Ruth Johnson

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a 3.8% tuition increase amid $44 million in budget cuts, leading to job reductions and the sale of the Les Bolstad Golf Course to a housing developer. University leaders cited rising costs, inflation, and decreased public investment as reasons for the tuition hike.

Michigan has enacted laws to delay the start of local officials' terms until after election results are certified, ensuring overseas and military ballots are counted. The bipartisan legislation, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sets a uniform start date for elected officers, such as supervisors and clerks, to begin no earlier than noon on the first day of the month following their election.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed four bills to delay the start dates of local officials' terms until after election results are certified, ensuring overseas and military voters' ballots are counted. The legislation aims to prevent officials from taking office before all votes are processed, which previously disenfranchised voters whose ballots arrived after Election Day.

Michigan lawmakers, local officials, and residents are advocating for a statewide moratorium on data center development due to concerns about water and energy usage, lack of transparency, and the impact on farmland. Tax breaks for data centers introduced in 2025 have spurred development but drawn opposition, prompting legislative proposals to pause projects for regulatory review.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, Michigan Republican Party Chair, proposed a one-year moratorium on data center projects to assess their impacts, including environmental and rate hike concerns. The bills, co-sponsored with Sen. Ruth Johnson, aim to gather data before implementing regulations, mirroring similar legislation in the House as the state sees a surge in AI data centers.