News Bite

Report: DTE peak-hour rates hurt the poor

Poorer customers suffer ‘greater discomfort indoors,’ Detroit News reports, as summer A/C costs approach California levels Read more

Michigan in bottom 10 among states in new report

U.S. News puts Great Lakes State in 41st place, with failing grades in crime, fiscal policy, infrastructure Read more

Electric vehicle transition kills hundreds of jobs at GM

Automaker looks to cut $2B in spending, per Detroit Free Press Read more

Whitmer decrees April 28 ‘Worker’s Memorial Day’

Don’t expect the day off, though Read more

Michigan lagged in economic performance in the 4th quarter of 2022

Slow growth continued in the fourth quarter of 2022 Read more

EV batteries can’t survive a scratch — Reuters

If cost and range anxiety weren’t enough of a problem, EV collisions will be costly Read more

Ford loses billions on EVs, despite government subsidies

Report: Ford Motor Company will lose $5B in two years on electric vehicles Read more

Report: TikTok banned on state of Michigan devices — except for Whitmer

MLive reports that governor is the sole state employee who has sought the TikTok exemption Read more

Manufacturing output is on the rise in America, but manufacturing jobs plummet

Manufacturing jobs are down 28% since 2001 Read more

Mackinac Center on TV: Patrick Wright talks MEA settlement

Mackinac Center paid $77K by teachers union to settle January 2022 lawsuit Read more

Axios: The EV is not ready for prime time

What a journey from Michigan to Florida reveals about range anxiety and the electric vehicle Read more

In the Michigan House, COVID-19 policy is for staff, not members

Members are encouraged to follow the guidelines, but twice this year, representatives have shown up to cast votes after testing positive Read more

Super Bowl ad admits: Gas is the answer to ‘premature electrification’

The Ram 1500 REV’s range extender is an internal combustion engine Read more

Michigan’s 2024 budget will spend all but 3% of state’s $9B surplus

Whitmer has requested a record $79B budget for 2023-24 Read more

How Whitmer could grant Michigan financial relief

No need to cut a $180 check when closing the books on fiscal year 2022 would bring an automatic tax cut Read more

Coal plants were 4 of Michigan’s 10 top energy producers in 2021

45% of DTE’s energy comes from coal now, but it will be zeroed out by 2036, according to utility’s plan Read more

DTE’s peak-hour rates in Michigan are on the cusp of California’s

DTE peak-hour rate is about 2 cents less than California’s average energy price in 2021 Read more

Mackinac Center on TV: Skorup makes case for keeping Michigan a right-to-work state

Whitmer said repeal effort is “on the horizon” Read more

CapCon on TV: Why toll roads aren’t the right move for Michigan

CapCon editor joins Fox 2 Detroit’s “Let It Rip” Read more

Detroit Public Library admits losing $685K to wire fraud — two years after the fact

Local Thursday: Library has recovered 40% of the money, but is not insured for theft, Detroit News reports Read more

Only 3% of Michigan jobs are in the auto industry

In its heyday, the Michigan auto industry accounted for about 9% of all jobs in state Read more

Tlaib the only Michigan rep to oppose House committee on U.S.-China competition

Tlaib was one of only 65 House members to vote against the committee, which she says would be racialized Read more

Only 14% of Michigan residents are up-to-date on COVID booster shot

‘Lack of trust’ cited as 85% of Michiganders go against official public health guidance Read more

Whitmer’s closing argument includes her failure to raise gas taxes, shut down Line 5

If Whitmer had things her way, energy would be more expensive and less reliable in Michigan Read more

Halloween 2020 in Michigan: Hold a virtual party, only go to houses following COVID protocols

Halloween 2020 was a spooky time in Michigan. The state suggested 28 guidelines; all but two were COVID-related Read more