Michigan farmers markets look to add local distillery samplings

FARMERS MARKET LIQUOR: Sunday morning strolls to the farmers market could include a few stumbles home if distillers are given permits to sell at them. Small winemakers already can get permits to conduct tastings at farmers markets and now a Watervliet lawmaker would extend that to local distilleries. We talk to the owner of a Grand Rapids distillery, the Marquette farmers market manager and the Michigan Farmers Market Association. For news and business pages. By Danielle Parker. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP!, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, WKTV, MARQUETTE AND ALL POINTS.

Can a bottled water royalty help preserve the Great Lakes?

BOTTLED ROYALTY: When is a tax not a tax? When it’s a royalty. Michigan residents would pay 3 to 6 cents more for a bottle of water and bottled water companies would pay 25 cents for each gallon they pump from the ground under a plan to sustain Great Lakes water improvements.
The plan by Traverse City-based For Love of Water could put an estimated $250 million a year into an annual water trust fund. The measure would also shift the concept of water as a product to be sold into that of a resource to be protected by the public trust, supporters say. The International Bottled Water Association opposes the idea, saying it’s unfair to put a royalty on water when food is royalty-free. By Cameron Cass. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! MICHIGAN FARM NEWS. BIG RAPIDS, CLARE COUNTY, LAKE COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

Proposed body cameras on conservation officers draw opposition

DNR BODYCAMS: A state lawmaker is pushing for conservation officers to wear body cams, insisting that it would help avoid costly deepwoods confrontations. His bill would reduce use of force incidents and citizen complaints against conservation officers, said Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain. DNR officials say it would be a costly move for an agency that In the last 10 months gave over 900 citations and assisted with over 150 arrests. We talk to LaFave, DNR officials and Michigan United Conservation Clubs which is not taking a position. By Danielle James. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC AND ALL POINTS.

Student loans could be forgiven as incentive to teach in low-income districts

LOAN FORGIVENESS: Student loans could be tied to student lunches for teachers in some Michigan school districts desperately seeking to attract them. Proposed state legislation would establish a student loan forgiveness program for people teaching in schools where at least half of the students meet the income eligibility criteria for the free or reduced lunch program. Incentivizing teachers in lower income school districts could help combat educator shortages, says the Michigan Education Association. By Danielle James.

The 13 lawyers in the Michigan House with their party affiliation and hometown.

Ranks of lawyers in Legislature sparse

LAWYER LEGISLATORS: Where have all the lawyers gone? Not to the Legislature, which has a scarcity of attorneys in its ranks, although they dominate the House Judiciary Committee. This year is the first time in Michigan history when the Senate has none. The 13 in the House include representatives from Hillsdale, Grand Rapids, Metro Detroit and Lansing. By Eric Freedman. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HILLSDALE, LANSING CITY PULSE, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

The Capitol in Lansing

Women underrepresented in Legislature, data shows

WOMEN LEGISLATORS: Nationally, a record number of women serve in state legislatures, including 35.8% of Michigan representatives and senators. This year is the first time women make up a majority of the House Democaric caucus. Women nationally account for a growing proportion of legislative leaders, although Michigan has never had a female House speaker or Senate majority leader. We talk to lawmakers from Farmington, Pontiac and Detroit and the Michigan Political Leadership Program run by MSU. By Sophia Lada. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, AND ALL POINTS.

A "vote" sign is staked outside Dixie Baptist Church in Oakland County's Springfield Township.

Michigan voters head to polls

Michigan voters headed to the polls this morning amid a pandemic that’s helped push absentee voting to record levels. More than 3 million Michigan voters have cast absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s office, and 2 million people are expected to vote in person at the polls today. That could beat a turnout record of just over 5 million ballots cast in 2008.