Michigan RealEstateRama

New Bill Would Extend Civil Rights Protections to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Protecting LGBT Americans from Discrimination in Housing, Employment, Credit and other Areas of Public Life. Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), a Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, today cosponsored new legislation – the Equality Act – to extend civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, and transgender (LGBT) Americans in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today approved a settlement reconciling Northern States Power Company's 2014 electric and natural gas energy optimization costs and revenues and revising surcharges

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today made the following statement regarding the Senate Republican transportation legislation, which would eliminate $1.7 billion from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund and dramatically cut funding for Michigan's blight removal efforts. This cut will affect cities throughout Michigan, including Detroit, Adrian, Ecorse, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Ironwood, Jackson, Lansing, Muskegon Heights, Pontiac, Port Huron, River Rouge, and Saginaw.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today praised the Committee's extension of a provision that will ensure that homeowners working with their banks to reduce their mortgage payments will not be hit with a huge tax bill. In addition, the Committee passed her amendment to provide additional certainty to homeowners who might be eligible for this tax relief. This measure, based on Senator Stabenow's Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act introduced earlier this year, was included in the Committee's tax extenders package.

The cabin, with a scenic view of 410-acre Lake Ovid, sleeps five people. The lighting is solar-powered and a propane wall heater provides warmth during cold months. Drinking water is available near the cabin, as well as a vault-style toilet. The bedroom includes a full-size bed with a single bunk above, and a full-size futon located in the adjoining room

Grand View Place will add more housing diversity to the near north side of Grand Rapids on the western banks of the Grand River. Woda Group, Inc. plans to build this 68-unit affordable housing development using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Chelsea Knauf, of Grand Rapids, to the Michigan Board of Real Estate Appraisers. Housed within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the nine-member board licenses and regulates the service of more than 6,000 real estate appraisers.

The City of Traverse City is seeking volunteers who are interested and excited to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. The open position is for one unexpired term, ending on June 30, 2017. Members shall not be in default to the City, shall be over 18 years of age and shall be residents of the City of Traverse City

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh has issued an order approving off-road vehicle use atBewabic State Park in Iron County, the fifth Michigan state park where ORV use has been approved since 2009. Creagh announced his decision at Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing.

Today, Representative John Moolenaar (R-Midland) questioned EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about her agency’s Waters of the United States Rule. The EPA announced the rule last month, despite a recent bipartisan vote in Congress calling on the agency to withdraw the rule and seek more comment from local communities and their residents.

This morning, Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and called on her colleagues to join her in putting an end to the short-term transportation funding extensions that have left Michigan’s infrastructure in shambles

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today approved a settlement agreement reconciling Upper Peninsula Power Company's 2014 energy optimization revenues and expenses and to revise surcharges.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced today legislation that stops rewarding companies that move jobs overseas and instead creates new incentives to bring jobs home. Her legislation would end a tax loophole that currently pays for companies to move jobs overseas, while maintaining the deduction for those bringing jobs home. In addition, it would also provide a 20 percent tax credit to help companies with the cost of bringing jobs back to America. This bill was blocked by a Republican filibuster in 2012 and 2014.

Consumers Energy is offering $100,000 in grants to Michigan communities this year to plant trees, an effort to encourage responsible tree planting and sustainable urban forests in communities across the state.

The DEQ issued the mill a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit on April 7, which included a requirement for a hydrological study to determine the best location and discharge strategy to protect the integrity of downstream wetlands. That requirement originated after a January 13 public meeting where attendees expressed concern about potential impacts to wetland hydrology.