State’s minimum wage rising to $9.45 an hour
LANSING (AP) — Michigan’s minimum wage will soon increase by 20 cents an hour.
The increase takes effect in late March and will make the minimum wage $9.45, up from $9.25. The boost comes amid political wrangling that’s expected to continue into court.
The $9.25 minimum wage had been set to increase by an inflationary amount this April. But a ballot drive gathered signatures for an initiative to set it at $10 this year and ultimately $12 in 2022.
Republican lawmakers adopted the citizens' initiative only to recently scale it back with outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder.
To address business’ concerns, they landed at $9.45 and delayed the $12 minimum by years.
The ballot committee says it’s evaluating legal options.
Program encourages protection of grasslands
LANSING (AP) — A new program is designed to protect Michigan’s disappearing grasslands, which are now among the rarest wildlife habitat types in the world.
The state Department of Natural Resources is teaming with Pheasants Forever and other groups on the Adopt-A-Game-Area program.
It encourages individuals and organizations to sponsor grassland habitat projects on state-managed lands they use.
The first to be sponsored is the Maple River State Game Area, which includes portions of Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia counties.
DNR game bird specialist Al Stewart says grasslands provide important food resources and living spots to many wildlife species including deer, turkeys, rabbits and songbirds.
They also improve water and air quality.
Whitmer directs state employees to report health threats
LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is directing state employees to immediately report all “imminent” threats to public health, safety or welfare higher up the chain.
The Democrat issued her first executive directive Wednesday, a day after taking office. She was joined by employees of the state Department of Environmental Quality, which came under fire for its role in Flint's water crisis during former Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration.
Whitmer says she wants to ensure that state workers are empowered to speak up “when they feel our public health is at risk.” Her order tells department and agency directors who receive a report to assess whether there is an imminent threat and to report their decision to Whitmer’s chief compliance officer.
Firefighters aid woman with ring stuck on finger
DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Firefighters in Connecticut have come to the rescue of a woman whose finger got stuck in a ring on New Year’s Eve.
The News-Times reports that the woman, visiting the city from Colombia, went to a Danbury Fire Department station for help Monday because the ring was too tight and she couldn’t remove it.
Firefighter Tommy Chirico used a ring cutter to get the piece of jewelry off.
Chirico says the woman was “very pleased” with the service and “went about her night wearing one less ring.”
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