canada Tariff Battle Forces Michigan Auto Executives and Small Business Owners Into Contingency Planning
Following the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks and the imposition of tariffs up to 50% on Canadian imports, Michigan auto executives and small business owners are scrambling to assess supply chain risks and financial exposure.
Sixth Circuit Says Detroit Judge Is Not Immune From Lawsuit Over Detaining Sleepy Teen
A federal appeals court panel has ruled that Detroit Judge Kenneth King's actions in detaining and publicly shaming a teenage girl who dozed off in his courtroom were not protected by judicial immunity, allowing the civil rights lawsuit to move forward.
Whitmer Highlights New Investments to Expand Affordable Housing
Governor Gretchen Whitmer pointed to fiscal year 2027 budget investments that expand affordable housing and strengthen homelessness prevention, including a new Michigan Housing Opportunity Tax Credit expected to support about 2,500 affordable rental homes each year.
Michigan Ballot Proposal to Ban Utility Political Donations Faces Supreme Court Challenge and Legislative Deadline
The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal, which would ban campaign contributions from DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and companies with large government contracts, has cleared signature certification hurdles but now faces a legal challenge at the Michigan Supreme Court. The Legislature has until September 5 to adopt, reject, or take no action on the proposal.
Michigan Senate Primary Heats Up as El-Sayed Rallies With Controversial Streamer Hasan Piker
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed draws fire from fellow candidates and community leaders after scheduling campaign appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker, who is accused of making antisemitic remarks. The decision marks a flashpoint in the competitive primary as Democrats seek to regain power in the midterm elections.
Grand Rapids Schools Miss Out as Michigan Snow Day Forgiveness Bill Leaves West Michigan Behind
Governor Whitmer signed House Bill 5797 to forgive snow days for Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula schools. Kent County and most of West Michigan were excluded, leaving Grand Rapids-area districts to make up lost time on their own.