Tuesday, a collaborative of statewide and regional hospitality and tourism organizations, called the Michigan Hospitality and Tourism Alliance, announced its formation, along with a corresponding bicameral caucus.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer makes $159,300 per year and 262 state employees make more, along with 16 of the 19 department heads. Many department directors make even more than their boss, according to records obtained by MIRS through the Freedom of Information Act.

While projecting the state's retiree healthcare system for teachers to be 100 percent funded in its next valuation, Gretchen Whitmer wants to redirect $670 million in otherwise additional public school retirement debt payments to other K-12 priorities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.

The Governor’s directive that prohibited the state from contracting with companies that don’t pay their workers union rates stands after a ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals, that said the issue wasn't moot despite the Legislature reinstating prevailing wage.

For the first time during her six-year tenure, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made endorsements in two state House special elections, giving her stamp of approval to Macomb County Commissioner Mai Xiong in the 13th District and City Council President Pro Tempore Andrea Rutkowski in the 25th.