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Officials Take Credit When Pandemic Ebbs, Blame The People For Surges

Beware a government with a ‘vision of sick people as the enemy’ warned ACLU in 2008

Tom Gantert | April 19, 2021

Will Michigan Ever Reopen? No Guarantee Of Reaching Whitmer's Required Vaccine Threshold

Neighbor state officials also tie reopening to matters outside their control

Jamie A. Hope | April 17, 2021

Michigan Government Orders Toddlers Age 2 to 4 To Wear Facemasks

Tom Gantert | April 16, 2021

Gig Work: Will Regulators Throttle A Fast-Growing Workforce Trend?

Florida and California are studies in friendly vs approaches; Michigan is a mixed bag

Dawson Bell | April 16, 2021

Professor: MSU Segregating Campus By Affinity Groups Violates Civil Rights Act

He’s filed a complaint

Jamie A. Hope | April 15, 2021

Proposed Michigan COVID Rule Forbids Leaving Shows Or Stadiums Before Getting Permission

‘Safe exit’ procedures raise many questions

Tom Gantert | April 15, 2021

Whitmer Administration: Face Masks For Everyone; They’ll Let You Know When They Can Come Off

Michigan’s workplace regulators say they will ‘examine the continued need’ for face masks, other rules

Tom Gantert | April 14, 2021

Audit: Evidence Lacking 40% Of Public School Educators Took Required Continuing Ed Courses

Department of Education created verification process only after audit found shortcoming

Jamie A. Hope | April 14, 2021

Pandemic ‘Put Communities Through Hell’? Not As Measured By Government Pay Hikes

Lobbying group for local officials has made the claim

Tom Gantert | April 13, 2021

Hold Political Opinionmakers Accountable for Fabricated Evidence

Details and evidence are often glossed over

James M. Hohman | April 12, 2021

Details and evidence are often glossed over

Flint’s Bookkeeping Was A Mess Before Water Crisis — And Still Is

Not knowing how much the city has or owes contributes to all kinds of problems

Tom Gantert | April 12, 2021

Senate-Passed Bill Would Prescribe Restaurant Lockdown Metrics In Law

Michigan’s hospitality industry fed up with shifting state standards

Dawson Bell | April 10, 2021

Arrest Of Lockdown-Defying Restaurant Owner Violated Court Guidelines

An alphabet soup of agencies and departments was mobilized to put the owner of Marlena’s Bistro behind bars

Jamie A. Hope | April 9, 2021

How The Union Contract And Bogus Merit Pay Hurt Teacher Of The Year Finalist

She gets $48,809, which is less than the average teacher pay in the district

Tom Gantert | April 8, 2021

UK Variant In Just 0.02% Of Michigan’s COVID Cases; WaPo Blames It For Current Surge

Tom Gantert | April 7, 2021

Experts Have Answers For Michigan’s COVID Spike, But Nothing Definite

Tom Gantert | April 7, 2021

Michigan 12th-Most Restrictive State For COVID Policies

Tom Gantert | April 6, 2021

If Not Numbers, What Drives Whitmer’s COVID Policies?

The same caseloads that triggered November lockdowns get no response in April

Tom Gantert | April 6, 2021

Cities’ Clever And Prohibitive Fees Are Killing Michigan’s Open Records Law

Freedom of Information Act on life support as municipalities clamp down on access

Tom Gantert | April 5, 2021

How To Make A School District Appear Underfunded: Ignore Big Pieces Of Revenue

Michigan’s public school establishment and friends regularly do it

Tom Gantert | April 3, 2021

Four Years Running, Auditors Ding Benton Harbor Schools On Free Lunch Accounting

Federal government appears no more diligent enforcing its rules

Tom Gantert | April 2, 2021

Flint Has 29 Cents For Each Dollar Needed To Cover Pension Promises

Annual income: $100 million; total pension promises: $388 million; result: misery

Tom Gantert | April 1, 2021

Underfunded? Detroit, Benton Harbor, Flint Schools Got Far More Than State Average

The average district got $10,687 per student last year, but Flint got $26,916

Tom Gantert | March 31, 2021

Michigan Has More Teachers Per Student Than 13 Years Ago

More favorable ratio challenges often-repeated claims of a teacher shortage

Tom Gantert | March 30, 2021

Fewer Students And More Teachers Means - A Michigan Teacher Shortage?

That's what they say

Tom Gantert | March 29, 2021

Michigan Job Losses Nation's 12th Worst Since Pandemic Began

Employment down 6.9% here from Feb. 2020

Tom Gantert | March 29, 2021

State’s Private Sector Workers Lost Income In 2020; Public Sector, Not So Much

That’s what an ongoing Michigan Capitol Confidential survey keeps finding

Tom Gantert | March 29, 2021

Legislator Calls For Funding All College Students Equally

State university lobbyists say we’ve never done it that way; call for more money instead

Dawson Bell | March 27, 2021

High School Prom Planners Await Government Permission

Midland schools warn dancing may be banned

Tom Gantert | March 26, 2021

Michigan Daily COVID Deaths: 12 On March 21, Versus 133 On Dec. 14

Tom Gantert | March 25, 2021

Media Off-Base On COVID Hospitalization Rate Report

Tom Gantert | March 25, 2021

Michigan Residents’ 2020 Employment Income Decline Is Nation’s Eighth-Worst

Tom Gantert | March 25, 2021

Work-From-Home Challenges City Income Tax Reach

Stay-at-home orders meant fewer workers commuting into cities that tax income

Dawson Bell | March 24, 2021

Mayor Calls Stimulus ‘Critical’; His Pay Rose From $132k To $137k In 2020

Tom Gantert | March 23, 2021

Government Workers A Protected Class In 2020

Some Westland cops put in a few hours in 2020 and retired with six-figure payouts during the pandemic

Tom Gantert | March 23, 2021

Celebrate Sunshine Week By Suing A Government Open Records Act Scofflaw

Mackinac Center did; its new suit joins seven others against Michigan governments

Tom Gantert | March 22, 2021

No Rush For Government-Owned Traverse City Internet

Out of 3,200 potential customers, only 12 signed up in February

Dawson Bell | March 22, 2021

University of Michigan Works To Conceal Records It Must Disclose Under Law

Tom Gantert | March 20, 2021

State Experts Have A New Plan — It Includes Lockdowns

State plan deviates from official Centers for Disease Control recommendations

Tom Gantert | March 19, 2021

Holland Restaurant Owner Arrested Over COVID Orders

Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria has operated at near capacity despite lockdown mandates

Taylor Piotrowski | March 19, 2021

Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria has operated at near capacity despite lockdown mandates

Lawsuit: U-M Defies Open Records Law To Hide Pay Rates

University also defies series of Michigan court precedents favoring openness

Tom Gantert | March 19, 2021

Transparency Laws are Designed to Keep the Government Accountable. But do They?

Government has repeatedly resisted the openness requested by the people

Stephen Delie | March 18, 2021

Government has repeatedly resisted the openness requested by the people

After A Year Of COVID, Media Asks If Lockdowns Actually Work

Tom Gantert | March 18, 2021

She Fled Communism For Freedom, Now Faces Jail For Not Closing Restaurant

Polish immigrant takes a stand

Dawson Bell | March 17, 2021

Open-Records Law Reveals: Cops Take Cars From Little Guys; School Pay Tricks; Much More

Government likes secrecy and Michigan officials get more clever at ducking records requests

Tom Gantert | March 16, 2021

Dodgy Metrics, No Real Accountability At Tax-Funded Tourism Marketing Program

Agency may have good reason to prefer Pure Michigan’s fluff to real transparency

Michael D. LaFaive | March 15, 2021

Lawmakers should insist on transparency

Michigan Attorney General Rebuffs Lawmaker Request To Investigate Nursing Home COVID Deaths

Tom Gantert | March 15, 2021

Florida: Wide-Open Restaurants, No Mask Mandate, Plunging Case Counts

Tom Gantert | March 15, 2021

State Agencies And Local Governments Get Creative Dodging Open Records Requests

‘Freedom Of Information' law? ... Make Sure You Bring A Lawyer And Checkbook

Tom Gantert | March 15, 2021

Farmington Hills Mayor Pushes Government Broadband Effort

Says it’s needed to attract young families

Dawson Bell | March 13, 2021

Detroit Schools Get Clean Audit, Released From State Fiscal Oversight

Tom Gantert | March 12, 2021

School Board Member Also MEA Union Official

‘This is 100% character assassination’: response to questions about conflict of interest

Dawson Bell | March 12, 2021

12 Months After Epidemic Arrives, State Ag Department Issues COVID Orders

‘A year later? There has to be some review’

Dawson Bell | March 11, 2021

North Dakota Repeals Mask Mandate, COVID Case Numbers Plunge

Tom Gantert | March 10, 2021

Virus Hard On Everyone? Not These Rochester School Employees

Tom Gantert | March 10, 2021

Biden Blowout: Spending Bill Unnecessary and Harmful

State lawmakers must act to minimize waste

Michael D. LaFaive | March 9, 2021

State lawmakers must act to minimize waste

Whitmer, Now Fauci: Michigan Business Man Vents Lockdown Frustrations With Billboard

Tom Gantert | March 9, 2021

Iowa Drops Mask Mandate, Cases Plummet

Media silent on case decline after repeal

Tom Gantert | March 9, 2021

Michigan’s $62,170 Average Teacher Pay Not Very Revealing

The highest average was $81,641, at a district where instructors top-out at nearly $102K

Tom Gantert | March 9, 2021

Shortage? 10.5% More Teachers In Michigan For 2.1% Fewer Students

Tom Gantert | March 8, 2021

Detroit Teachers Average Salary Went Up 15%

Average pay went from $56k to $65k

Tom Gantert | March 8, 2021

They’re No. 1: Utica Teachers Michigan’s Highest Paid

Earned $81,641 on average; the statewide average was $63,553

Tom Gantert | March 6, 2021

Top Heads Of Detroit Teachers Union Enjoyed Big Raises During Epidemic

Schools still closed, though

Tom Gantert | March 5, 2021

In Flint, No Sneeze Guards, No School — Despite $53K+ Per Pupil In Promised COVID Bucks

Tom Gantert | March 5, 2021

Michigan’s Right-to-Work Law Led to Huge Drop in Union Membership

For the first time in decades, state falls outside of the top 10 nationally in unionization

Jarrett Skorup | March 4, 2021

For the first time in decades, state falls outside of the top 10 nationally in unionization

Federal Spending Blowout — In Michigan’s Budget

A state fiscal replay of the Obama stimulus era

Tom Gantert | March 4, 2021

Vaccination Rate Higher in Michigan, But Texas Mask Free And Open

COVID case-level declines similar in both states

Tom Gantert | March 3, 2021

His Government Service Hardship Included 8% Raise, $155K Golden Parachute

And a new gig as a public service scholar

Tom Gantert | March 3, 2021

COVID May Be On The Run In Michigan

New daily case numbers plummeted from a 451 per million rate to 90 per million

Tom Gantert | March 2, 2021

Michigan No. 30 In School Reopening

Iowa, Montana and Wyoming schools open

Tom Gantert | March 2, 2021

Indefinite Emergency Powers Are Unconstitutional

U-M law professor makes flawed case to overturn recent Supreme Court decision

Patrick J. Wright and Michael Van Beek | March 1, 2021

U-M law professor makes flawed case to overturn recent Supreme Court decision

Pandemic Delivers Potentially Costly Electric Bill Lesson To School Complex

Beware the fine print in commercial utility contracts

Dawson Bell | March 1, 2021

49% Of Charter School Kids Black; State Civil Rights Commission Says Fund Them At 75%

Tom Gantert | February 27, 2021

Berkeley's Robert Reich Complains About CEO Pay, Collected $300k To Teach Three Classes

Tom Gantert | February 26, 2021

Whitmer Suggests ‘Effective’ Reopening of Schools Depends On Tripling Virus Testing

‘Three to four million binax antigen tests every single month’

Tom Gantert | February 26, 2021

From ‘Until There Is A Vaccine’ To ‘Until We Are All Vaccinated’

Gov. Whitmer’s ever-moving target for normalcy

Tom Gantert | February 25, 2021

East Lansing Officials Prospered In Pandemic

Like many Michigan local governments, state lockdowns were accompanied by big raises

Tom Gantert | February 25, 2021

Gas, Coal, Nukes Supply 88% Of The Power Keeping Michigan's Lights And Furnace Fans On

Tom Gantert | February 24, 2021

State, Media Likely Oversell Impact Of Taxpayer-Funded Business Grants

How long will a $300 state handout keep one person employed?

Tom Gantert | February 24, 2021

Whitmer Declares Energy Emergency — Appears Short Of Legal Standard

Law authorizes lockdowns, closing gas stations, more

Tom Gantert | February 23, 2021

Very Big Raises For Some Rochester Schools Managers During Year of the Coronavirus

Unionized staff also saw substantial pay increases

Tom Gantert | February 23, 2021

Money for Nothing: Most Federal COVID Relief Went to Closed Classrooms

Districts raking in most CARES funds denied students in-person learning

Ben DeGrow and Allison Rigterink | February 22, 2021

Districts raking in most CARES funds denied students in-person learning

After Targeting Gas Pipeline, Whitmer Declares Propane Heating Fuel 'Emergency'

Tom Gantert | February 22, 2021

New Buffalo City Council Divides Residents Over Airbnb-Type Rentals

First they impose restrictions, then a moratorium

Dawson Bell | February 20, 2021

Fewer Teachers Get Required Assessments With COVID, But Results The Same

As usual, about 1% found minimally effective or worse

Tom Gantert | February 19, 2021

Michigan Government First Stops Businesses, Then Subsidizes Some

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | February 19, 2021

Firm Made $1.6 Billion, Corporate Subsidy Agency Boasts Offering It $2.6 Million

Michigan taxpayers will pay for it

Tom Gantert | February 18, 2021

More Detroit School District Students Chronically Absent Than Not

54.1% were absent last school year, down from previous years

Tom Gantert | February 17, 2021

Federal Bill Would Force Tens of Thousands in Michigan Back Into Unions

You’ll have to pay union dues as a condition of employment in many workplaces (government workers excepted)

Dawson Bell | February 17, 2021

Texas Energy Crisis a Warning for Michigan

New generation facilities should be reliable

Jason Hayes | February 16, 2021

New generation facilities should be reliable

Virtual Classes Cancelled At Ann Arbor Schools During Cold Snap

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | February 16, 2021

Big 2020 Paychecks For Many Government Workers In Michigan

Private sector experienced lost jobs and income; a CapCon series

Tom Gantert | February 16, 2021

Community College President Paid Over $525,000 Last Year

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | February 15, 2021

Whitmer’s Pandemic Management Inspires Pro-Indiana Billboards

Sign mocks Michigan governor as being good for business - in Indiana

Tom Gantert | February 15, 2021

Whitmer Said ‘Widely Available’ Vaccine One Condition For Return To Normalcy

Around 4 million Michiganders may now have immunity

Tom Gantert | February 15, 2021

COVID Shutdowns Weakened State Unemployment Fund

Account balances on the brink, and a cash infusion means another hit to employers

Dawson Bell | February 13, 2021

Official State COVID Website Has Outdated, Conflicted Messaging

Tom Gantert | February 12, 2021

No ‘Defund The Police’ In Whitmer's State Budget Proposal

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | February 12, 2021

Taxes on Michigan’s Record $1.1 Billion Lottery Ticket Will Fund State Government For Seven Hours

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | February 11, 2021

Ann Arbor Almost Alone In Refusing To Reopen Schools

350 doctors and psychologists there demand schools reopen; evidence ‘undisputed at this point’

Dawson Bell | February 11, 2021

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