Results for “Art Tolsma”
44 stories
- Upper Peninsula
Marquette County GOP Chair Resigns After Viral Posts Criticize Party Enthusiasm
Jackson Karki, chairman of the Marquette County Republican Party, resigned over the weekend after a series of social media posts criticizing low Republican voter enthusiasm ahead of the November election drew national attention.
October 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Health
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.
September 1, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - muskegon
Muskegon Wins $730,200 State Grant for Hartshorn Park Expansion as Natural Resources Bill Advances Through Legislature
Muskegon is set to receive $730,200 from Michigan's Natural Resources Trust Fund for a Hartshorn Park expansion as Senate Bill 829 advances through the House. The $45 million bill passed the Senate 37-0.
May 31, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - politics
Michigan Prisoners Break Participation Records as State Expands Education Programs
Michigan prisons report record participation as nearly 4,000 inmates complete educational and vocational programs, up 66% from 2020, with partnerships expanding postsecondary opportunities across 26 facilities.
April 8, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - Michigan Budget
Michigan House Settles $370 Million Work Project Dispute With 31 State Departments
The Michigan House of Representatives reached a settlement with 31 state departments, allowing $370 million in previously disputed work project funding to lapse into state funds. The deal ends a months-long legal and political battle that began when House Republicans used a rarely invoked statutory provision to disapprove $645 million in spending in December.
October 2, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - Michigan Education
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.
September 24, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - traverse-city
Traverse City Arts School at Center of Michigan House Fight as Speaker Strips Rep. Tsernoglou of Committee Posts
Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall removed Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou from all committee assignments one day after she called for an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Interlochen Center for the Arts in Grand Traverse County. Tsernoglou alleges retaliation. Hall denies it.
May 29, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - saginaw
50-Year-Old Bay City Man Found Partially Submerged in Saginaw River in Zilwaukee Township
A 50-year-old Bay City man was found partially submerged in the Saginaw River in Zilwaukee Township on Thursday afternoon. The Saginaw County Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine cause of death.
May 15, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - muskegon
Four shot, two hit by vehicles at post-prom party in Muskegon County, police say
Police in Muskegon County are investigating a shooting and vehicle attacks at a post-prom party that left four people shot and two others injured Saturday night.
May 11, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Michigan Senate Bans Mandatory Nurse Overtime in Bipartisan Push for Patient Safety
Michigan Senate passes bipartisan bills banning mandatory nurse overtime, establishing limits on working hours and penalties for violations while allowing exceptions during emergencies
April 16, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - politics
Woman Arrested After Early Morning Shooting in Oshtemo Township Apartment Leaves Man With Non-Life-Threatening Wound
A 41-year-old woman is in custody after a shooting at an Oshtemo Township apartment building left a 31-year-old man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his leg early Saturday morning.
April 6, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Michigan Attorney General Leads Bipartisan Coalition on Geofence Warrants and Election Lawsuits
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel leads a bipartisan coalition of 32 attorneys general in filing amicus briefs with the Supreme Court on geofence warrants and challenges a federal executive order on mail-in ballots through a coalition of 24 attorneys general and governors.
April 5, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Michigan Lawmakers Reach Bipartisan Agreement on Official State Duck
Michigan lawmakers have reached a rare bipartisan agreement to designate the wood duck as the state's official duck, with the bill now heading to the governor for signature.
March 30, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Budget
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.
September 7, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - Southeast Michigan
Dam safety bills move closer to becoming law in Michigan legislature
Bipartisan dam safety legislation, prompted by the 2020 Edenville and Sanford dam failures, is nearing final passage in Lansing after the House passed Senate Bill 947 with overwhelming support.
October 3, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Legislature
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.
September 10, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Education
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.
September 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - battle-creek
Michigan Lawmakers Propose Constitutional Amendment to Let Battle Creek Voters Pick Secretary of State and Attorney General
Republican and Democratic lawmakers introduced a constitutional amendment that would let Michigan voters choose secretary of state and attorney general nominees in primary elections instead of party conventions. The proposal faces a two-thirds vote in the legislature and a public referendum.
May 26, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - politics
Michigan Governor Signs Health Care and Local Development Bills Including Wood Duck as Official State Duck
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs three bipartisan bills addressing physician licensing through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, downtown revitalization via tax increment financing in St. Clair County, and designation of the wood duck as the official state duck in recognition of conservation success.
April 8, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - Michigan Health
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.
September 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - lansing
Lansing Lawmakers Introduce Reparations Bills Targeting Descendants of Slavery in Michigan
Michigan lawmakers introduced a three-bill reparations package targeting descendants of enslaved Americans. The bills would create a state commission, a dedicated office, and new data categories. House Speaker Matt Hall opposes the effort.
June 20, 2026·Michigan Capitol·5 sources - muskegon
Muskegon’s Brianna Scott Leads MSU Board in Controversial Vote to Double President’s Pay, Impose New Ethics Gag Rule
Muskegon's Brianna Scott leads the MSU Board of Trustees through a Sunday night special meeting that nearly doubles the president's salary to $2 million and adopts a controversial ethics policy critics call a gag order.
May 20, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - Michigan Education
Just 1 in 4 Michigan Juniors Are 'College Ready,' SAT Scores Indicate
Only about a quarter of Michigan 11th graders met the College Board's college-ready benchmark on the SAT in the 2025-2026 school year, a continued decline from a decade ago that has renewed debate over how the state measures student success.
6d ago·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - Michigan Health
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.
September 25, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Legislature
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.
September 19, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - Upper Peninsula
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.
September 19, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - Michigan Legislature
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.
September 9, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Budget
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.
September 2, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Environment
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.
September 1, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - Michigan Education
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.
August 31, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - dearborn
Dearborn Opens 100-Foot Memorial Listing 18,457 Children Killed in Gaza
A 100-foot mural listing 18,457 Palestinian children killed in Gaza opened in Dearborn's PEACE Park East. The bilingual memorial, created by artist Phil Buehler, will remain on display through July 31.
June 19, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Senator Leads Michigan Senate Hearing on Dam Safety Bills After Statewide Flooding
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, chaired by Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo, heard testimony on two bipartisan bills to strengthen Michigan's aging dam infrastructure and increase oversight of hydroelectric dam sales.
May 24, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - muskegon
Woman Escapes Muskegon Heights Police Car While Handcuffed, Later Recaptured After Break-In
A woman handcuffed in a Muskegon Heights police car escaped through a partially open window and was later recaptured after a break-in at a Peck Street residence.
May 17, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - flint
Flint Residents Get Chance to Shape $20 Million Park Improvement Plan
Flint residents can vote on park improvements as part of a $20 million Charles Stewart Mott Foundation centennial initiative, with feedback accepted through June 6.
May 7, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - detroit
Detroit Gets Professional Women's Hockey League Team
The Professional Women's Hockey League announced Detroit will become the league's ninth franchise, beginning play in the 2026-27 season at Little Caesars Arena with Ally Financial as the inaugural partner.
May 6, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - traverse-city
TCAPS breaks ground on $17.5M afterschool clubhouse and fieldhouse in Traverse City
TCAPS breaks ground on a $17.5M afterschool clubhouse and multi-purpose fieldhouse in Traverse City. The public-private partnership includes more than $8.5M in donations and will create year-round opportunities for students.
May 6, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - politics
Michigan Lawmakers Propose Year-Long Data Center Moratorium Amid Rural Community Backlash
Bipartisan Michigan lawmakers introduced House Bills 5594-5596 to halt data center construction statewide for one year, giving communities time to assess impacts before approving new facilities.
April 19, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Jocelyn Benson Proposes Banning Utility Political Spending in Michigan
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson proposes banning regulated utilities from spending money to influence or elect politicians in Michigan as part of a broader energy reform plan.
April 18, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Michigan Lawmakers Push for Epstein Investigation Into Interlochen Center
Michigan lawmakers are pushing for a bipartisan investigation into connections between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Interlochen Center for the Arts, which Epstein donated nearly half a million dollars to and built a lodge named after himself.
April 16, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - politics
Michigan Expands Tuition-Free Education and Career Training Programs as State Invests $558.9 Million in Student Financial Aid
Michigan invested over $558.9 million in student financial aid during the 2024-2025 academic year, helping 153,000 students access tuition-free community college, career training, and four-year degree programs. The state is hosting more than 25 events this April to promote these opportunities as part of Career Exploration and Awareness Month.
April 9, 2026·Michigan Capitol·5 sources - politics
Michigan Supreme Court Bars City of Troy From Profiting on Building Permit Fees After 15-Year Battle
The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled against the City of Troy after 15 years of litigation over building permit fees, ordering the city to pay $575,000 in fees and barring it from profiting on permit collections. The ruling sets a precedent for how Michigan municipalities may calculate and spend building department fees under the state Construction Code Act and Headlee Amendment.
April 6, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - politics
Federal Education Tax Credit Program Targets Michigan as State Lags in Reading Scores
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is urging Michigan to opt into a new federal tax credit program that could expand school choice options for families. The Education Freedom Tax Credit allows taxpayers to claim up to $1,700 in credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, with the program expected to be available starting in 2027. As Michigan ranks 44th nationally in fourth-grade reading scores, the federal program has attracted support from state Republican leaders while facing concerns from education officials about its potential impact on public schools.
April 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·6 sources - politics
Independent Report Questions Market for DeVos, Van Andel Luxury Development in Downtown Grand Rapids
Independent SB Friedman report commissioned by Michigan Strategic Fund finds limited evidence the downtown Grand Rapids market can support $796 million luxury development with million-dollar condos and luxury apartments at projected price points.
March 31, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - politics
Michigan Treasury Sets April 20 Deadline for First Wholesale Marijuana Tax Payments With Penalty Waiver Option
Michigan Treasury has set April 20, 2026 as the deadline for first quarterly payments of the new 24% Wholesale Marijuana Tax, with a penalty and interest waiver option for businesses that submit at least 75% of taxes due by the deadline and pay the full amount by January 20, 2027. The department issued Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2026-3 providing detailed guidance on tax calculations, taxable transactions, and compliance requirements.
March 31, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources