LANSING - Of the 92 schools in Michigan deemed Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools, 45 now have approved restructuring plans, the Department of Education announced Friday. Another 22 of the schools have conditional approval of their plans, with teacher contract amendments needed by August 1 to receive full approval. Five of the schools either already closed
LANSING ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Friday that her administration has laid the foundation for the "Next Michigan" she described in her second inaugural address of 2007, where the state would have a diversified economy and better-educated workforce. Leaving office in 15 days after a wrenching eight years of economic upheaval, Granholm, continuing a series
WASHINGTON - Congress passed the most far-reaching tax bill in a decade late Thursday, averting across-the-board tax increases, enacting new breaks for individuals and businesses and laying a marker for how Washington might work in an era of divided government. The bill goes to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature after the House
ANN ARBOR - Merit Network, Inc. today announced that ADVA Optical Networking has accepted an invitation to become a Merit Community Supporter. The Merit Community Supporter program selects commercial organizations on an invitation-only basis that share Merit's core values of Community, Innovation, People and Integrity. "Merit is pleased to welcome ADVA Optical Networking as a
DETROIT ? The McGregor Fund will provide $30,000 to the Nonprofit Enterprise at Work in 2011 to support continued expansion of services in Southeast Michigan through its BoardConnect, ResourceConnect and npServ programs. NEW's npServ program offers affordable IT support, BoardConnect builds the leadership and effectiveness of nonprofit boards and the ResourceConnect program helps organizations find
WASHINGTON DC - In a reversal of the federal government's hands-off approach to Internet privacy regulation over the past decade, the Obama administration said Americans should have a "privacy bill of rights" to help regulate the commercial collection of consumer data online. The Obama administration has called for the creation of a Privacy Policy Office
LANSING ? Gov.-elect Rick Snyder continues to build his staff so that he can hit the ground running on Jan. 1 when he is sworn into office by naming Thursday a couple of political operatives to help him sell his transform Michigan agenda. Terri Reid, Republican Party political director, will serve as External Affairs Director.
WEST BLOOMFIELD ? Ho, ho, no, Captain Moustache, the metro Detroit web-applications company that gave Apple products users the Simple Fruit Bowl and Simple Pumpkin Face apps, now has rolled out the Simple Christmas app. These apps work on iPhones, iPads and iPods. Simple Christmas allows users to create unlimited configurations of trees and wreaths
HOLLAND - Nearly one-half of west Michigan companies report that they will be adding information technology staff during the next six months. Two-thirds of small companies (fewer than 50 employees) plan to hire new IT. Computer consulting and professional service companies will be doing the most hiring. Junior level staffers are in high demand for
WASHINGTON ? With small business owners and entrepreneurs in traditionally underserved communities continuing to face challenges accessing capital, the U.S. Small Business Administration Wednesday announced two new initiatives aimed at increasing SBA-backed loans to small businesses in these markets. SBA Administrator Karen Mills also named Catherine L. Hughes, chairperson and founder of Radio One, and