FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, fellow motorcycle riders from across Michigan and safety advocates highlighted May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Tuesday (May 15), urging riders to wear the proper gear, take advantage of safety courses and share the road. “Michigan has more than half a million motorcyclists and as we [...]

Chicago – Momentum is building for improved Amtrak service to and from Michigan with a series of positive developments for intercity rail passengers. Amtrak Wolverine Service and Blue Water passengers can now expect the return to normal travel times from Kalamazoo to near Dearborn with the completion of track and crossing improvements performed by Norfolk [...]

LANSING, MI – Gov. Rick Snyder and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan Thursday (May 3) said that the student enrollment cap for cyber schools contained in Senate Bill 619 clearly is the Legislature’s intent and will be enforced. The bill, which allows for a phased-in expansion in the number of cyber schools, was [...]

Phase-out of the personal property tax in Michigan is getting a lot of attention these days in Lansing.  Local units of government are also very much interested in the topic in view of its revenue implications for them at a time when budgets are tight and challenging. Bridge Magazine, published by The Center for Michigan, [...]

The Department of Natural Resources is reminding anglers to get ready for the opening of three fishing seasons on Saturday (April 28). The statewide trout season; the Lower Peninsula inland walleye, pike and muskellunge seasons; and the catch-and-immediate-release bass season for all Lower Peninsula waters (including the Great Lakes) all open that day. Anglers are [...]

LANSING – The demand has grown and Michigan school districts are using more fresh produce in their school meals according to a recent report from the Michigan Department of Education. Michigan is utilizing $2.55 million in federal funds this school year to purchase fresh produce, of which nearly 50 percent is grown here in Michigan, [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March decreased over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.5 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment increased by 21,000 in March, while the number of unemployed declined by 12,000. The state’s workforce [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Lt. Gov. Brian Calley Thursday (April 19) signed legislation providing important controls on what materials can be burned in rural residential burn barrels around the state. While some municipalities have existing regulations prohibiting the practice of burning household garbage, residents in many areas of the state are not regulated. Michigan is the [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan will become the 31st state to give motorcyclists the option of wearing a helmet under legislation signed by the governor on Thursday (April 12). Senate Bill 291, sponsored by state Sen. Phil Pavlov, lets motorcyclists choose whether to wear a helmet if they are at least 21 years old, carry additional [...]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Tourism spending in Michigan jumped a surprising 8 percent in 2011 and should increase by a healthy 6 percent clip this year, reflecting the ongoing economic recovery, Michigan State University researchers said in their annual tourism report. Michigan’s $17-billion-a-year tourism market – one of the state’s largest industries – should have [...]

If you could use some encouraging words regarding Michigan’s economy, you may appreciate an article by Amy Lane in Bridge Magazine, a publication of The Center for Michigan. To access the story, click on the following link:  Prospects brighten for Mich. Heavyweights

Governor Rick Snyder and Gary Heidel, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, announced the selection of the 2012 Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation. The State Historic Preservation Office initiated the award program in 2003 to recognize outstanding historic preservation achievements reflecting a commitment to the preservation of Michigan’s unique character and the [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Personal income in Michigan last year grew at the strongest rate in more than a decade, providing another substantial indicator of Michigan’s rebounding economy, Gov. Rick Snyder said Thursday (March 29). The state’s personal income growth rate is the strongest since 2000, according to 2011 figures released by the U.S. Bureau of [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said this week that ExpressSOS.com offers an easy, quick and popular way to renew watercraft registrations, which is great news for the 251,000 boat owners receiving their renewal notices this month. “I encourage boaters to renew online at www.ExpressSOS.com,” Johnson said. “It’s fast and easy. Renew online [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February continued its downward trend, declining over the month by two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.8 percent, according to data released Wednesday (March 28) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment rose by 22,000 in February as the number of unemployed [...]

To ensure that Michigan’s fisheries resources are managed properly and are providing the best benefits to anglers and the public, the Department of Natural Resources annually fine-tunes fishing regulations. For the coming 2012-2013 angling year, which begins April 1, the DNR would like anglers to be aware of the following new fishing regulations: Simplified statewide [...]

GERMANY – Gov. Rick Snyder Friday (March 23) announced that Hark Orchids L.P., an orchid propagation company headquartered in Lippstadt, will invest approximately $5 million to establish its first facility outside of Germany in Kalamazoo. “Hark’s choice of Michigan for its first U.S. facility tells others across the globe that Michigan holds great opportunities for [...]

On March 16, celebrate President James Madison’s 261st birthday by viewing Dr. Donald R. Hickey’s discussion, “James Madison: War President,” at http://bit.ly/yTzNWm on YouTube. The presentation, sponsored by the Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, was given last week at the Loosemore Auditorium, Grand Valley State University, in [...]

Licenses for a new program aimed at introducing children under the age of 10 to hunting and fishing in Michigan are now available for purchase. The Mentored Youth Hunting license costs $7.50, and is a “package” license that includes small game, spring and fall turkey (private or public land), two deer tags (any deer), a [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January declined over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 9.0 percent, according to data released Wednesday (March 7th) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment advanced by 16,000 in January as the number of unemployed decreased by 14,000. The [...]