Michigan Capitol Confidential https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/ A Michigan News Source Copyright 2026 Mackinac Center for Public Policy 5 Royal Oak rejects affordable housing development Project funding will likely be returned to the federal government after Zoning Board of Appeals blocks 45-unit development https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/royal-oak-rejects-affordable-housing-development https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34248 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:59:00 -0400 McMorrow budget figures don’t add up State senator understates growth in state government https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/mcmorrow-budget-figures-dont-add-up https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34243 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Number of public-school employees reaches 18-year high Michigan’s student population plummets, number of employees soars nearly 10% https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/number-of-public-school-employees-reaches-18-year-high https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34188 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids city manager traveled extensively on taxpayer’s dime Mark Washington put more than $17K on city credit card, records show https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/grand-rapids-city-manager-traveled-extensively-on-taxpayers-dime https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34241 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Whitmer spent $209,604 on Germany, Italy trips Gov mum on who paid for Olympics ticket https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-spent-209604-on-germany-italy-trips https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34246 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Montana’s measures to tackle housing crunch offer hope for Michigan State House considers reforms that allowed greater variety of construction in Big Sky State https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/montanas-measures-to-tackle-housing-crunch-offer-hope-for-michigan https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34249 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:59:00 -0400 MEDC pays almost $2.8 million in arts funding Midland arts center gets lion’s share of 22 grants awarded in 2025 https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/medc-pays-almost-2-8-million-in-arts-funding https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34191 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:01:00 -0400 Whitmer undecided on federal scholarship program for K-12 students Without her approval, Michigan families can’t use this federal tax benefit https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-undecided-on-federal-scholarship-program-for-k-12-students https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34196 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:19:00 -0400 Former Rochester trustee asks who moved lawsuit to federal court A current board member also wants answers https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/former-rochester-trustee-asks-who-moved-lawsuit-to-federal-court https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34207 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Grand Rapids stripped comptroller’s authority after he questioned spending, lawsuit says Court denies early motion in Grand Rapids comptroller lawsuit https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/grand-rapids-stripped-comptrollers-authority-after-he-questioned-spending-lawsuit-says https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34198 Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Michigan plans chip-enabled SNAP cards after millions lost to fraud May card rollout would make Michigan first Midwest state to upgrade SNAP cards https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-plans-chip-enabled-snap-cards-after-millions-lost-to-fraud https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34185 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Michigan reps seek $911M in district projects Hearings under new public review process highlight pork requests previously made behind closed doors https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-reps-seek-911m-in-district-projects https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34193 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Michigan pays $125M in electric school bus grants Battery bet faces long odds, high costs, low longevity https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-pays-125m-in-electric-school-bus-grants https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34187 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Our Next Energy has repaid $3.3M out of $15M taxpayer loan Michigan’s battery bet might leave taxpayers holding the bag https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/our-next-energy-has-repaid-3-3m-out-of-15m-taxpayer-loan https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34163 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Michigan Ed Department wants to disregard parents’ rights, board member says Ruling follows federal investigation of three school districts over ‘sexual orientation and gender ideology’ https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-ed-department-wants-to-disregard-parents-rights-board-member-says https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34184 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Energy blame game: Michigan Democrat targets Trump GOP says Lansing policies raised utility rates https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/energy-blame-game-michigan-democrat-targets-trump https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34166 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 MEDC spent $31k to send 5 employees to Middle East in December ‘No taxpayer dollars are used,’ says state’s quasi-official subsidy organization https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/medc-spent-31k-to-send-5-employees-to-middle-east-in-december https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34165 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Whitmer seeks more money for college program with 12% completion rate Governor’s college tuition assistance program lacks measures of success or failure https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-seeks-more-money-for-college-program-with-12-completion-rate https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34153 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Michigan cities fight residents over free speech First Amendment group cites pattern of local officials muting critics https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-cities-fight-residents-over-free-speech https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34154 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:56:00 -0400 Nessel’s antitrust suit imagines widespread EV use, blocked by big oil Automakers say consumers themselves reject electric vehicles https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/nessels-antitrust-suit-imagines-widespread-ev-use-blocked-by-big-oil https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34151 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Overpayments in state food program spike 1,852% in one year No explanation for nearly 20-fold increase from 2023 to 2024, while program participation shrank https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/overpayments-in-state-food-program-spike-1852-in-one-year https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34111 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Change to federal court spikes cost for Rochester school board Taxpayers will pay more after district moves suit first filed in state court https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/change-to-federal-court-spikes-cost-for-rochester-school-board https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34149 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Taylor dispute highlights ongoing First Amendment battles in Michigan City struggles with public comments https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/taylor-dispute-highlights-ongoing-first-amendment-battles-in-michigan https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34126 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500 State official: Early education program frees parents to work Programs promoted by MiLEAP have temporary impact on academic success https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/state-official-early-education-program-frees-parents-to-work https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34124 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:59:00 -0500 Whitmer budget peddles old programs as new Most ‘saving money’ items continue policies that got us here https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-budget-peddles-old-programs-as-new https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34135 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500