Politics

HOUGHTON - Michigan Technological University's Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics is one of five mechanical engineering departments nationwide selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to participate in a new diversity training program. The others are Purdue, Oregon State, Texas Tech and the University of Oklahoma. The NSF program is called Transforming Engineering Culture to

LANSING - The Small Business Association of Michigan said Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act does nothing to address the number one problem facing small businesses and their employees. "Health care, and therefore health insurance, is simply too expensive for all of us and many people are priced out

JACKSON - On Monday, Consumers Energy became the fourth energy company in the United States to use drones to inspect power lines, equipment and wind turbines. The first flight of the unmanned aerial vehicles was in Jackson County, Consumers announced. "We're in the process of using UAV technology on a limited basis and analyzing if

LANSING - The Michigan Strategic Fund has issued $700,000 in grants to two companies that will invest $15.5 million to expand their operations in Michigan. As a result, some 185 new jobs are expected to be created. "Today's actions offer further evidence of our commitment to help companies grow and generate new job opportunities for

GRAND RAPIDS - West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum's July 13 membership meeting is a luncheon program on sustainability issues at Spectrum Health and the launch of Grand Rapids' first commercial bike-share program. The program is scheduled for noon at Grand Valley State University's new Seidman Center. Featured speaker is Steve Heacock, Senior Vice President for

LANSING - As Michigan prepares to submit its new proposed waiver for the Healthy Michigan plan to the federal government, the stakes for the waiver are high, a Health and Human Services official said Wednesday, and could include the program ending if a waiver is not approved by December 31. But since the proposed waiver

DETROIT - A top Wall Street rating firm has put Wayne County on credit watch after the county asked last week for the state to conduct a financial review of Michigan's largest county that could lead to a declaration of a financial emergency. Standard & Poor's announced the move on Wednesday. The credit watch has

LANSING - The demand for energy in Michigan is projected to increase across all sectors in 2015, assuming a return to normal summer weather and reflecting continued price advantages in the natural gas and petroleum markets, the Michigan Agency for Energy said Friday in releasing its Summer 2015 energy appraisal report. Commercial and residential customers

LANSING - The Midcontinent Independent System Operation, which oversees transmission of electric power to some 15 states including Michigan, has released survey results indicating there may not be an electric shortage crisis soon as some utilities have suggested and that has interests on both sides of the energy debate talking. The 2015 survey conducted by

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