Politics

LANSING - Michigan House Democrats have introduced a package of bills designed to curb the budget problems spurred by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority credits issued toward the end of the previous decade. The bills (HB 4471 , HB 4472 , HB 4473 , HB 4474 and HB 4475 ) would end the secrecy behind

LANSING - As speculation about Governor Rick Snyder mounting a presidential bid continues to swirl, Snyder on Thursday will depart for Nevada to begin a three-day swing that includes two major events on the national political calendar. Snyder will first travel to Nevada, which is one of the first four states to hold a primary

WASHINGTON - There's a new way for Michigan residents to find out who in Congress is standing up for clean air and their health: The NRDC Action Fund Wednesday unveiled a website that lets users track dirty votes by members of Congress and campaign contributions from polluting industries. The website names nine members of the

ERLANGER, Ky. - Toyota has earned its 11th consecutive ENERGY STAR Part of the Year award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Toyota employees almost 43,000 team members across 14 North America manufacturing plants. It's pro-environment efforts have saved nearly $600 million since benchmarking

LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder's administration is proposing a three-step, more stringent process for utilities looking to build new plants, Valerie Brader, advisor to Snyder, told the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee on Wednesday. Brader, in a presentation to the committee, said Snyder is proposing a three-step process that would first involve a statewide analysis

ANN ARBOR - The Michigan Angel Fund closed its second fund (MAF II) with $2.05 million. MAF II will make its first investment this spring, and plans to invest money in eight to 10 total deals within the next two years. "There's no doubt that MAF plays an important role in our entrepreneurial economy. Angel

SOUTHFIELD - Students can register now for summer semester classes that begin May 13 at Lawrence Technological University. Day, evening, weekend and online options are available, including many fast-track certificate programs in growing tech career fields. Lawrence Tech has associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs that can lead to careers in areas such as robotics

ROCHESTER - The Rochester City Council has approved the application for the 10th annual MI Earth Day Fest to be held April 24-26, 2015, at a great new location in the City Center on the banks of the Paint Creek. The festival site is much larger than last year and will accommodate many more exhibits,

WASHINGTON DC - Verizon Communications Inc. said its FiOS service will offer new TV packages aimed at giving customers flexibility to purchase only certain groups of channels they want to watch, the latest sign of how pay-TV providers are adapting to stepped-up competition, the Washington Post reported Friday. Starting April 19, consumers will be able