ANN ARBOR - Research spending at the University of Michigan in 2008-09 exceeded $1 billion for the first time, a 9.4 percent gain over the previous fiscal year. The federal government provided 64.4 percent of the funds, and federal research spending at the U-M rose 7.1 percent over 2007-08. The exact total was $1.02 billion.
FRANKFURT, Germany - Electric cars are all the rage at the Frankfurt auto show, and Renault is clearly out to grab the high ground. Renault introduced four different electric cars, in three different sizes. The smallest is the Twizy, a two-passenger city car with tandem seating. It's 2.3 meters long, about seven-and-a-half feet, and only
LANSING - Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop clarified comments he made earlier this morning to a Detroit radio station about the state of budget talks, saying he and House Speaker Andy Dillon have not agreed on a budget plan. However, Bishop (R-Rochester) said he and Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) have agreed to ask the House and
LANSING - Special lotteries, an income tax check-off, corporate and foundation donations and 1 percent of every casino's gross receipts would be used to pay for the college tuition of any Michigan high school graduate with a grade point average of at least 2.5 under a plan unveiled Monday by Rep. Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit).
LANSING - Employers are not as optimistic in the 2009 Michigan Chamber of Commerce survey as they were in 2006 or 2007, with a majority (70 percent) now saying the economy is in a decline rather than holding steady. The slide in optimism started 2008 when 63 percent said the economy was declining. Other Key
TROY - MichiganMall.com announced Friday that Comcast Business Class will be taping the Celebrate Michigan Expo awards banquet on September 29th at the Ramada Plaza in Troy. The event, Presented by MichiganMall.com, will be broadcast statewide. This will be a great networking event. Admission is free as are the breakout sessions. "Find business opportunities with
DEARBORN - Michigan Department of Information Technology Director Ken Theis, in this Newsmaker interview, outlines the state's newest initiative to develop, attract and retain IT jobs and investments in Michigan - The New Economy Partnerships. The program also partners with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth to provide job training and the
ANN ARBOR - Diane Durance, executive director of Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest, announces the opening of the GLEQ Fall 2009 Business Plan Competition, including some important deadlines, on the GLEQ podcast network. Durance also explains a new venue change for the January awards ceremony and the cash prizes will be waiting. To listen, click on
GM said Thursday that it would sell 55 percent of Opel to Magna, which is backed by Russia's OAO Sberbank and auto maker OAZ Gaz, The Wall Street Journal reported. Employees would hold a 10 percent sake in Opel and the U.S. auto maker would retain the remaining 35 percent, GM said. The Opel Trust
DETROIT - A newly formed organization of CEOs from across the state, including the former Detroit Renaissance group, proposed massive changes Thursday to Michigan government that they said would enable the state to climb out of economic ruin. The group, called Business Leaders for Michigan, is advocating broadening the sales tax to services and reducing