Results for “conservation districts”
11 stories
- politics
Michigan Conservation District Elections Plagued by Errors, Leaving Unelected Board Members in Power
Michigan conservation district elections have been invalidated repeatedly due to errors, leaving unelected board members in power and raising questions about oversight of these little-known environmental bodies.
May 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - legislature
Michigan's School Funding System Leaves Rural Districts Behind as Administrators Write Grants Between Teaching Duties
Michigan rural school superintendents describe spending grant-writing hours between teaching duties, leaving small districts to miss out on millions in state funding that larger districts can access more easily.
April 5, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - policy
Michigan PreK System Shows Progress as School Districts Seek Funding for Facility Upgrades
Michigan's early childhood education system shows progress with expanded PreK access as school districts in the Thumb region seek voter approval for facility upgrade funding in May special elections.
April 4, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - policy
Michigan Competitive Grant System Disadvantages Small Rural School Districts, Leaving Students Behind
Michigan's competitive grant system disadvantages small rural school districts, leaving students without access to essential programs like career tech and advanced placement courses. Administrators in small districts must complete grant applications between their regular duties, while larger districts have dedicated staff for the process.
March 31, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources - legislation
Traverse City Hunters on Alert: Michigan Lawmaker Proposes Auctioning Rare Pure Michigan Hunt Licenses to Highest Bidders
Rep. Phil Green's House Bill 5682 would allow five rare Pure Michigan-style hunting licenses to be auctioned to the highest bidder. The proposal could generate significant revenue for conservation but raises concerns about fairness for everyday Northern Michigan hunters.
June 1, 2026·Michigan Capitol·1 source - politics
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.
May 30, 2026·Michigan Capitol·4 sources - governor
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 - crime
Grand Rapids: DNR Officer Ryan Cox Found Not Guilty in Campground Shooting as $250 Million Lawsuit Looms
A Mecosta County jury found DNR conservation officer Ryan Cox not guilty of assault in a 2023 campground shooting. The victim, Brandon Davis, faces a path forward in a $250 million federal lawsuit alleging excessive force.
July 7, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - education
Gretchen Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Smartphone Ban Into Law As Implementation Challenges Mount Across Michigan Schools
Gretchen Whitmer signs bipartisan smartphone ban requiring Michigan public schools to prohibit student phone use during instructional time, but implementation varies widely across 779 districts
April 10, 2026·Michigan Capitol·5 sources - education
Detroit Parents Sue Michigan Over School Funding, Claim State Violated Constitutional Duty
Detroit parents filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Michigan, alleging the state has violated its constitutional duty by chronically underfunding Detroit schools. The lawsuit, filed by law firm Mantese Honigman PC, cites disparities in per-pupil funding, teacher salaries, and educational resources compared to wealthier districts.
April 9, 2026·Michigan Capitol·2 sources - politics
School Funding Votes Head to May 5 Ballot in Michigan's Thumb Region
School districts across Michigan's Thumb region will put bond and millage measures on the May 5 ballot to address aging infrastructure, safety upgrades, and facility improvements, including a $37.1 million Cros-Lex bond proposal.
April 6, 2026·Michigan Capitol·3 sources