State Rep. and former Kalamazoo Mayor Robert Jones dead at 66

Just weeks before a crucial election, state Rep. Robert B. Jones (D-Kalamazoo) has died. He was 66. Jones had been battling esophageal cancer. Jones was a four term mayor of Kalamazoo before being elected to the state House in 2006. He was the Democratic nominee for the 20th Senate district, and was waging a spirited [...]

Suicide of 12 year old UP girl renews debate on anti-bullying legislation

News last week of the suicide of a 12-year-old middle school student in Michigan’s upper peninsula has activists and lawmakers renewing their calls for swift action on stalled legislation that supporters say would help prevent bullying.

Fall budget showdown already looming

The four top leaders from both parties in the state legislature participated in a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Michigan Society of Association Executives in Lansing on Tuesday and their comments make a showdown over the budget in September and October all but inevitable. The Detroit News reports:

Lawmakers downplay possibility of U.P. uranium mining

Upper Peninsula lawmakers are railing against a ballot measure to create standards for uranium mining, claiming that no uranium ore has been discovered in Michigan. However, a Canadian uranium mining company says it’s found uranium in the U.P., scientists have warned that its uranium exploration could harm groundwater, and the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department is warning that residential wells in several counties already have elevated levels of the radioactive metal.

Enviro group accuses U.P. lawmakers of spreading pro-mining propaganda

Upper Peninsula lawmakers that oppose a ballot measure to regulate uranium and sulfide mines have failed to recognize that protecting Michigan’s water is essential to maintaining the U.P.’s tourism industry, according to Save the Wild UP, and have instead become “the mouthpiece for pro-mining propaganda.” Earlier this week, Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming), Sen. Jason Allen [...]

Upper Peninsula lawmakers oppose ballot measure on mining

A ballot measure that would restrict mining “under the clever guise of protecting water,” is actually “an attack by special interests on the U.P. and its people, heritage, and economic future,” according to a statement released this week by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula. In lengthy and harshly worded statement, [...]

State Senate says no to tax on doctors

The Michigan Senate voted 32 to 4 to kill a proposal which would have placed a three percent tax on doctor’s incomes. The bill had already been approved by the State House.

Granholm targets legislature, says budget is ‘unfinished business’

LANSING — A disappointed, yet defiant, Gov. Jennifer Granholm faced reporters Thursday afternoon, hours after the state shut down for business for two and half hours after the state legislature failed to meet a constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget by Oct. 1. State lawmakers managed to pass a temporary spending measure giving life to the state’s operations until Oct. 31, which the governor signed around 2:30 a.m.

In prepared remarks, the governor slammed the budget measures passed late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

GOP claims Dillon, Prusi partying instead of working

LANSING — The Michigan Republican Party put out a press release at 4:03 Wednesday afternoon accusing Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township) and Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi (D-Ispheming Township) of attending a fundraiser while the state barreled towards a shut down.

Mich. Senate passes temporary budgets for schools, other state agencies

LANSING — The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate pushed through temporary budgets on Friday morning as a way to prevent a state shutdown in Oct. 1. But Senate Democrats opposed the move saying the temporary budgets instituted “massive cuts.”