It’s mid-winter and everyone who is anyone knows there is no better time to answer questions about the week in news in Michigan.

Bipartisan deal would raise Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 but preserve a lower tipped credit for restaurant workers. It depends on a separate deal over paid sick days – which lawmakers have not yet agreed to.

Amid bitter battles over putting renewable energy on undeveloped land, some see parking lots as an appealing alternative. But be prepared for costs to double.

The decline is less than recent years, but continues a pattern from the pandemic. Among the factors: birth rates and private schools.

The World Ice Fishing Championship is this weekend on Tamarack Lake in west Michigan. The top prize may be gold, but organizers also hope to lure the interest of Olympics decision makers.

The Feb. 26 Lunch Break will feature reporters Ron French and Lauren Gibbons talking with deputy editor Jonathan Oosting discussing how President Trump’s policies are impacting Michigan in the first few weeks of his presidency.

One year into a Michigan law allowing removal of guns from at-risk individuals, proponents say it’s “working exactly the way we intended.”

Both hires are intended to beef up coverage of underserved areas and topics. Newsletter launches are planned in the next few months, following a period of big growth at Bridge.

Patients suffering winter-related injuries are a common sight in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities, but there are ways to reduce the risk.

As Michigan lawmakers fight over sick leave and wage changes, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposes delaying implementation until July.

What’s on tap this weekend in Michigan: Fish without a license, world-championship ice fishing, maple-syrup making and illuminated trails. Make the most of it.

While there is no evidence of an established population below the Mackinac Bridge, state biologists say there is some suitable habitat in the peninsula’s far northern reaches.