News & Resources

Senate Passes Return To School Plan In Rare Saturday Session

Public schools will receive their state funding 75% based on the 2019-20 school year count and 25% on the 2020-21 year count, under the “Return to Learn” school package that […]

August 18, 2020

Filler Moving On COVID Protection For Business

The Republican House Judiciary Committee chair wants to hold a hearing “ASAP” to protect businesses and universities from the inevitable lawsuits tied to allegations that they’re not protecting customers or […]

August 11, 2020

Daily COVID Numbers Yo-Yoing Up & Down As Gov Extends Emergency To Sept. 4

When it comes to COVID-19 cases in Michigan, the statewide daily numbers haven’t been spiking upwards as of late. But they aren’t consistently moving down, either. It’s been established cases […]

August 11, 2020

MIRS News – Top 10 House Seats Most Likely To Flip

It’s been three months since the first Top 10 listing of 2020 and there’s a lot of changes in the bottom half of this new ranking. Some of it is fundraising numbers. Some […]

July 28, 2020

Michigan Ranks Third For ‘Fiscal Shock’ From COVID Pandemic

Michigan ranks third among states in the degree of “fiscal shock” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a paper published today by the Council of State Governments (CSG). CSG […]

July 28, 2020

Fed Money, Shifts, Rainy Day, Some Cuts Balance FY ’20 Budget

The Legislature hastily approved measures Wednesday morning designed to plug a $2.2 billion hole in the state’s current year budget with mostly federal money, $350 million from the Rainy Day […]

July 21, 2020

Business Can’t Assume Unmasked Patrons Have Medical Excuse

Business owners shouldn’t assume someone not wearing a mask inside their establishments are medically unable to do so, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in an update to her mandatory mask executive order […]

July 14, 2020

Whitmer Vetoes Bipartisan COVID-Related Tax Relief Bills

Five bills that would’ve provided various forms of tax relief to people and businesses — all of which received bipartisan support in both chambers — were vetoed by Gov. Gretchen […]

July 14, 2020

Gov Orders Businesses To Refuse Service To Mask-Less Patrons

A new executive order requires people to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces and also requires businesses open to the public to refuse entry or service for people who refuse […]

July 7, 2020

State Uses Federal Money Shift, $490M In Cuts To Fill FY ’20 Hole

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders agreed June 29 to shift around nearly enough federal money to fill the $2.2 billion hole in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget without funding […]

July 7, 2020

New COVID Cases Up; Unemployment Down; Out-Of-Hospital Deaths Up; Drug Keeps COVID Deaths Down; More News

Michigan reported 543 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, the largest number in more than 30 days, according to numbers released by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Overall, Michigan […]

June 30, 2020

Legislature Could Repeal ’45 Emergency Powers Without Gov’s Sig Under Proposal

A ballot committee calling itself Unlock Michigan is seeking to send a proposal to repeal a disputed law giving the Governor emergency powers to the Legislature for a vote before […]

June 30, 2020

Judge Temporarily Halts Line 5 Operations

Enbridge Energy must cease all transport operations of its Line 5, which carries crude oil and liquid natural gas in the Straits of Mackinac, an Ingham County judge ruled Thursday. […]

June 23, 2020

93% Of UIA Claimants Approved For Benefits

The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) reported Friday that 93% of eligible claimants have been approved for benefits and most of the remaining 7% are suspected of being fraudulent. Nearly 140,000 […]

June 23, 2020

No-Penalty Property Tax Extension Passes House

A penalty- and interest-free property tax extension unanimously passed the House Thursday. The bills also allow local governments to borrow collectively an estimated $1 billion to help with cash flow. […]

June 16, 2020

Landlord Can’t Get $500K In Back Rent, Sues Governor Instead

A residential property management company that says it is owed about $500,000 in delinquent rent is suing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, alleging her executive orders (EO) prohibiting evictions violates the Michigan […]