Whitmer, who has faced criticism from Republicans and business groups for not linking COVID restrictions to identified metrics, changed that approach. Her new plan offers economic and social incentives for residents to get vaccinated.

A University of Michigan expert notes that corporate leaders are increasingly being drawn into state policy debates over race, voting rights and other social issues, and they “have the heft to be heard.”

There’s no limit to how often ‘good neighbors’ can be paid to bring in Detroiters for vaccines. Mayor Mike Duggan said the payments are worth it to boost the city’s woeful vaccination rates.

House lawmakers want the Democratic governor to rescind a recent order requiring those as young as 2 to wear masks before they approve money that could transform child care.

‘We’ve got to get it under control,’ said the state’s building industry leader as skyrocketing costs threaten to stall the industry’s rebound and make homes less affordable: adding $24,000 to a typical 2,000-square-foot home.

Michiganders can feel safer gathering in small groups, traveling, and skipping quarantine with some exceptions, under new federal guidance issued Tuesday. Michigan appears poised to soon ease state mask rules.

The steep downturn in people returning bottles to reclaim deposit money has created a huge one-time revenue boost for the state environmental cleanup fund and beverage retailers, which split the money from unclaimed deposits. But state officials worry the numbers are misleading.

Experts say disasters reveal “two different stories,” as poor communities struggle to rebuild, while richer neighbors can afford to fix damages.

DMC was sold to an out-of-town, for-profit business in 2010, with a promise that it would continue its mission as a safety net hospital. The current owner promises to keep that vow.

Heralded as bipartisan legislation that ensures state officials are held accountable for financial conflicts, the bills keep most officials’ sources of income a secret from the public, unlike in many states. Critics denounce the reform effort as “a farce” that maintains the status quo.

Michigan’s population grows past 10 million, but it will still lose a representative in Congress. Four of the six other states losing a seat are in the Great Lakes.

Michigan schools must offer the annual standardized test, but, because of the pandemic, not all students have to take it. That could make the results less useful than normal.