Business & Economy

Housing costs outstrip wages for low-income workers

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By NICK KIPPER
Capital News Service

LANSING — A Michigan resident making minimum wage has to work 73 hours per week — or 1.8 full-time jobs — to afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment, according to a recent study. That ranks the state 28th  in terms of affordable housing costs, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, based in Washington, D.C.. The report analyzed how much an hourly minimum-wage worker must earn to afford to rent or own a home in a particular region without spending more than the 30 percent of his or her income. That’s a standard that federal authorities recommend should be spent on housing. Michigan’s minimum wage is $9.25.

Capital News Service

Land conservancies protect natural areas across Michigan

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By NICK KIPPER
Capital News Service

LANSING — Thousands of acres of endless trees and undisturbed waters belong to one of Michigan’s best-kept secrets. The 26 land conservancies spread out in every region of the state protect natural land from development and give residents an escape into nature. Conservancies acquire land either donated by property owners or purchased through grants and fundraising efforts.   

Heart of the Lakes, a statewide organization that represents the majority of Michigan’s 26 land conservancies, found in its 2017 survey that their members control 638,317 acres. There has been no recent change in the number of conservancies throughout the state, but there has been a steady expansion of already established lands, increasing by at least 10,000 acres every year since 2013.

Business & Economy

Federal courts to decide future for home delivery of out-of-state alcohol

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By NICK KIPPER
Capital News Service

LANSING — A U.S. district judge in Detroit has ruled that a Michigan law banning out-of-state retailers from directly shipping wine to consumers is unconstitutional, a ruling which may soon be trumped by an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case. The day before the ruling in Detroit, the Supreme Court agreed to review a Tennessee case that may decide whether the 21st Amendment allows states to grant liquor licenses only to in-state retailers. “Every federal court of appeals has looked at this issue and said that states can do this,” said Spencer Nevins, the president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. “The judge’s ruling, in our opinion, does not mirror the precedent that’s out there.”

The lawsuit was filed by three Michigan wine consumers, a wine merchant and an alcohol retailer based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, against Gov. Rick Snyder, Attorney Gen. Bill Schuette and Andy Deloney, the chair of the Liquor Control Commission. The Wholesalers Association intervened in the case and joined the state in supporting Michigan’s liquor law.