Whitmer Announces $65M Transit Boost

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced $65 million in state grants Tuesday to expand, restore, and better connect public transit across Michigan.

The awards come from the new Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund, created as part of the state’s 2026 budget and roads funding plan to help communities launch or grow transit and restore service where it was lost. Whitmer also said the Michigan Department of Transportation will add a position to coordinate transit and rail statewide.

In West Michigan, The Rapid, Grand Rapids’ Interurban Transit Partnership, will receive $6 million in Kent County.

Ottawa County’s Harbor Transit and MAX Transit will receive about $621,000 and $260,000, respectively, while Newaygo County draws $4.3 million. Statewide, the single biggest award is $10 million for Wayne County’s Detroit Transportation Corporation.

Hospital Facility Fees Spur Reform Push

Michigan patients are paying millions a year in hospital facility fees, surcharges buried in their bills that sometimes help support hospitals they’ve never visited.

The fees cover overhead like IT, laundry, and security, but hospitals increasingly add them to outpatient labs and doctors’ offices without disclosing how much they collect. Proposed legislation, House Bill 5770, would bar the charges for telehealth, care outside hospitals, and most hospital outpatient services.

The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Curt VanderWall, R-Ludington, said he was charged nearly an extra $75 for a single blood draw, one fee per vial. The fees added an average of $100 to primary-care bills in 2022, by one estimate.

Hospitals counter the fees are vital to survival. Thirty-three Michigan hospitals lost money or broke even in 2024, and three have since closed. Limiting the fees could “destabilize even more institutions” struggling “to keep the doors open,” said state Rep. David Prestin, R-Cedar River.

Federal Grid Order Reaches Michigan

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order running through Oct. 16 to reduce the risk of blackouts across the 13-state PJM power grid, which reaches a corner of southwest Michigan.

Unusually warm October weather is pushing up electricity demand just as scheduled fall maintenance has taken generators and transmission lines offline, tightening power supplies. The order lets PJM call on extra generating units and, as a last resort, backup generators.

PJM, which serves more than 67 million people, issued alerts ahead of the expected tight grid conditions.

The Energy Department says the order is intended to keep electricity flowing, and it has used its emergency authority repeatedly this year. Some orders delaying power plant retirements have drawn legal challenges, and lawmakers have proposed requiring a review of ratepayer costs before emergency orders are extended.

Flying together with our sponsor

Visibly reduce dark spots with 1 ingredient? Doctor reveals how

One of America’s leading heart surgeons believes he just solved the aging dark spots mystery…

And it’s all thanks to his wife, Penny.

You see, for years, Penny had been struggling with stubborn dark spots around her face and neck.

And after failed attempts despite trying expensive creams and treatments…

Dr. Steven Gundry discovered what’s really causing those spots to appear…

And more importantly, how to help visibly reduce them.

The breakthrough?

One common ingredient found in everyday foods >>

➤ Oakland County: Daniel James Gibson, 26, of Holly, faces a terrorism threat charge after allegedly threatening to shoot a crowd of about 100 at the reopening of Andy’s Place restaurant. No gun was found. (See Details)

➤ Oceana County: Michigan State Police have sent prosecutors a 385-page report on an alleged assault involving Gull Lake High School football players at a June camp. Prosecutors will decide whether to file charges. (More)

➤ Ottawa County: Austin Hapner, 20, a former childcare worker, faces 23 new charges tied to alleged child sexual abuse at Grand Valley State University’s childcare center in Allendale. He now faces 62 charges across Ottawa and Kent counties. (See Details)

➤ Jackson County: Former assistant principal Ashley Moore is suing Northwest Community Schools for sex discrimination, alleging she faced different standards than male administrators and was told to “smile more.” The district denies wrongdoing. (See Details)

➤ Southfield: The U.S. Justice Department’s nationwide “American Tour Against Hate,” aimed at combating antisemitism, was scheduled to kick off Oct. 14 in Southfield, led by task force chairman Leo Terrell. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: As Medicare open enrollment begins today, Michigan officials are warning seniors to watch for scammers posing as Medicare representatives to steal personal and financial information. (More)

➤ Grand Rapids: Police are reminding drivers of street closures for the Grand Rapids Marathon on Sunday, with several downtown roads affected starting at 7 a.m. (More)

➤ The Detroit Red Wings signed 28-year-old forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year, $91 million extension following his career-high 85 points last season. (More)

➤ Alex Bauman, a former Miami and Tulane tight end enrolled at the University of Michigan, obtained a temporary court order allowing him to pursue a fifth college football season. (More)

➤ The Detroit Lions will bring a Big Sean concert and Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti food truck to a Nov. 13-14 fan festival in Munich, Germany, ahead of their Nov. 15 game against the New England Patriots. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay fresh wherever life takes you with the BumBum Portable Bidet. Compact and travel-friendly, it delivers a gentle water cleanse without relying on rough toilet paper or irritating wipes. Its rechargeable design and simple operation make cleaner bathroom breaks easy at home, work, while traveling, or anywhere you need them. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Pfizer laid off about 150 workers at its Portage factory, citing declining demand for products made at the facility. The cuts follow 200 layoffs at the same plant in 2023. (More)

➤ Michigan’s unemployment rate hit 5% in August, the third-highest in the nation. Economists say layoffs, shifting federal policies, tariffs, and AI uncertainty are clouding the state’s job outlook. (More)

➤ MooZoo Slime, a business founded by 8-year-old Luna-Belle Meza, is opening its first storefront Saturday at RiverTown Crossings mall in Grandville. The shop will feature an interactive slime bar and more than a dozen varieties of slime. (See Details)

➤ Great Lakes Tinned Fish, a Grand Rapids startup, now sells its products in about 300 stores across 35 states, including Whole Foods, less than two years after launching. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Get a Cleaner, Fresher Smile with Sonic Glow Water Pick! Brushing alone can miss food particles and buildup between your teeth. The Sonic Glow Water Pick uses targeted water pressure to help flush away debris, clean hard-to-reach areas, and support healthier gums. Upgrade your oral care routine today!

Flying together with our sponsor

Try this age spot trick (it will shock you)

If you think age spots are caused by aging or even sun damage, think again.

In his latest exposé, former chief of surgery Dr. Steven Gundry is launching a crusade against the skincare industry to reveal the biggest lie it has ever told women.

His research points to an everyday kitchen item that can help “eat” these blemishes.

This free presentation is a must-watch.

Click here to watch now before it’s taken down >>

➤ Manistee’s Ghost Ship is back for its 26th Halloween season, transforming the historic S.S. City of Milwaukee into a haunted attraction with mazes, fog, and live actors. Proceeds support the ship’s preservation. (See Video)

➤ A 5-year-old hero in St. Clair County was honored for saving his grandmother after she collapsed from dehydration. Hudson Tenn led his younger sister to safety and flagged down neighbors who called 911. (Read Story)

➤ South Haven’s water tower is ranked third in the national People’s Choice Tank of the Year vote, trailing only entries from Minnesota and Virginia. Voting closes Oct. 16. (More)

➤ A paranormal investigator in Holt says a mysterious woman’s voice captured on camera turned him from a skeptic into a believer. Benjamin Strongwolf Rodriguez now searches for signs of ghostly activity at Burchfield Park. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Dry Eyes? Here are 5 reasons drops aren’t working Are you wasting your money on eye drops? Here are 5 reasons drops won’t work for dry eyes and why you should be doing THIS instead. PS—If you really care about your eye health… ⇒ Read this short article before you spend another penny on eye drops… (You are probably being misled).

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Five things are quietly reshaping your 2027 Social Security check, and most retirees only catch one. (Listen Now)

➤ Global health researchers have linked roughly one in eight new cancer cases worldwide to a dozen common infections, some preventable. (Hear Details)

➤ Federal regulators have accused nine of the nation’s largest banks of closing accounts over customers’ political and religious beliefs. (Listen Now)

Do you believe in ghosts?

1. Firm believer
2. Hard skeptic
3. On the fence
4. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Frost is in this weekend’s forecast. Is your furnace running yet?

1. Already on: 45%
2. Holding out: 32%
3. No heat, just blankets: 16%
4. Other: 5%
5. Never shut it off: 2%

During the 1952 playoffs, two brothers who ran a fish market in Detroit’s Eastern Market launched an enduring Red Wings tradition by throwing what onto the ice at Olympia Stadium?

Show me the answer