Politics/Government

Highways Win, Local Streets Left ‘In The Dust’ By Whitmer’s $3.5 Billion Roads Plan

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is scaling back her plan to “fix the damn roads,” unveiling a $3.5 billion bond proposal that would help rebuild Michigan highways without a tax increase but saddle the state with decades of new debt. The first-term Democrat announced her latest plan Wednesday night in her second State of the

By |2020-01-30T19:50:00-05:00January 30th, 2020|Politics, Politics/Government|

Helicopter Services Provider Expansion Gets State Aid

LANSING—Construction Helicopters Inc., aka CHI Aviation, has received a $400,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to support a $4.55 million expansion of its operations in Livingston County’s Howell Township, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced. The project is expected to create 60 new jobs over a three-year period with wages near $45 per hour.

By |2020-01-30T18:04:17-05:00January 30th, 2020|ESD, Politics, Politics/Government|

GVSU Hosting Free Tax Assistance Program

GRAND RAPIDS - Free tax help is available for people who make $56,000 or less, have a disability or consider English as a second language. Grand Valley State University is a host site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through United Way that offers free tax return preparation and filing for qualifying individuals. 

By |2020-01-25T17:18:51-05:00January 25th, 2020|Politics, Politics/Government|

Travel Michigan Wins Platinum Award for Outstanding Travel Marketing

NEW YORK CITY – At the 63rd annual Adrian Awards, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) last night honored Travel Michigan with a Platinum Award for Public Relations Innovation for the creation of and supporting campaign around the Pure Sounds of Michigan album, in 2019. Pure Sounds of Michigan is an ambient album,

By |2020-01-25T17:18:52-05:00January 25th, 2020|New Products / Contracts, Politics, Politics/Government|

Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Explains His MITechNews Column “Driving Data to Drive Reform.”

LANSING - In his latest column on MITechNews.Com, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist explains how he used data to drive 18 reforms for Michigan government. One example: The state's 83 counties have 81 separate county jail databases, complicating keeping track of inmates. https://youtu.be/rvX5ysXavLc

By |2020-01-25T08:26:13-05:00January 25th, 2020|News, Politics, Politics/Government|

Michigan Legislative Bills Would Ban Vitamin E Acetate From Vaping Products

LANSING - Vitamin E acetate would be banned from vaping products for marijuana, medical marijuana, and nicotine under a three-bill package pending before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. HB 5159, HB 5160 and HB 5161 by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn), Rep. Frank Liberati (D-Allen Park) and Rep. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) would ban the chemical, but

By |2020-01-21T19:57:52-05:00January 21st, 2020|Politics, Politics/Government, Small Business Association of Michigan|

Enbridge Wins Another Round Over Dana Nessel In Michigan Line 5 Tunnel Fight

LANSING — Enbridge Energy Inc. can proceed as planned with construction of an underwater tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac to house a replacement for the dual Line 5 oil pipelines after the Michigan Court of Appeals this week declined to suspend a prior ruling. A three-judge panel on Tuesday denied Attorney General Dana Nessel’s

By |2020-01-21T19:58:53-05:00January 21st, 2020|Clean Update, Politics, Politics/Government|

LT. Gov Gilchrist: Driving Data to Drive Reform

LANSING - What if we used data to drive decision making in state government rather than the seemingly endless cycle of political rhetoric that has acted as a barrier to progress and innovation? It may seem like a silly question for those of us who use data every day to make our decisions as engineers,

By |2020-01-25T08:31:53-05:00January 19th, 2020|Featured, Guest Columns, Politics, Politics/Government|

Michigan Expecting $140 In Cannabis Sales Per Person By 2021

LANSING - With only a 10 percent excise tax on the sale of recreational marijuana, Michigan state officials are expecting a fairly substantial windfall in the next two years as the market, literally, lights up to the tune of $140 worth of product for every man, woman and child by the end of 2021. "It's