by orionontv | Jan 13, 2026 | Regional News
New Ranking Puts Michigan in Top 5 in Country for Workforce
Michigan Beats California, Texas, and Florida in Workforce Companies Need to Succeed
LANSING, Mich.—Today, Governor Whitmer highlighted Site Selection Magazine’s new workforce report, which ranks Michigan No. 4 in the nation and second in the East North Central region. The ranking cites Michigan’s talented workers and strong colleges, universities, and skilled trades programs, helping companies hire the right workers to fill high-skill, good-paying jobs. It follows recent wins including a No. 6 ranking in CNBC’s Top States for Business and a Top 10 ranking from Area Development.
“Michigan’s talented workers are moving our state forward and putting us in the lead as one of the best states for businesses to expand and create good-paying jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. “Site Selection Magazine’s new rankings show the world what is already clear to Michiganders: our state is open for business and on the move. With our talented workers, companies can build better, more innovative products. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to create opportunity and expand our talent pipeline. Let’s keep working together to grow our economy, create jobs, and help more families ‘make it’ in Michigan.”
In this year’s rankings, Michigan moved up two spots from the 2025 Regional Rankings, highlighting the state’s emphasis on workforce and talent development. Governor Whitmer has made historic investments to help over 100,00 Michiganders get the skills they need for good-paying jobs through Michigan Reconnect, offering any Michigander 25 an older tuition-free associate’s degree or skills training certificate, and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, lowering the cost of college by thousands for over 62,000 Michigan students. Thanks to the Governor’s work, the number of Michiganders with a postsecondary degree or credential has increased from 45% to 52%.
“Michigan’s recognition as a Top 5 state nationally for workforce development by Site Selection is proof that Team Michigan’s ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy is working and our efforts to train and retain a strong workforce in the state have not gone unnoticed,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Organization (MEDC). “In Michigan, we know that our greatest asset is our people. Work remains to continue climbing the rankings, and we are committed to ensuring every Michigander and those considering Michigan for their home know they can ‘Make It in Michigan.’”
“This recognition reflects the meaningful progress Michigan is making to connect more people with opportunity and prepare workers for in-demand careers,” said Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin. “We’re grateful for this Site Selection Workforce Development recognition, which highlights our strategic and dedicated efforts to build the workforce of tomorrow. Through investments in career pathways like registered apprenticeships, removing barriers to employment and so much more, we’re committed to making Michigan more prosperous for all and training a highly skilled workforce.”
Site Selection’s revamped Workforce Development rankings were determined based on a unique index incorporating data from ACT, Lumina Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), SkillsUSA and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Michigan scored well based on several factors, including ACT National Career Readiness Certificates (both cumulative and per capita), the National Student Clearinghouse data on bachelor’s and associate degrees and improvement in labor productivity.
“For many years we’ve reported stories documenting the depth and breadth of workforce talent and talent development in Michigan,” said Adam Bruns, editor in chief of Site Selection. “We’ve also seen the infrastructure for workforce development evolve, helped by organizations such as the Research Universities for Michigan coalition, workforce-oriented institutions such as Kettering University, strong workforce data monitoring by groups such as the Detroit Regional Partnership and MEDC, and candid input from organizations such as Business Leaders for Michigan.”
by orionontv | Jan 12, 2026 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Lowers Flags to Honor Former State Senator Joel Gougeon
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to honor and remember former state Senator Joel Gougeon.
“Senator Gougeon was a dedicated public servant who served his community admirably in the U.S. Air Force and the state Senate,” said Governor Whitmer. “My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who worked with and served alongside him.”
Former state Senator Joel Gougeon graduated from T.L. Handy High School and then earned a degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute. After graduating, Gougeon served in the United States Air Force as an F-4 Phantom pilot. When he returned home, he founded Gougeon Brothers, Inc. with his brothers, Meade and Jan.
Gougeon served in the Michigan State Senate from 1993-2002 and also served on the Bay County Commissioners from 1984-1990. During his time in the Senate, he helped rewrite the Mental Health Code to reduce stigma and expand support for mental health research. After retiring from the Senate, Gougeon founded his own consulting company and continued to participate in community service.
The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and service of former state Senator Joel Gougeon by lowering flags to half-staff within the State Capitol Complex. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
Flags should be returned to full staff on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
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by orionontv | Jan 12, 2026 | Recreation
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DNR News
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Jan. 9, 2026
Contact: Jillian Reese (MHC), 517-335-2588
Explore Michigan connections, Latino history of black velvet paintings at new museum exhibit
Visit Michigan History Museum now through November – with free admission Jan. 17 – to learn about black velvets’ cultural impact
History and art join in the Michigan History Museum’s latest special exhibit, “Black Velvet: A Rasquache Aesthetic” – open now through late November. The exhibit explores black velvet paintings and their place in Latino history.
“The exhibit showcases more than 100 black velvet paintings on loan from Michigan collectors Diana Rivera, Elena Herrada and Minerva Martinez,” said Jillian Reese, curator of exhibits for the Michigan History Museum. “They not only loaned us paintings from their personal collections but also shared their expansive knowledge and personal experience with us.”
 Celebrate the opening of the exhibit with a free day at the museum Saturday, Jan. 17. From 1 to 3 p.m., enjoy hands-on craftmaking inspired by the exhibit’s vivid black velvet paintings.
“This exhibit is vital to the Latino community, and its presence at a state institution is significant,” said Minerva Martinez, guest curator. |
Inside ‘Black Velvet: A Rasquache Aesthetic’
Instead of canvases or paper, black velvets are painted on rich, textured fabric. While the subject of each painting varies, the deep black background is a staple that helps the colors pop. The term “rasquache” refers to the creation of art and beauty from everyday materials.
“The importance of black velvet must be understood as an instinct: the right to appreciate beauty in all its forms,” said Elena Herrada, guest curator. “Love of velvet is a class statement. We grew up with velvets in our homes.”
 The pieces, many made in workshops throughout Mexico and the Southwest U.S., became popular among tourists in the 1960s and ’70s. As a result, many of them reflect subject matter that appealed to tourists, such as bull fights, American celebrities and Southwest landscapes. Other popular subject matter includes animals and religious figures.
While most of the paintings were created in Mexico or the Southwest, a section of the exhibit features Michigan artists who have been inspired by the guest curators’ collections.
On the back wall of the exhibit, a staged black velvet workshop demonstrates the artistic process. To create a black velvet, an artist stretches velvet over a wooden frame, then applies one color at a time.
“We’re very pleased that the Michigan History Museum is exhibiting the black velvet collection,” said Diana Rivera, guest curator. “Despite their profound influence on Michigan’s social, economic and cultural development, Latino communities have been underrepresented in state and national cultural institutions for generations.” |
 With guidance from the guest curators, the MHC exhibits team designed and fabricated the exhibit. After a brief introduction, including a velvet wall visitors can touch, the exhibit flows through different sections of paintings.
“This exhibit includes a lot of unique design and fabrication,” said Reese. “This is the first time the museum has provided bilingual labels for all content. Each label is written in both English and Spanish. For any unframed velvets, our carpenters crafted frames that match the look of traditional black velvet frames.”
The design team pulled inspiration from Mexican American culture and the paintings themselves for color and font choices.
“The museum’s 2026 yearlong sharing of the velvets addresses the historical gaps in our Chicanx and Latinx representation in a significant State of Michigan institution while demonstrating their commitment to equity, educational inclusion and cultural stewardship,” said Rivera. |
Note to editors
Interview opportunity: Exhibit guest curators Elena Herrada, Minerva Martinez and Diana Rivera are available for interviews. Contact Jillian Reese, Michigan History Museum curator of exhibits, at 517-335-2588, to schedule.
Photos: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
- New exhibit now open: The Michigan History Museum’s new exhibit explores black velvet paintings and their connection to Latino history. The museum’s exhibits team created and designed the exhibit with help from three guest curators, who loaned paintings from their personal collections.
- Doing more with less: Black velvets are created on rich, textured fabric. The term “rasquache” refers to the creation of art and beauty from everyday materials.
- Popular tourist souvenir: Black velvet paintings became popular tourist souvenirs. The paintings often reflected subject matter popular with tourists, such as Southwest U.S. landscapes and American celebrities.
- Taking inspiration from art: The Michigan History Museum exhibits team took inspiration from the black velvet paintings to create the exhibit. The team looked closely at Mexican American culture to pick out fonts and colors.
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| The Michigan History Museum, operated by the Michigan History Center, is located at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48915. More visitor information can be found on the museum’s website. The Michigan History Center is a division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR. |
by orionontv | Jan 12, 2026 | Regional News
Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 Nominations Now Open
Post Date:01/12/2026 1:00 PM
- The Oakland Together 40 Under 40 program, now in its 14th year, recognizes individuals younger than 40 who live or work in Oakland County and are driving positive change in their communities.
- Forty individuals will be selected by a committee and invited to special events throughout the year.
- Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 2. For more information, visit oakgov.com/40under40.
Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County is now accepting applications for the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. This annual program recognizes dynamic leaders younger than 40 who live or work in Oakland County – and who are making a meaningful impact through innovation, community service, and professional achievement.
“We’re proud to continue spotlighting the exceptional young leaders who help move Oakland County forward,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “Through Oakland Together 40 Under 40, we celebrate individuals who embody our vision of All Ways, Moving Forward and who are making a real difference in our communities.”
A selection committee composed of community members and county leadership will choose 40 individuals for the Class of 2026. The class will be announced publicly in April.
Those selected will be invited to participate in special events throughout the year, offering opportunities to connect, collaborate and engage with fellow leaders and county officials.
Applicants must self-nominate, live or work in Oakland County, and be at least 18 years old. Eligible applicants must be born after Dec. 31, 1985. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 2, 2026.
Previous winners included public servants, educators, business owners and community leaders.
For more information or to apply, visit oakgov.com/40under40. For questions, contact 40under40@oakgov.com or 248-858-5400.
by orionontv | Jan 9, 2026 | Regional News
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 9, 2026
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Attorney General Petitions MPSC for Rehearing on DTE Data Center Special Contracts
Within her petition the Attorney General challenges the statutory authority of the Commission to approve these special contracts without a contested case hearing and requests a rehearing in this matter. The Attorney General additionally seeks clarification regarding the extent of the conditions ordered by the Commission and their enforceability, as many of the conditions purportedly put in place by the Commission appear to require only repeated assurances from DTE with no further evidentiary support or commitment, rather than enforceable conditions imposing meaningful requirements on the utility or its customer. Attorney General Nessel also expresses concerns regarding DTE’s ability to serve as the financial ‘backstop’ in lieu of sufficient collateral requirements, as dictated by the Commission.
The Attorney General continues to seek a contested case hearing in order to review the heavily redacted special contracts, verify DTE’s claims of affordability benefits to its ratepayers and that servicing this customer will cause no increase in electric rates for their existing customers, as well as verify adequate ratepayer protections such as collateral and exit fees in place to protect DTE and its customers if the data center fails to purchase the full projected amount of electricity, leaves the State before the full length of the contracts run, or goes bankrupt.
“I remain extremely disappointed with the Commission’s decision to fast-track DTE’s secret data center contracts without holding a contested case hearing,” said Nessel. “This was an irresponsible approach that cut corners and shut out the public and their advocates. Granting approval of these contracts ex parte serves only the interests of DTE and the billion-dollar businesses involved, like Oracle, OpenAI, and Related Companies, not the Michigan public the Commission is meant to protect.
“The Commission imposed some conditions on DTE to supposedly hold ratepayers harmless, but these conditions and how they’ll be enforced remain unclear,” Nessel continued. “As Michigan’s chief consumer advocate, it is my responsibility to ensure utility customers in this state are adequately protected, especially on a project so massive, so expensive, and so unprecedented. As my office continues to review all potential options to defend energy customers in our state, we must demand further clarity on what protections the Commission has put in place and continue to demand a full contested case concerning these still-secret contracts.”
The Commission ordered DTE to formally accept its conditions within 30 days of its December 18th order. This timeline creates a difficulty for the Attorney General or any other party deciding whether further challenge is necessary to protect DTE’s more than two million electric customers and Michigan energy customers broadly within the applicable timeframe in which parties may seek relief through further challenges to the Commission’s order. Accordingly, the Attorney General files her Petition for Rehearing this week in-part to preserve her arguments concerning the issues surrounding the Commission’s unclear conditions and legal justification for granting review and approval of these special contracts on an ex parte basis.
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