Free Community College Tuition Limited, K-12 Students and Classroom Cellphone Use, Weed Outlets on Every Corner, Cost of UP Child Care, & More

– INFORMED BREVITY –

Free Community College Tuition Limited

Michigan will provide free community college tuition to students who attend a community college in a district that has a community college  mileage to support the college. In the UP that would be Bay de Noc in Delta County and Gogebic Community College in Gogebic County. We are still looking to see if the legislation includes any tribal colleges.

This means that students attending two-year degree programs at NMU, MTU or LSSU are not eligible for free tuition. They will continue to pay the full university tuition for courses taken at these universities, according to Lansing sources.

K-12 Students and Classroom Cellphone Use

Michigan has had legislation introduced to statewide ban of student cell phone use in public K-12 schools. No action yet on legislation.

Weed Retail Outlets on Every Corner

Seems like in every town in the UP you see cannabis retail outlets. Many times multiple outlets in a town. Same is true downstate. Michigan, according to recent reports, has a weed market of $3.2 billion in cannabis products. Michigan is one of the largest recreational marijuana markets in the country.

The University of Michigan conducted a recent poll on healthy aging and found that people 50 or older are regular users of cannabis (that contains THC). One in four Michiganders over 50 years of age have used cannabis at least once in the last 12 months. This is higher than the national average for this age group.

Cost of Upper Peninsula Day Care

With the average daycare costs in the UP running on average in excess of $750 per month, in many cases even higher. Often the cost of daycare exceeds the cost of their family housing.

Why is child care so expensive while daycare workers are evidently paid so poorly. Greed? Regulator costs? Insurance costs? All the above, plus more? Your thoughts and leads for more information would be helpful as we explore this issue more in the coming months. Tell us your daycare experiences and the experiences of your family and friends.

Upper Peninsula Tourist Tax Gets Lots of Positive Comments and Ingham County Seeks Legislation for Same

Our recent report on the idea of having a tax on tourists who come to the wonderful UP and how a tourist tax might help local governments handle the increased costs of local tourists without passing on the cost or a tax on local taxpayers had a very positive response from readers.  The tourist tax would be paid when people rent hotels, Airbnb, etc.

Ingham County in Lower Michigan has decided that a way to deal with this issue is to ask the local voters to approve an increase in their current 5% hotel tax of 3%. Grand Rapids got legislative approval for their tourist tax and went to the voters also. The same could be done throughout the UP and pass on the revenue to local governments to help with added costs of more and more tourists in the region. Each local unit of government could decide how to allocate the additional revenue from a tax increase on tourists.

More to come on this issue.

From the World Around Us

As Fall Election Day Approaches, Immigration is More in the News with Lots of Noise and Political Hype

So in the final days approaching the Fall Presidential election here are a few facts to think about and maybe make us look into the issue a little more than what we read on the internet:

• Estimates vary, but experts say that the data shows that all immigrants (legal and undocumented) contribute about $3.3 trillion to the US economy annually. Economists say that is about 17% of our GDP.

• The undocumented immigrants pay about $100 billion a year in payroll, property and sales taxes. They are also paying into Social Security and most will not see a dime of it.

• None of the above means that we should not examine other impacts on communities across the nation. It will continue to be a public policy issue in our body politic. It does mean we should deal with facts and not internet opinion information from both sides of this debate.

Banned Books

Pen America reports that the number of books banned in US public schools this year was 10,000. Last year the number was 3,362.

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm 

“I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.” James Baldwin.

“If it was raining soup, he would go out with a fork.” Former Michigan Congressman John Dingell.

Books Recommended by Our Readers

“At War With Ourselves.” H.R. McMaster. 2024.

Streamed Movie

“The Beautiful Game: The Homeless Soccer/Futbol World Cup.” An inspiring and motivational movie. One of those that make you think. Send us the names of movies and documentaries you have watched recently.

Talk To Us

Keep your raves, laurels, rants and darts coming. Send them to us at david@ruralinsights.org. We love to read them.

About Us

Rural Insights connects policy, information, news and culture to raise topics and stories/information you might have not seen or overlooked. We bring you original writing from Rural Insights and other researchers, change makers, and storytellers, as well as our latest research and analysis.

Like Whispers?

If so, please forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here or on our website: www.ruralinsights.org.

TWITTER/X: Follow us @ruralinsightsUP.

“WE BELIEVE YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS, AND WE TRY TO GIVE YOU SOME SOURCES TO DEVELOP YOUR OPINIONS.”