Agriculture

Buffs boost black swallowtail as best bet for state butterfly

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By JASON KRAFT
Capital News Service
LANSING – The black swallowtail would flit over Michigan as the official butterfly of the state if recently proposed legislation is approved. The apple blossom was designated Michigan’s state flower in 1897. The white pine was designated the state tree in 1955, and the brook trout was made the state fish in 1965. Despite Michigan’s long list of official symbols, it’s one of just three states without an official insect or butterfly. Sponsored by Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-Meridian Township, the bill would put Michigan in line with 47 other states that have either a state butterfly or insect.

Government

We all may be fudgies if state sweet is named

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By JUSTINE McGUIRE
Capital News Service
LANSING – Children who live about as far away from Mackinac Island as possible while still in Michigan are the inspiration for a bill that would make Mackinac Island fudge the official state sweet. A class of fourth- and fifth-graders from Defer Elementary School in Grosse Pointe Park were required to write to their legislator this past spring, but they wanted to take it to the next level by requesting new state symbols, said Kari Mannino, who taught the class. The students researched possible symbols in groups — three fourth-graders wrote the letter requesting fudge, she said. “They were so excited,” Mannino said of their reaction to the introduction of the bill. “I’m really glad they were honored for their hard work.