Critics say the Air Pollution Control Exemption is outdated, poorly enforced, and subsidizes companies for doing what they’re already legally required to do — even when they violate pollution laws.
Michigan’s heavy industry receives hundreds of millions of dollars to control pollution. When they don’t, they keep the savings.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
A law meant to clean Michigan’s air now costs the state billions with little oversight
A 1965 law exempts facilities that install air pollution control equipment from property taxes.
Posted inMichigan Government
Senate mulls giving Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban the boot
Citing fears of a Supreme Court reversal, same-sex marriage advocates are pushing to remove a dormant ban from Michigan’s books. Doing so would require a ballot proposal.
Posted inQuality of Life
Photog on devastation of Michigan synagogue attack: ‘Worst fears come true’
Photojournalist Emily Elconin hopes her images of the destruction left by the March 12 attack on Temple Israel show people that ‘antisemitism is a threat to Jews everywhere.’
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Strengthening rural governance in Michigan
We need to move beyond treating structural, systemic struggles in rural Michigan as isolated examples. We must help communities prepare for fast, unpredictable change with strong governance.
Posted inQuality of Life
Michigan prison art program helps inmates find voice — and hope
The 30th annual exhibit — the largest and longest-running art show of its kind in the country — is ‘a testament to the resilience of artists inside prison who continue to create and find new ways to express themselves,’ said an organizer.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
The Great Lakes are wasting a massive source of clean energy
Uncover the staggering facts about wasting clean energy in North America’s energy system. Learn how heat is lost every day.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Informed voting requires judicial transparency in Michigan
Access to court records could eliminate barriers to attendance at public court proceedings, but unlike other states that have a statewide presumption of public access to these records, there is no uniform statewide policy in Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Government
As signature deadline looms, petition fraudster gets prison time in 2022 scandal
To make this year’s primary ballot, Michigan gubernatorial candidates must file signatures next month. A man whose fraud kept several hopefuls off the ballot in 2022 was sentenced Wednesday.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan lawmakers push reading training for future teachers to improve scores
Michigan lawmakers continue to discuss ways to address low student reading scores. One idea is to require more training before teachers begin working in the classroom.