Arts & Entertainment
The Vicksburg Union Depot in the past.

Southwest Michigan train depot chugs onto National Register of Historic Places

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HISTORIC DEPOT: A 1904 train depot in Kalamazoo County has arrived on the National Register of Historic Places. The last Grand Trunk Western passenger train stopped at the Vicksburg Union Depot in 1972 and freight service was discontinued two years later but 60 freight trains a day still rumble by the restored depot. By Eric Freedman. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, COLDWATER AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing
A student in the PRIME program at Grand Haven High School.

Michigan manufacturers work to expand engineering training to high schools

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PRIME PROGRAM: The Michigan Manufacturers Association plans to expand its PRIME program that teaches high schoolers skills and technologies that are badly needed by the manufacturing sector. We talk to the association and a Grand Haven High School teacher. Among other participating high schools are ones in Alpena, Hancock, Rudyard, Pontiac. Cheboygan, Grand Rapids, Three Rivers and Bay City, with Traverse City slated to join later this year. By Sophia Ceru. FOR CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, MIDLAND, DETROIT, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, MARQUETTE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing
Michigan participates in the national Click It or Ticket campaign

Pandemic bad habits mean fewer are buckling up

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SEAT BELT USE: Seat belt use in the state is unfortunately on the decline, and one factor may be the pandemic, a period when police made fewer traffic stops and when more people drove solo rather than carpooling or sharing rides. Gladwin County had the lowest compliance rate in the Lower Peninsula. The other lowest compliance rates were in Gogebic, Ontonagon, Keweenaw, Baraga, Iron, Schoolcraft and Wayne counties. Even so, Michigan drivers and passengers are more likely to buckle up than their counterparts nationally. We hear from MDOT, AAA Michigan and the Office of Highway Safety Planning. By Liz Nass. FOR GLADWIN COUNTY, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing

Struggle bus: districts trying to fill driver seats

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SCHOOL BUS: School districts across the state are in the midst of a continuing shortage of bus drivers, and some are offering higher pay and benefits to attract applicants. The Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation explains why. The Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District managed to fill its positions this school year. By Brandy Muz. FOR BIG RAPIDS, LAKE COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing
Students work with manufacturing equipment at Three Rivers High School

Manufacturers work to put career tech back in high schools

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PRIME PROGRAM: Michigan has more high schools participating in a national program to increase shop and technical training opportunities than any other state. The Michigan Manufacturers Association, whose members face a serious shortage of skilled workers, is leading the charge for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education. We hear about a program in St. Joseph County. Includes references to programs in West Ottawa, Grand Haven, Romeo, Pontiac, Grand Rapids, Rudyard and Hancock. By Liz Nass. FOR THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SAULT STE. MARIE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP!, DETROIT, WKTV, HOLLAND, IRON RIVER AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing

Lansing UAW members and supporters enter second month of GM strike

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Two Lansing General Motors facilities are among the many auto manufacturing plants on strike as the United Auto Workers (UAW) union entered their second month without a contract. 

However, at the Lansing Customer Care and Aftersales (CCA) Redistribution Center, located on West Mt. Hope Road, UAW members and local supporters were optimistic that they could hold out and win what picketers called a “revolutionary contract.” Union members and supporters alike were protesting to advocate for improvements in wages, benefits and hours. They noted the wage increases for Stellantis, GM and Ford CEOs in the last several years as being indicative of the companies’ financial standings and their abilities to increase employee wages. Picketers also called for the end of the tiered wage system, outlined in their previous UAW contract, which implements wage increases based on time at the plant and what type of work is being done. 

UAW members’ pay has decreased by 19.3% since 2008, in contrast to the 40% wage increase the “Big Three” CEOs have experienced in the same time period, according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute. To combat this, the UAW is demanding a 46% wage increase, a four-day work week, and overtime pay beyond 32 hours. 

At the time of publishing, UAW President Shawn Fain has made no indication of the strike nearing an end or a potential contract being reached.

Autos & Manufacturing

Michigan ranks favorably for speed-related road deaths

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SPEEDING FATAL CRASHES: Michigan has the country’s ninth-lowest rate of speeding-related fatal crashes, a new analysis shows. Neighboring Indiana ranks even better, while Ohio and Wisconsin are worse. Non-interstates are more deadly than the superhighways. The Office of Highway Safety Planning and State Police offer comments. Imcludes reference to Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR DETROIT, IRON MOUNTAIN, COLDWATER, HILLSDALE, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, MONROE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD AND ALL POINTS.