LANSING - Tax revenues improved for most states during the second calendar quarter of 2010, a national report said, but not in Michigan. Nationwide, states saw tax collections improve by 2.2 percent from the same quarter in 2009, April to June. But the range of growth was extremely volatile with the Northeast states seeing tax
LANSING - No deal on the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal year budget Tuesday, but officials said they are optimistic targets could be reached as soon as Thursday with conference committees acting next week. That kind of talk no doubt will provoke some cynicism after the government shutdowns of 2007 and 2009 were preceded by similar
LANSING - Michigan came closer to being a finalist for federal "Race to the Top" money for schools in the second round of the program, but fell short primarily for a lack of pathways for aspiring educators and improving teacher effectiveness, according to reviews of the state's application. Michigan's average score from the reviewers was
LANSING - The Senate's adjournment Tuesday until September 7 assured yet another budget would go into the last days of the fiscal year and now puts the government at risk of a third shutdown in four years unless Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Legislature can strike a deal before midnight October 1. There had been
LANSING - Athletes from or living in Michigan were before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday opposing legislation they said would dismantle the state's common law right of publicity by allowing video game makers to use their persona without consent. While professional sports leagues and teams have protections from other entities or individuals using their
LANSING - The latest round of economic development announcements shows Michigan is gaining momentum in terms of building jobs, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President Greg Main said Tuesday, but Granholm also worried that concerns about a double-dip recession could actually trigger a second round of the national recession. Speaking to reporters
LANSING - The Small Business Association of Michigan has endorsed Republican Rick Snyder, an Ann Arbor Venture Capitalist, for Governor. "Michigan small business owners believe that Rick Snyder?s experience as a leader in innovation and job creation gives him unique and valuable insight into what it will take to help Michigan excel in entrepreneur-centered economic
LANSING - Lansing Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero contends there will be three debates across the state against his Republican opponent Rick Snyder a Venture Capitalist from Ann Arbor. But the Snyder campaign said Bernero is, "getting the debate cart before the horse." Bernero?s campaign said he has accepted debates at WOOD-TV Sept.
LANSING - A revised version of a bill that would authorize the construction of the Detroit River International Crossing would limit the use public-private partnerships solely to the DRIC project, a key senator said Tuesday. But Sen. Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac) said he still has no firm timetable to take the bill up for a vote
LANSING - Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Snyder had called on Democrats and independents to support his campaign, and pundits have said those crossovers helped turned the election for him. Now, observers are also beginning to look at the voting returns for proof that crossover voting played a major role in Snyder's victory. Mark Grebner, founder