Politics

DETROIT - Energy efficiency in Michigan recently grabbed headlines. In his March 13 speech, Governor Snyder stressed the elimination of energy waste as a cornerstone to moving toward a more renewable future. This speech stems from the fact that Michigan is on the verge of meeting the Renewable Portfolio Standard targets that were set in

LANSING - While it is always tough for teens to find summer work, a forecast released Wednesday by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget said 2015 should be the best summer season in a decade for young people to find jobs. The department said it anticipates a teen unemployment rate of 17.2 percent during

LANSING - Re-evaluation of certain tax credits, most notably housing credits, as well as a review of some $20 billion in restricted revenue, are among the key pieces of House Speaker Kevin Cotter's plan for road funding after voters on Tuesday soundly rejected a ballot proposal aimed at raising new revenue for roads. "We have

LANSING - Concentrated animal feeding operations were already limited in when and where they could spread manure, but a new permit released Monday would apply those limits to operations receiving that manure as well. CAFOs are required under federal rule to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that regulates the waste allowed to

HOUGHTON - It's hot in the desert, where many American military men and women serve. By designing a cooling apparatus to wear in such climates, one of Michigan Technological University's Mechanical Engineering Senior Design teams may help countless suffering soldiers. Their design won them first place in the Air Force Research Lab University Design Challenge.

PLYMOUTH - Spring is the time of year for fresh starts. We change the batteries in our smoke alarms. We go through closets and give away old clothes, toys and other unused items. We clean up the yard, garden beds and even the garage. It's also a good time to ensure the technology in our

LANSING - The good news for backers of Proposal 15-1 to raise the sales tax as part of a plan to increase road funding by $1.2 billion is that they have improved their position in the polls in the past month.     The bad news is that despite millions spent on television advertising and

DETROIT - NextEnergy has awarded $295,000 in Michigan Accelerating Technology Energy Grant funds to three Michigan companies - Navitas Advanced Solutions Group, REL and Temper. The MATch Energy Grant provides matching funds, or cost-share, as well as funding for follow-on commercialization projects, to eligible Michigan businesses and universities applying for federal funding in the area

ANN ARBOR - The National Venture Capital Association, in a report released this week, said Michigan set a record in the first quarter for investment activity. But the executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association said she's not sure those figures are correct. "Their numbers are higher than ours," said MVCA's Maureen Miller Brosnan.

LANSING - Organizations that offer or oversee energy efficiency services insisted those programs would at least be severely curtailed if there was not legislation requiring utilities to offer them, while small utilities said not only would the programs continue, but the current law inhibits what they can do as the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee