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Michigan Legislature approves ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ+ minors

LANSING — Michigan lawmakers gave final approval to legislation banning so-called conversion therapy for minors as Democrats in the state continue to advance a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in their first months in power. The legislation would prohibit mental health professionals from engaging youths in the scientifically discredited practice of trying to convert people who are LGBTQ+ to heterosexuality and traditional gender expectations. The Michigan Senate approved the ban on a 21-15 vote — with one Republican siding with Democrats — late Tuesday after the state House previously ...

DNR accepting grant proposals for tree-planting projects

By Journal Staff LANSING — Grant proposals for community tree-planting projects are being accepted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the 2023 DTE Energy Foundation partnership grant program. This program supports tree planting projects in DTE Energy’s service area that reduce the effects of climate change, increase natural beauty and bring the benefits of trees to communities. A legacy of tree planting is continued by a partnership of the DTE Energy Foundation, DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program and nonprofit ReLeaf Michigan with an annual grant program ...

Ford cutting several hundred white-collar jobs to reduce cost amid transition to electric vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is going through another round of white-collar job cuts as the company continues to reduce costs amid a transition to electric vehicles. The company confirmed Tuesday that it was starting to notify several hundred engineers and other salaried employees that their jobs are being eliminated. The firings come after around 200 Ford contract employees were let go last week. Spokesman T.R. Reid wouldn’t give a specific number of Ford jobs that are being cut this week, but said they are not nearly the scale of those made last summer when the company ...

Academy of Natural Resources to return

ROSCOMMON — The Academy of Natural Resources, a professional development program in Michigan for teachers wanting to experience a science-based, hands-on, high-quality and engaging week of residential training, returns to full flourish. This year, the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support — run by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy — returns to the ANR programming schedule for the first time since 2017. MEECS brings its full complement of activities and materials, recently updated to align with Michigan’s Next Generation Science ...

Saginaw street party turns deadly

SAGINAW (AP) — A 51-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man were slain and a dozen others wounded during a shooting at a large street party that was promoted on social media. The shooting occurred around midnight Saturday in Saginaw, about 100 miles northwest of Detroit, state police said. Police initially said about 200 people were in the area of the party and that officers had been dispersing the crowd prior to the shooting, MLive.com reported. Three people also were struck by cars and injured as people quickly fled from the gunshots, WNEM-TV reported. Investigators determined ...