MARQUETTE — The more than 1.2 million people in Michigan who are eligible for food assistance benefits will receive an additional payment by the end of this month that raises their monthly amount by 15% to help families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits is for six months, ending in June. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advocated for the increase led by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and were pleased to see it ultimately included in the recently passed ...