Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City

Michigan House staffers are unionizing: What could it look like? 

HOUSE UNION: Some staff in the state House are organizing a unionization drive which, if successful, would add Michigan to the small roster of states with unionized employees. It would be up to the House leadership, now Democratic, to recognize such a union. We talk to an MSU labor expert and to lawmakers from Clare, Garden City and Northfield Township. By Liz Nass. FOR DETROIT, CLARE, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Schools adapt to free meals for all students

SCHOOL MEALS: School districts are adapting to the mandate to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of income. The state is paying for the initiative. They say hungry students don’t learn well, and that students who can’t afford to pay for meals feel stigmatized. We talk to school lunch experts in Marquette, Oakland County and Traverse City. By Alex Walters. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.

Rep. Kara Hope, D-Holt, is sponsoring legislation to tighten state oversight of labor contractors.

Advocates call for more protection of migrant farmworkers

FARMWORKERS: Advocates are calling for more protection for foreign temporary farmworkers with H-2A visas, who are essential to agriculture in the state. The Farm Bureau reports a jump in their numbers in Michigan. An Ottawa County blueberry farm is involved in a lawsuit accusing it of migrant labor law violations. We talk to the Farm Bureau, a Holt legislator and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which has offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Ann Arbor. By Owen McCarthy. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, OCEANA, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP!, DETROIT, AND ALL POINTS.

This Clean-Seas facility in Newaygo is the proposed site of a new chemical recycling operation.

Scrutiny builds as Michigan awaits first ‘chemical recycling’ facility

PLASTICS: Western Michigan would get the state’s first chemical recycling facility, in Newaygo, that would convert unrecyclable plastic into other products, such as fuel and more plastic. Critics, including lawmakers from Detroit and West Bloomfield, say the process would create other major environmental problems. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce supports the project. By Theo Scheer. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! DETROIT, GREENVILLE, OCEANA COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, LUDINGTON AND ALL POINTS, AND ALL POINTS.

Right to Repair bills still being debated in Michigan House

House Bill 4673, one of two “right to repair” bills currently being considered by Michigan legislators, is intended to make it easier for farmers and their independent mechanics to get access to parts, documentation and important software needed to restore the expensive machines back to full functionality. 

Rep. Kara Hope, a Democrat from Holt, is a sponsor of legislation to ease women’s access to contraceptives

Proposal would ease access to hormonal contraceptives

ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES: Some lawmakers, including ones from Livonia and Holt, are again pushing legislation to allow pharmacists to sell hormonal contraceptives without a prescription. Advocates say that would expand women’s access to reproductive health care. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association expresses concerns about how the bill is worded. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Some want Michigan to regulate septic tanks to protect water quality 

SEPTIC: Environmental groups are again pushing the Legislature to adopt a statewide sanitary code that would include mandatory inspections of septic systems. Leaking systems can contaminate groundwater, lakes and rivers, causing health problems and deterring water-related recreation. Sponsors include lawmakers from East Grand Rapids, Troy, Detroit, Holt, Walker, St. Joseph and Livonia. We talk to the Michigan Environmental Council, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and a Montmorency County homeowner with a septic tank. By Elijah Taub. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, MONTMORENCY, ALPENA, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN, DETROIT, GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, FOWLERVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS AND ALL POINTS.

Rep. William Bruck, R-Erie.

Lawmaker wants baby boxes at fire stations to protect unwanted newborns

A lawmaker from Erie wants to allow baby drop boxes at fire stations to speed the process of adoption of unwanted newborns who are left there anonymously. Neighboring Ohio and Indiana already have baby drop box laws. Cosponsors include lawmakers from Osseo, Milford, Lake Odessa, Clare and Shelby Township. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association opposes the bill. By Sophia Ceru. FOR MONROE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD, HILLSDALE, DETROIT, CLARE COUNTY, IONIA, GREENVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, LUDINGTON, LAKE COUNTY, COLDWATER AND ALL POINTS.

Feds warn Michigan to improve speed, accuracy of food assistance program

SNAP DELAYS: USDA has criticized Michigan for delays and errors in handling applications for SNAP food benefits for low-income residents. One result is increased demand on already-stressed food banks. Whitmer and the governors of neighboring Ohio and Indiana have received warning letters from Washington. We talk to the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the National Center for Budget and Policy. By Alex Walters. FOR DETROIT, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, HILLSDALE, COLDWATER, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, MONROE, BLISSFIELD, ADRIAN, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Alcona County Prosecutor Thomas Weichel.

Prosecutors say low salaries, staff shortages, contribute to delays, backlogs

PROSECUTOR SHORTAGE: Some counties are facing a shortage of prosecutors, resulting in delayed trials and a backlog of cases. Low salaries are a major factor. Prosecutors from Leelanau, Alcona, Kalkaska and Houghton counties and a national expert who has studied the Michigan situation explain. By Anish Topowala. FOR IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, ALCONA, ALPENA, CADILLAC, CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.