A group of five Michigan businesses filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, challenging the constitutionality of her "stay home" order that has paralyzed business in the state amid the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. The suit could be reaching for the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to limit the governor's executive power.The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, alleges the governor has "placed 10 million people under house arrest, and taken jobs away from nearly 1.2 million people, all without due process of law."The plaintiffs of the suit are:...…A group of five Michigan businesses filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, challenging the constitutionality of her "stay home" order that has paralyzed business in the state amid the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. The suit could be reaching for the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to limit the governor's executive power.The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, alleges the governor has "placed 10 million people under house arrest, and taken jobs away from nearly 1.2 million people, all without due process of law."The plaintiffs of the suit are:...WW…

Michigan State University will bring students back to campus this fall semester but cap the final three weeks with remote learning.President Samuel Stanley made the announcement Wednesday in an email to faculty, staff and students. It follows months of indecision from the East Lansing-based university, shared by its counterparts across the state, amid the coronavirus pandemic.Related Article"Based on guidance from health care professionals, feedback from faculty, staff and students as well as MSU leadership and recommendations from the university's COVID-19 Reopening Campus Task Force, I am...…Michigan State University will bring students back to campus this fall semester but cap the final three weeks with remote learning.President Samuel Stanley made the announcement Wednesday in an email to faculty, staff and students. It follows months of indecision from the East Lansing-based university, shared by its counterparts across the state, amid the coronavirus pandemic.Related Article"Based on guidance from health care professionals, feedback from faculty, staff and students as well as MSU leadership and recommendations from the university's COVID-19 Reopening Campus Task Force, I am...WW…

Keith MathenyDetroit Free PressFifty million dollars is a whole lot of dimes.That's how much Michigan residents hold in beer, pop, and other bottles and cans with 10-cent deposits accumulated since late March, when an emergency order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stopped redemption at supermarkets and other stores because of the coronavirus pandemic. That number grows by 70 million unredeemed cans and bottles a week, Tom Emmerich, chief operating officer of Schupan & Sons Recycling . The company, with processing facilities in Wixom and Wyoming, processes aluminum cans and plastic and glass...…Keith MathenyDetroit Free PressFifty million dollars is a whole lot of dimes.That's how much Michigan residents hold in beer, pop, and other bottles and cans with 10-cent deposits accumulated since late March, when an emergency order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stopped redemption at supermarkets and other stores because of the coronavirus pandemic. That number grows by 70 million unredeemed cans and bottles a week, Tom Emmerich, chief operating officer of Schupan & Sons Recycling . The company, with processing facilities in Wixom and Wyoming, processes aluminum cans and plastic and glass...WW…

Elevator space will be at a premium as social distancing measures remain the normExpect buildings to become less crowded over timeDetroit area has 77.8 million square feet of office spaceWhen office workers start returning to their desks — whenever that may be — the office environment will look and feel much different.Elevator space will be at a premium as social distancing measures remain the norm, making life on the upper floors of high-rises and skyscrapers somewhat of a nightmare.Stairwells will be converted to one-way only. Turbocharged cleaning by janitors and day porters will be...…Elevator space will be at a premium as social distancing measures remain the normExpect buildings to become less crowded over timeDetroit area has 77.8 million square feet of office spaceWhen office workers start returning to their desks — whenever that may be — the office environment will look and feel much different.Elevator space will be at a premium as social distancing measures remain the norm, making life on the upper floors of high-rises and skyscrapers somewhat of a nightmare.Stairwells will be converted to one-way only. Turbocharged cleaning by janitors and day porters will be...WW…

Former Gov. Rick Snyder's attorneys argued Monday in a court filing that he cannot be charged with neglecting Flint during its water crisis and that a grand jury indictment goes beyond its Genesee County jurisdiction to charge the former two-term governor with misdemeanors.Snyder's attorneys filed a reply Monday in Genesee County District Court ahead of a hearing Tuesday where they're asking a judge to dismiss the indictment on grounds that the governor's decisionmaking was done in Ingham County, not Genesee.The former Republican governor's attorneys contend Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud...…Former Gov. Rick Snyder's attorneys argued Monday in a court filing that he cannot be charged with neglecting Flint during its water crisis and that a grand jury indictment goes beyond its Genesee County jurisdiction to charge the former two-term governor with misdemeanors.Snyder's attorneys filed a reply Monday in Genesee County District Court ahead of a hearing Tuesday where they're asking a judge to dismiss the indictment on grounds that the governor's decisionmaking was done in Ingham County, not Genesee.The former Republican governor's attorneys contend Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud...WW…

How does a 32-year-old northern Michigan native who taught at his father's Christian school in his early 20s before serving six years in the Legislature land a lucrative job directing economic development activities for Southwest Michigan?That's the nagging question Southwest Michigan First's board of directors faces in the coming days, weeks and months after former House Speaker Lee Chatfield as CEO of the organization just a week into the job.Here's one explanation: term limits.Legislative term limits has given rise to an increasingly of legislators constantly looking for their next gig...…How does a 32-year-old northern Michigan native who taught at his father's Christian school in his early 20s before serving six years in the Legislature land a lucrative job directing economic development activities for Southwest Michigan?That's the nagging question Southwest Michigan First's board of directors faces in the coming days, weeks and months after former House Speaker Lee Chatfield as CEO of the organization just a week into the job.Here's one explanation: term limits.Legislative term limits has given rise to an increasingly of legislators constantly looking for their next gig...WW…

1,073 new cases reported FridaySeven-day average of deaths drops to lowest rate since HalloweenState expects largest vaccine shipment next weekMichigan's second wave of COVID-19 infections continues to subside as the roll-out of the vaccines builds momentum. The state reported 1,073 new cases Friday and just one death. The state's seven-day rolling average of deaths is at its lowest point since the end of October. The seven-day rolling case average is up slightly this week compared to last week. Hospitalizations have also declined dramatically since the second-wave peak of 3,884 on Dec. 1...…1,073 new cases reported FridaySeven-day average of deaths drops to lowest rate since HalloweenState expects largest vaccine shipment next weekMichigan's second wave of COVID-19 infections continues to subside as the roll-out of the vaccines builds momentum. The state reported 1,073 new cases Friday and just one death. The state's seven-day rolling average of deaths is at its lowest point since the end of October. The seven-day rolling case average is up slightly this week compared to last week. Hospitalizations have also declined dramatically since the second-wave peak of 3,884 on Dec. 1...WW…

An Ingham County judge on Wednesday lifted a restraining order on Enbridge Energy that had kept a section of the petroleum pipeline giant's controversial Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac shutdown for almost 12 weeks.On June 19, Enbridge temporarily shut down its twin 20-inch underwater pipelines after the Canadian company discovered an underwater steel support had shifted at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The steel support has since been repaired.Attorney General Dana Nessel had of both pipelines to give state officials and the federal agency that regulates pipelines time to...…An Ingham County judge on Wednesday lifted a restraining order on Enbridge Energy that had kept a section of the petroleum pipeline giant's controversial Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac shutdown for almost 12 weeks.On June 19, Enbridge temporarily shut down its twin 20-inch underwater pipelines after the Canadian company discovered an underwater steel support had shifted at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The steel support has since been repaired.Attorney General Dana Nessel had of both pipelines to give state officials and the federal agency that regulates pipelines time to...WW…

On the six-month anniversary of Michigan's first confirmed cases of coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and various business leaders laid out details of a new initiative to provide free college for front-line workers.Inspired by the G.I. Bill, which gave free college for veterans of World War 2, Whitmer's Futures for Frontliners program aims to provide tuition-free college for those who have spent the ongoing pandemic working in the medical field, as well as essential workers in manufacturing, nursing homes, grocery stores, sanitation, delivery, retail and more.The plan was in April.The...…On the six-month anniversary of Michigan's first confirmed cases of coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and various business leaders laid out details of a new initiative to provide free college for front-line workers.Inspired by the G.I. Bill, which gave free college for veterans of World War 2, Whitmer's Futures for Frontliners program aims to provide tuition-free college for those who have spent the ongoing pandemic working in the medical field, as well as essential workers in manufacturing, nursing homes, grocery stores, sanitation, delivery, retail and more.The plan was in April.The...WW…

Sign inWelcome! Log into your accountForgot your password? Get helpPassword recoveryRecover your passwordA password will be e-mailed to you.Keep up with all things West Michigan business. Sign up for our free newsletters today. Staying current is easy with CGR's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Click below to see everything we have to offer.Crain's Grand Rapids Business launched in 2023, bringing together MiBiz, the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Crain Communications to create the top source of business news, analysis and information in West...…Sign inWelcome! Log into your accountForgot your password? Get helpPassword recoveryRecover your passwordA password will be e-mailed to you.Keep up with all things West Michigan business. Sign up for our free newsletters today. Staying current is easy with CGR's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Click below to see everything we have to offer.Crain's Grand Rapids Business launched in 2023, bringing together MiBiz, the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Crain Communications to create the top source of business news, analysis and information in West...WW…