Michigan News

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (AP) — A university in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has opened a 2,600-square-foot-facility for hands-on experience and research related to the cannabis industry.

The ribbon cutting for Lake Superior State University's Cannabis Center of Excellence was Friday.

University officials say the idea is to train undergraduate students as “job-ready chemists” with' “innovative experience.”

The school announced a cannabis chemistry program last year. Michigan allows marijuana for medicinal and recreational use, which became legal in December.

MONTROSE, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan teacher has denied a request from a student with two mothers to write about same-sex marriage for a class assignment.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers and aerospace officials are hoping that a former military base might become a space facility where public and private industries could launch satellites and tourists into space.

A task force picked the Wurtsmith Airport out of eight sites across the state.

The airport stopped operating as an Air Force base in 1993.

The Detroit Free Press reports a group of legislators and the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association announced the selection Tuesday at the state Capitol. 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan legislator has introduced a bill that, if eventually passed and signed, would prohibit the declawing of cats unless it is for a clear medical or therapeutic reason.

A new national poll finds some high-profile Republicans – including President Trump – struggling against Democratic candidates in Michigan.

The respected Quinnipiac University poll finds the top six Democratic presidential contenders defeating President Trump in both Michigan and Pennsylvania, though half of those results were within the surveys’ margin of error.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Organizers of a ballot drive to overhaul Michigan's lobbying rules say they will begin gathering signatures right away after clearing a procedural step.

The Board of State Canvassers on Wednesday approved a summary of the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the heading of a petition sponsored by the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes.

The panel also OK'd the petition form.

The proposal would ban free food and drink for state elected officials and require former lawmakers to wait two years to become lobbyists.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Marijuana sold in Michigan shops will have to have labels warning pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers about the health risks for their fetuses and infants under newly enacted laws. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist signed the two bills Wednesday because Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was out of the state.

The labels must be placed on legal recreational and medical marijuana products.

They will warn that use by pregnant or breastfeeding women may result in fetal injury, preterm birth, low birth weight or development problems for children.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker is opposing legislation that would ease Michigan election clerks' ability to process an expected influx of absentee ballots, saying it would set a "dangerous precedent."

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is expanding his campaign's operations in Michigan three weeks before the state's Democratic primary. 

FRANKFORT, Mich. (AP) — An organization responsible for maintaining a historic Michigan lighthouse hopes that improving the site's shoreline protection system will minimize damage from Lake Michigan's high water levels.

High water is causing problems for properties all along Michigan's shoreline, including the Point Betsie Lighthouse on the northeastern shore of Lake Michigan.

A crack in the cement barrier intended to prevent erosion in front of the lighthouse is a high priority.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it's pulling out of Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as part of a strategy to exit markets that don't produce adequate returns on investments, dismaying officials concerned over job losses.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is urging businesses to give their workers the day off on Election Day by making it a company holiday.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man sentenced to up to 60 years in prison in 1996 for a marijuana dealing conviction is hoping to cut his remaining time behind bars.

DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge has told state officials that the Michigan legislature needs to bring portions of its sex offender registry law into compliance with constitutional requirements.

NEW:

The conviction Friday of a former Michigan State University gymnastics coach of lying to police when she denied that two teen athletes told her of sexual abuse by disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar in 1997 is the latest fallout from the scandal that has rocked the school.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Road damage from the overflowing Great Lakes and other waterways may carry a whopping price tag for Michigan. Brad Wieferich of the state Department of Transportation said Monday about 40 locations have been hit especially hard.

He says initial estimates suggest about $5 million will be needed for immediate fixes. But the costs of long-term repairs and upgrades could reach $100 million. Erosion and flooding are posing challenges across much of the Great Lakes region.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A cruise ship currently being built in Norway is scheduled to visit the Great Lakes, including a stop at Traverse City in northern Michigan eight times starting January 2022.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the Discovery Center & Pier about a year ago announced plans to transform a former coal dock in Michigan into a site that ships could use to land passengers.

Days after voting to convict President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is launching his first TV ad in what could be a tough re-election fight — highlighting his military service and work to help veterans.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is shaking up its management after a poor fourth-quarter financial performance and the botched launch of the Explorer SUV.

The company says that automotive President Joe Hinrichs will retire. Jim Farley, president of new business and strategy, will become chief operating officer in charge of global markets and automotive operations.

In addition, product development chief Hau Thai-Tang will take on an expanded role for products, services and customer experiences.

MANISTEE, Mich. (AP) — High water levels are wreaking havoc in the Great Lakes. The five inland seas are bursting at the seams during the region's wettest period in more than a century, which scientists say is likely connected to the warming climate.

And no relief is in sight. Forecasters expect the lakes to remain high well into 2020. Homes and businesses are flooding, roads and sidewalks are crumbling and beaches are washing away.

Michigan's top insurance regulator says the state is committed to educating drivers about a new law that will let motorists save money by foregoing unlimited medical coverage for crash injuries.

The state Department of Insurance and Financial Services has created a consumer hotline and email address to respond to questions and complaints.

There's also a website with information about the changes that take effect in July.

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg told supporters in Detroit that he has the best chance of any candidate to defeat Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used Democrats' response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to swivel from impeachment to working-class voters' worries.

Whitmer says Democrats are focusing on making health care more affordable and addressing other concerns.

Democrats' decision to pick Whitmer show that they are focusing on the Midwest, where Trump won surprising victories in 2016 that helped carry him to the White House.

Doctor T-K Lawless Park is one of 79 dark sky parks in the world and only the second in the State of Michigan. It took the Cass County Parks Department two-and-a-half years to complete the process.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats are putting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the national stage Tuesday to rebut President Donald Trump's State of the Union message. Whitmer says she will touch on the impeachment proceedings in Washington when she delivers the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address. But she says most of her 10-minute rebuttal will focus on issues such as healthcare and education. 

By elevating a fresh face and casting an election-year spotlight on the Midwest, the party looks to win back states Trump narrowly captured.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats are putting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the national stage Tuesday to rebut President Donald Trump's State of the Union message. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver the Democrats’ State of the Union response from East Lansing High School. The response will follow President Donald Trump’s address in Washington.

By elevating a fresh face and casting an election-year spotlight on the Midwest, the party looks to win back states Trump narrowly captured.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — An upgrade to Michigan’s 911 emergency system caused a technical issue which resulted in early morning outages across the state. 

State police say a fiber optic line was being updated about 2:30 a.m. Friday when the system crashed and remained down for several hours.

It was restored about 7 a.m. Many county dispatch centers used non-emergency lines as backup.

Grand Rapids police in western Michigan say service has been restored but “intermittent outages may be possible.”