Saline data center brings out bigwigs. Big day for Michigan or big betrayal?
Bridge Michigan
Leaders of tech companies behind a blockbuster data center project in Saline Township gathered Monday for a ceremonial groundbreaking of what they say is one of the largest artificial intelligence projects in the world. The $56 billion complex, known as The Barn, will be completed at the end of 2027. Operations should start in early 2028. The facility is “one of the largest infrastructure investments happening anywhere in the United States today,” Related Co. CEO Jeff Blau said during the event.
Related: OpenAI, Oracle leaders praise data center south of Ann Arbor, pledge $10M to local center
Public voting is now open for Michigan ‘I Voted’ sticker contest; see the entries
WXYZ Detroit
Ahead of the 2026 election, the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office has opened up public voting for the “I Voted” sticker contest. There were more than 2,000 submissions sent this year, and it was narrowed down to 30 semifinalists from each category: Elementary/middle school (grades K-8), high school (grades 9-12) and general entry (open to people of all ages).
Cash benefits are key to addressing financial hardship for Michiganders
Michigan AdvancePrices for food, gas, housing, childcare, healthcare and other basic needs are on the rise and Michiganders’ wages aren’t keeping up. Meanwhile, families are facing federal cuts to social safety net programs and the wealth gap in America is the worst it’s ever been. It doesn’t have to be this way. Just last week, the Michigan League for Public Policy hosted a webinar and published a brief on the power of cash benefits in building economic security for Michiganders. The concept offers transformative solutions for the 41% of families in our state that are living in poverty or are considered “ALICE” (Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed) households. The ALICE survival threshold represents a minimum household budget a family would need to meet in order to afford basic necessities without making sacrifices.
Michigan third parties sue to bring back a voting practice banned 131 years ago
Mlive.comMichigan’s small political parties – the Greenbackers, Whigs, Libertyites, Free Soilers, Industrials, Know-Nothings, Patrons of Industry – were once able to share nominees with other parties. In the decades after the Civil War, the practice, known as “fusion voting,” occasionally allowed Democrats to overcome Republican political dominance and gave smaller parties the sort of political relevance they were unlikely to achieve on their own. The Michigan Common Sense Party and the Libertarian Party of Michigan are now suing to bring it back, arguing in a lawsuit filed last week in the Michigan Court of Claims that the 131-year-old ban “affords an unfair advantage to the two major parties over new and minor party rivals” and “deprives voters of the opportunity to join together in new and minor parties to advance positions that are unrepresented by the major parties.”
Metro Detroit leaders irate over Priority Waste’s shoddy service
Detroit Free PressAs residents across Metro Detroit report missed trash, recycling and compost pickups, municipal leaders are weighing action against Priority Waste and demanding improvements from the waste hauler. In some communities, such as St. Clair Shores, officials are doing everything from switching haulers to reviewing penalties, withholding payments and exploring other contract enforcement options as complaints continue to come in.
The 2026 Elections and a Competitive Economy: What Business Leaders Need to Know
Detroit Regional ChamberAs Michigan enters a major 2026 election cycle, business leaders are navigating more than campaign dynamics. They are confronting how political uncertainty, institutional trust, and civic engagement shape economic competitiveness. During a 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference session, leaders from government, industry, and civic organizations explored how election integrity, policy stability, and business engagement intersect in shaping Michigan’s economic outlook. A core theme quickly emerged: elections are not just a civic exercise — they are a business issue.
A toast to 20 years
Join us at Elmwood Cemetery for a celebration of 20 years of the Historic Elmwood Foundation and the continuation of its mission to preserve Elmwood’s history, landscape, and place in the community for the next 20 years and beyond. We’ll gather under the trees to toast our longtime supporters and welcome new friends to learn more about our work and look to the future with us. June 11, 5-7 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery; food, drinks, live music, beautiful vistas. Please RSVP: 313-567-3453.
About us
Elmwood Cemetery, established in 1846, is the oldest still-operating nondenominational cemetery in Detroit and one of its most significant sites of history, culture and landscape. Designed and maintained in the spirit of the rural cemetery movement, Elmwood sits on 86 acres of rolling hills, majestic trees and the historic Bloody Run creekway, all in the heart of the city, just two miles from downtown Detroit.
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