Michigan Taxpayers still owe billions for corporate tax credits

A small number of companies that still collect on tax credits from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority are expected to receive $533.1 million more from the state than they owe in taxes this year, according to a Senate Fiscal Agency report issued in December. But the amount each company receives is being kept secret from taxpayers.

MEGA, created in 1995 but largely closed in 2011, offered financial incentives to companies in the name of economic development. They could receive tax credits based on the wages they pay workers at a facility covered by an agreement between themselves and the state. Although the state has stopped awarding new credits, Michigan is still paying out on deals that last up to 20 years.

Companies with MEGA deals file tax returns under the Michigan Business Tax, which lawmakers repealed and replaced with the corporate income tax in 2011. Eligible companies may still file under the old tax and receive any credits for which they are entitled. Click here to read more.

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Detroit judge faces 45 years in prison on embezzlement charges, while another’s decisions being investigated

At least two judges in Detroit’s 36^th District Court are facing serious allegations of wrongdoing, including one now on paid leave as she faces felony embezzlement charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan last week charged Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, several counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement agent.

The charges stem from an alleged years-long scheme to embezzle money from incapacited invididuals that also included Nancy Williams, 59, Bradley-Baskin’s father Avery Bradley, 72, and Dwight Rashad, 69.

“We respect the authority that covers a black robe. This state judge and her cronies allegedly abused that high honor for personal gain by preying on the needy protected by the court,” U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said in a statement. “This would be a grievous abuse of our public trust.” Click here to read more.

 

Four dead as illegal immigrant semi-truck driver plows into Amish van in Indiana

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Four people are dead after an illegal immigrant operating a semi-truck drove into oncoming traffic in Indiana on Tuesday, garnering sharp rebuke from the White House over the Biden-era CBP One APP.

Bekzhan Beishekeev, an illegal immigrant from Kyrgyzstan, failed to brake while driving on an Indiana highway when a semi-truck in front of him slowed down. Beishekeev, who was issued a commercial driver’s license by Pennsylvania in July last year, swerved and struck a vehicle with 15 people inside, many of whom were members of the Amish community.

He is now being held at Jay County Jail, and ICE has issued an immigration detainer against Beishekeev. Click here to read more.

 

Typical worker has under $1K saved in workplace retirement plans

The typical American worker has less than $1,000 saved in 401(k)-type accounts, largely because many people don’t have access to workplace retirement plans.

For workers ages 21 to 64, the median amount saved in defined contribution plans like 401(k)s is just $955, according to a new analysis of 2023 Census data by the National Institute on Retirement Security.

If that figure sounds low, it’s because it includes workers with no such savings at all. The analysis found that only 51% of workers had a defined contribution plan through their main employer.

That finding reflects the fact that many employers don’t sponsor such plans, and even when they do, not everyone participates. Click here to read more.

 

Property tax bills shock Colorado homeowners as temporary relief expires

Property tax bills landed in Colorado mailboxes this month, leaving many homeowners stunned by double-digit increases as temporary state relief measures expired and new assessment formulas took effect.

At the center of the increase is the expiration of a $55,000 property value exemption that had been in place for the past two years under Senate Bill 233.

“The $55,000 adjustment to actual value, which has been in existence for two years, ‘23 and ‘24, was removed for 2025,” Douglas County Assessor Toby Damisch said.

The elimination of that exemption had an unusual effect even on properties where market values didn’t change during the 2025 reappraisal cycle.

“If your value remained flat for the ‘25 reappraisal, meaning the assessor didn’t change it, in a way it automatically increased for property tax purposes by $55,000 because that value got put back on for this year,” Damisch said. Click here to read more.

 

 

Detroit judge faces 45 years in prison on embezzlement charges, while another’s decisions being investigated

At least two judges in Detroit’s 36^th District Court are facing serious allegations of wrongdoing, including one now on paid leave as she faces felony embezzlement charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan last week charged Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, several counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement agent.

The charges stem from an alleged years-long scheme to embezzle money from incapacited invldiduals that also included Nancy Williams, 59, Bradley-Baskin’s father Avery Bradley, 72, and Dwight Rashad, 69. Click here to read more.

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Trump Oversees Lowest Level of Illegal Immigration at Border in Over 50 Years

In Fiscal Year 2025, which includes almost four months of the end of the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) apprehended fewer than 238,000 illegal aliens at the southern border.

Compare those apprehensions to Fiscal Year 2024, President Joe Biden’s last full fiscal year in office, when more than 1.5 million illegal aliens were apprehended at the border, as well as Fiscal Year 2023 with more than two million apprehended and Fiscal Year 2022 reaching over 2.2 million.

“The 2025 total was the lowest in any fiscal year since 1970, according to historical data from the Border Patrol,” the Pew Research Center finds. Click here to read more.

 

Youth mental health trends marked by rapid technological change, shifting social habits

Technology is evolving faster than the safeguards meant to protect young people, and an erosion of human connection and social support systems is leaving youth with a deeper sense of isolation, according to youth mental health advocates.

But there’s also reason for hope, as experts track youth mental health trends to watch in 2026.

John MacPhee, the CEO of The Jed Foundation (JED), an organization focused on mental health for teens and young adults, laid out the emerging risks and opportunities in a blog post this week.

He wrote about how digital systems are optimized for engagement, not for care. He said public systems of support are shrinking as needs intensify. And he warned that social and economic systems are limiting pathways to connection, mentorship and purpose. Click here to read more.

 

Opposing vaccine requirements could cost GOP voter support, survey finds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nearly 8 in 10 Florida voters support keeping the state’s current school vaccine requirements, a survey by McLaughlin & Associates found. Support is especially high for polio and MMR vaccines, with about 85% backing the polio requirement.

Jim McLaughlin discussed the findings Tuesday on Florida’s Voice Radio with host Drew Steele, noting there appears to be bipartisan support across Republicans, Democrats, and independents. In particular, older voters were supportive, likely remembering polio before vaccines became widespread. Florida law still allows religious and medical exemptions, giving parents choice. Click here to read more.

 

Rochester school board member sues board over violation of freedom of speech

Carol Beth Litkouhi, a trustee of the district’s board of education, filed suit in Oakland County District Court alleging that the board’s censure and removal of her committee assignments violated the First Amendment and Michigan law.

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation is representing Litkouhi, who argues in her complaint that the board violated her constitutional rights and adopted an unlawful gag rule to silence dissent.

The lawsuit challenges a board bylaw adopted in 2024 that bars trustees from sharing any information that has not already been shared by the district, including — but not limited to — confidential or privileged information.

According to the complaint, that rule goes far beyond protecting confidential material and instead functions as a prior restraint on speech by elected officials. Click here to read more.

ROCHESTER, Mich - Some students at Rochester Adams High School walked out of class today in protest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, a demonstration school officials say was student organized and peaceful but one that has intensified a broader debate over political activism in public schools.

The walkout took place during second hour at the Adams High School stadium. According to Rochester Community Schools, the protest was not sponsored by the district, though administrators and law enforcement were present to ensure student safety.

 

“Today during second hour, some Rochester Adams High School students organized a peaceful walkout at the AHS stadium to protest recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions,” the district said in a statement sent to families. “The demonstration was not a school-sponsored event; however, the safety of our school community is always our priority.”

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District officials said administrators, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and Shield safety partners were on site during the walkout.

“Recognizing that students have the right to free expression, administrators, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and Shield safety partners were available to ensure a secure and orderly environment for those students who chose to participate,” the statement said. “The district’s response to any student absence from class follows the Student Code of Conduct, which is outlined in the RCS Student-Family Handbook.”

Officials said all students returned to class and no injuries or major disruptions were reported.

The demonstration at Rochester Adams comes amid a series of student walkouts in Michigan and across the country opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often organized through social media and supported by activist messaging from teachers unions and advocacy groups.

A separate walkout has been planned at Hamtramck High School, according to a graphic circulating online calling for an “ICE Walkout.” The flier lists the event as taking place Friday, Feb. 6, during the first 10 to 15 minutes of fifth hour in front of the school’s flagpole and includes the phrase “Nobody is illegal on stolen land.” Several activist organization logos appear on the graphic.

 

Another widely shared image from the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers states that the union “stands with Minnesota as residents bravely oppose the occupation of its cities,” describes immigrants as “the heart and soul of Hamtramck,” and includes the statements “Diversity is a superpower” and “Abolish ICE.”

National teachers unions have also weighed in. The National Education Association, the country’s largest teachers union, has publicly encouraged members to oppose ICE enforcement, framing immigration policy as a civil rights issue and calling on educators to participate in protests and advocacy efforts. The poster below was distributed by the Ann Arbor teachers union.

 

Supporters of the walkouts argue that students have a constitutional right to free expression and that schools should protect students who choose to engage in peaceful protest.

“These are students expressing concern about policies that affect their families, their classmates, and their communities,” said one Rochester-area parent who supports the walkouts. “Schools should be places where civic engagement is encouraged, not punished.”

Others argue that while students may have free speech rights, public schools should remain politically neutral and focused on instruction, especially during class time.

Critics say the presence of administrators and law enforcement at walkouts, combined with statements emphasizing safety rather than discouraging participation, can create the appearance that districts are permitting or facilitating political activism.

“This isn’t about silencing students,” said one parent who contacted this reporter. “It’s about whether schools are quietly allowing political demonstrations during instructional time, and whether that crosses a line.”

The issue surfaced locally just last week, when parents raised concerns following another walkout at a Rochester school. In a previous article, Dave Bondy interviewed a Rochester parent who questioned why students were allowed to leave class and whether districts were enforcing attendance policies consistently.

That parent said she supports free speech but worries about precedent.

“If a school allows one political walkout, what happens when students want to walk out for a different cause?” she asked. “Schools shouldn’t be picking sides.”

Rochester Community Schools has said student absences related to walkouts are handled under existing attendance and conduct policies, though critics argue enforcement can be difficult when large numbers of students participate.

Education law experts note that courts generally allow schools to place reasonable limits on student expression during instructional time, even while protecting students’ First Amendment rights.

The debate has left many parents divided, with some praising students for civic engagement and others questioning whether public schools are becoming venues for political advocacy.

As student walkouts continue across Michigan, school districts face increasing pressure to balance safety, free expression, instructional time, and political neutrality, an issue likely to remain contentious as national immigration policy continues to generate strong reactions.