Michigan Capitol Confidential https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/ A Michigan News Source Copyright 2026 Mackinac Center for Public Policy 5 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 Farmington Public Schools math: 9.2% spending hike equals flat state funding District lost students but added employees https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/farmington-public-schools-math-9-2-spending-hike-equals-flat-state-funding https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34142 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:01:00 -0500 House approves deer baiting measure Bill awaits Senate action and likely Whitmer veto https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/house-approves-deer-baiting-measure https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34112 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:01:00 -0500 From $14M to $7.7M: Michigan reports major drop in food stamp fraud CapCon series about fraud pushed state to upgrade cards https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/from-14m-to-7-7m-michigan-reports-major-drop-in-food-stamp-fraud https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34144 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 MEDC gave $248M to more than 180 nonprofits Quasi-state agency funded universities, a music festival, and a credit union in 2025 https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/medc-gave-248m-to-more-than-180-nonprofits https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34117 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Pung forfeiture case heads to U.S. Supreme Court Michigan family who lost $200k home over $2k tax dispute prevailed in 2020 in state high court https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/pung-forfeiture-case-heads-to-us-supreme-court https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34140 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:59:00 -0500 MEA calls $34k-per-student district ‘woefully underfunded’ Benton Harbor uses online instruction to fill staffing gaps https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/mea-calls-34k-per-student-district-woefully-underfunded https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34103 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:59:00 -0500 Whitmer spent $61k on Switzerland trip Whitmer has jetted to Switzerland, Germany and Italy in first two months of 2026 https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-spent-61k-on-switzerland-trip https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34120 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 MiLEAP’s child care program failed thousands of day care providers Legislative hearing reveals poor communication and potential fraud https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/mileaps-child-care-program-failed-thousands-of-day-care-providers https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34121 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:59:00 -0500 Whitmer pitches $800M of new taxes in final budget plan Smokers, gamblers, online advertisers among targets of five levies https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/whitmer-pitches-800m-of-new-taxes-in-final-budget-plan https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34130 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Oakland County school spars with local man over $14,000 FOIA request District says request was too broad, complicated to fulfill https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/oakland-county-school-spars-with-local-man-over-14000-foia-request https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34118 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:59:00 -0500 Rochester school board president resigns a week after being sued Board president who led censure of Carol Beth Litkouhi will be removed as a defendant in secrecy suit https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/rochester-school-board-president-resigns-a-week-after-being-sued https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34125 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Grand Rapids climate plan sparks tax, business fears Retrofitting rules could cost property owners up to $30k, landlord says https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/grand-rapids-climate-plan-sparks-tax-business-fears https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34100 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 U.P. leads Michigan in emissions cuts, faces spike in energy costs 2023 energy law forces renewable energy projects across state https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/up-leads-michigan-in-emissions-cuts-faces-spike-in-energy-costs https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34099 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Michigan loses 36,000 jobs in a year as most states add workers State should cut taxes, provide reliable electricity to attract residents, analyst says https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-loses-36000-jobs-in-a-year-as-most-states-add-workers https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34093 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Nessel seeks to recover $24M as Michigan’s Gotion gamble falters Taxpayer-funded plant adds another loss to state government’s investing record https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/nessel-seeks-to-recover-24m-as-michigans-gotion-gamble-falters https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34095 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Taxpayers still owe billions for corporate tax credits Multiple companies still in line for MEGA cash https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/taxpayers-still-owe-billions-for-corporate-tax-credits https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34073 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:55:00 -0500 State health dept. classed Wayne, Oakland counties as ‘partially rural’ when seeking federal grant Move is ‘an insult to everyone who lives north of Clare,’ legislator says https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/state-health-dept-classed-wayne-oakland-counties-as-partially-rural-when-seeking-federal-grant https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34087 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Michigan Public Service Commission rejects U.P. company’s energy plan Employers, residents, face uncertain future for electricity prices https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/michigan-public-service-commission-rejects-up-companys-energy-plan https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34035 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:30:00 -0500 Rochester school board member sues board over violation of freedom of speech Mackinac Center represents censured trustee in case against gag rule https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/rochester-school-board-member-sues-board-over-violation-of-freedom-of-speech https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34090 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:30:00 -0500 Four former governors promote civility in Wednesday event Lansing forum seeks to cool political rhetoric after recent attacks https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/four-former-governors-promote-civility-in-tuesday-event https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/34096 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500