jim stamas

State budget director Chris Kolb and the Legislature’s Republican leaders say they’ve reached a preliminary budget deal.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Another tax incentive for Michigan businesses passed the state Senate Wednesday and is on its way to the House.

Legislation that would prevent cities from passing plastic bag and container taxes is on its way to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk.

Legislators worked late into the evening Wednesday as the end of this session draws closer.

Lawmakers could be making changes to Governor Rick Snyder’s mission to scale back the use of tax incentives to attract jobs and investment.  Two packages of bills offering incentives to businesses passed in the Senate Tuesday.

Lawmakers have come up with what they are calling an action plan for Flint. 

Washtenaw County is planning to regulate the use of single use, plastic bags.  However, the Michigan State Legislature has slowed the process of passing this measure.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's Patrick Campion speaks with Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi about the controversy surrounding the proposed ordinance.

  Editor's note: Wednesday evening, the Washtenaw County commissioners  voted 6-2 to approve a new carryout bag ordinance that would put a 10-cent "tax" on customers for every single use (paper or plastic) bag they receive at stores in Washtenaw county. Stay tuned for follow-up discussion on the issue.

The legislative committee looking into the Flint water crisis wrapped up hearings Tuesday without hearing from Governor Rick Snyder, his senior aides, or former emergency managers who were in charge of the city at the outset of the debacle.

A joint legislative committee looking into the Flint water crisis has been told state environmental watchdogs failed to follow federal clean water rules. 

State lawmakers will spend the early part of this week digging into the Flint water crisis.

The state Legislature will kick off hearings on the Flint water crisis next week.

State lawmakers have created a joint House and Senate committee to look into the Flint water crisis.