DETROIT - The Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index for August hit 60.2, a 13 percent increase over July's PMI of 53.1, reflecting continued strengthening of the local economy. The three-month average, however, was relatively unchanged at 54.2. Among components of the index, the Commodity Prices Index rose in August to 55.6 from 54.8 in July
WASHINGTON DC - The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Rifle Association have bonded in their fight against the National Security Agency's mass spying program that came to light in June. The NRA joined the ACLU's lawsuit against the government agency on Wednesday by filing a "friend of the court" legal brief. "The mass
LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder has come under heavy criticism from some quarters of the Republican Party for spearheading the expansion of Medicaid, but a new poll released Thursday shows he still enjoys a strong favorability rating among those expected to participate in next year's statewide Republican primary. The survey, from the Republican polling firm
WASHINGTON DC - A full 50 percent of Internet users surveyed say they're concerned about the growing amount of personal information revealed about them online. A study released Thursday by Pew Internet found that more people are worried about certain information now available online, including photos, videos, e-mail addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, home addresses,
BEIJING, China - Marking the beginning of a new effort to draw Chinese visitors to Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder on Thursday at an event in Shanghai unveiled the effort to make Michigan a destination for a growing Chinese tourism market. While just some 1.5 million Chinese visited the U.S. in 2012, that was an increase
LANSING - Even as Republicans, both in Michigan and in national circles, cast about for potential candidates for U.S. Senate, former Secretary of State Terri Land, the only announced GOP candidate, continues to poll well. A survey released Thursday by the Republican polling firm Harper Polling showed Ms. Land leading a possible four-way Republican primary
ANN ARBOR - Merit Network and the Michigan Cyber Range Thursday announced the new Merit Secure Sandbox service, a virtual environment that lets users practice, train, and test cybersecurity techniques, is now operational. Merit Secure Sandbox is designed for instructors to set up their own virtual environments for cybersecurity training. It is also aimed at
ANN ARBOR - Toyota Technical announced Wednesday it is investing more than $28 million to expand its powertrain operations at two facilities in Ann Arbor. The new growth will support powertrain development capability, specifically in the areas of design, evaluation and calibration on new engine and transmission projects. Toyota has been in Ann Arbor for
SOUTHFIELD ? The Michigan Council of Women in Technology is sponsoring its eighth Annual Website Design Competition for high school girls. This year?s theme is Ancestors: OMG to encourage creativity, thoughtfulness and a little research. Girls are encouraged to create a website that reveals surprises about three of their ancestors. These surprises may be shocking,
LANSING - U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow on Wednesday announced legislation to provide a federal match for the state's current program funding community college and business partnerships to train workers for high-skilled jobs. The New Skills for New Jobs Act would double the state's current program, and help fill vacant high-skilled jobs that pay at least