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Rebates for New Appliances

"The Michigan Appliance Trade Up" Program offers rebates to people buying energy-efficient appliances.

Obama, GOP Spar Over Job Creation

Republicans are sparring with President Barack Obama over proposals to create jobs in dueling radio addresses today.

Unemployment Rate Drops (Jobless Numbers Might Be Higher)

The unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly in January to 9.7 percent from 10 percent while employers shed 20,000 jobs.

Ford Says It Will Fix Milan & Fusion Brake Problems

Ford Motor Co. says it will fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids that can give drivers the impression the brakes have failed.

January Auto Sales Will Be Better Than Last Year (Though That's Not Saying Much)

January U.S. auto sales could be 7% to 10% higher than the same month a year ago. But January, 2009 was the worst sales month of the entire year.

"Green" Gym Helps The Homeless And The Grid, Too

A new green gym gives some homeless Detroiters a chance to work out and help the environment.

Former Treasury Secretary Defends Wall Street Bailout

Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the country would have suffered Great Depression-era joblessness, near 25 percent, if the government hadn't arranged the financial system bailout.

Protesters Gear Up for Granholm's 'State of the State' Address

Students upset about cuts to education funding and groups leery of possible tax increase proposals are among those expected to protest outside the state Capitol.

Mark Fields: The Ford Plan Is Working

Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas, spoke at a West Michigan automotive manufacturing summit. Summit organizers say they wanted Ford as a presence here to show it's possible for an automaker to not just survive but thrive amid a gloomy economy and cutthroat competition.

US Wages Improved in 4th Quarter

Wages and benefits paid to U.S. workers posted a modest gain in the fourth quarter, ending a year in which recession-battered workers saw their compensation rise by the smallest amount on records going back more than a quarter-century.

How Bad Is Michigan's Home Foreclosure Problem? Depends Where You Are.

The latest figures show several Michigan cities saw their problem with home foreclosures easing. But to others, 2009 was a shock.

After the Collapse

Auto industry leaders meet in Grand Rapids today to discuss what auto manufacturing will look like after the collapse of 2008-2009.

NOW BOARDING: More Flights at Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Air Tran will offer three daily flights starting in May. Air Tran could attract those in West Michigan who usually travel out of larger hubs.

Ford Posts First Annual Profit in Four Years

Ford Motor Co. says it made $2.7 billion in 2009, its first annual profit in four years. Ford says it benefited from cost-cutting, debt reduction and popular cars and trucks like the Ford Fusion sedan and Escape SUV.

Ford Has Gas Pedal Problems Too

Ford Motor Co. has halted production of some full-sized commercial vehicles in China because they contain gas pedals built by the same company behind the accelerators in Toyota Motor Corp.'s recent recall.

Low On Cash, State Cancels 200 Road & Bridge Projects

Michigan transportation officials have voted to delay more than 200 road and bridge projects previously planned for the next five years because the state is running low on money.

Michigan to Receive $40 Million for High Speed Rail

Michigan's funding will help construct a new station buildings in Dearborn, Troy and Battle Creek.

Green (Energy) Thumb

State regulators say the Thumb is the best place to develop Michigan's future wind energy. The Michigan Public Service Commission today designated a five county region in the Thumb as the state's primary 'wind energy resource zone.'

Michigan's High Speed Train Plan: On Track or Derailed?

Thursday, the Obama administration plans to announce which states will receive billions of dollars to build high-speed rail systems. Michigan officials are among those paying close attention.

Pres. Obama Offers Middle Class Help

President Barack Obama is offering new ideas meant to help struggling people pay bills and care for their families, aiming to help a middle-class he says has been "under assault for a long time."

1,200 And Counting: Axed Dealers Demand Arbitrations

More dealers than anyone expected say they'll demand an arbitration to try to win their franchises back from GM and Chrysler.

Michigan Still Has Nation's Highest Jobless Rate

As it has for most of the past four years, Michigan's monthly jobless rate remains the highest in the nation.

Wayne County Furloughs 700 to 4-Day Workweeks

Wayne County officials say 700 employees will be furloughed every Friday, starting next month.

Obama Calls for Jobs Bill Passage

President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to enact a new job-creation bill, demanding that it include tax breaks for small business hiring and for people who make their homes more energy efficient.

Michigan's Unemployment Rate Declines Slightly

Michigan's jobless rate was stable in December at 14.6%. That's a drop of one-tenth of a percentage point from the November rate.

Michigan's Unemployment Rate Declines Slightly

The state's jobless rate was virtually unchanged in December. It dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 14.6% from the November rate of 14.7%.

Panel Gives High Speed Train Proposal Lukewarm Approval

The $2 billion train project could create jobs with cutting edge technology. But legislators are not sure if the developer has the money.

Schools Turn to Advertisers to Raise Money

With state funding for schools on the decline, some districts are turning to advertising to raise money. Four school districts in southeast Michigan will roll out a program next month that essentially gets businesses to sponsor districts.

The Squeeze

Consumer inflation was tame in 2009, with prices rising 2.7 percent. Yet families felt squeezed as their spending power sank in the face of falling wages, job losses and higher prices for energy, medical care and education.

Michigan Gets $224 Million for Neighborhood Revitalization

Michigan is getting close to a quarter-billion dollars to help deal with fallout from the housing crisis.

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