I want to thank MichAuto for honoring me as the automobile industry’s Legislator of the Year.

I love the automobile industry. It is truly the quintessential American industry, and the progress sparked throughout its history has undergirded nearly all of the major technological breakthroughs of the last 125 years. The auto industry put Michigan on the map and directly contributed to building the Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula we know and love.

Thank you to representatives from the major automobile companies, suppliers and industry professionals for this award! I will continue to work to help rebuild American manufacturing and keep our hometown industry strong in Michigan.

April brought unprecedented rainfall and severe storms to communities across Michigan. Rapid snowmelt combined with steady rain led to flooding, damaged roads and failing dams.

As some waters recede and cleanup continues, please follow guidance from state and local officials and keep these tips in mind:

The Michigan State Police MIREADY program offers resources and educational materials to help residents prepare for and recover from emergencies and disasters.

The Senate recently approved its version of the state’s upcoming fiscal year spending plan.

During debate on the Senate floor, I offered a number of amendments to the upcoming budget to provide some additional opportunities to do good for Michigan families.

My proposed amendments included restoring Going PRO funding, which has benefited hundreds of thousands of Michigan workers and thousands of Michigan businesses, and setting aside $10 million in one-time funding to address high-risk DNR-owned dams.

Having seen the crisis in Midland caused by failing dams and closely monitoring the recent scare in Cheboygan, I can say with certainty that making sure our dams are in good shape would provide peace of mind for many communities.

I also offered two additional amendments: one to remove language that prohibits students from receiving a state scholarship if they are enrolled in a theology or divinity program, and one to provide a solution to a long-awaited and delayed project at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. The Northwestern Michigan College student services hub was previously negotiated in 2024; however, funding has been held up. The project was also postponed in favor of a downstate development. I offered this amendment because it’s time for the state to finally make good on the commitments that were made years ago.

Serving in the minority can be difficult. I was disappointed to see each of these amendments defeated by the current majority, but I will continue these discussions and pursue other avenues to get these efforts approved.

The Michigan state park reservation website has added a new flexible dates feature to make trip planning even easier.

When booking camping or overnight lodging, the dates menu now includes more search options, including number of nights, travel month and preferred state park. You can also use the Department of Natural Resources recreation search tool to find amenities or specific activities for your trip.

State campsites, lodging and harbor slips can be reserved up to six months in advance.

After a long winter and recent storms, many residents are beginning spring yard cleanup. Always check with local authorities for burn permit requirements and fire conditions before burning.

The DNR burn permit webpage has been updated for easier use on mobile devices. The page now uses a dropdown menu. Click the “Can I burn today?” button, then scroll to your county. After selecting your county, you will see a list of townships and any restrictions or guidance in effect for that day.

Please keep these safety tips in mind when burning yard waste:

Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new terminal expansion at Cherry Capital Airport.

I remember living in Traverse City in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, when we were still using the old airport. It is remarkable to see how much our region has grown and how our economy has reached a point where this next expansion is needed.

The board and leadership team at Cherry Capital Airport have done an outstanding job. Even today, TVC remains one of my favorite airports. It is beautiful, peaceful, and easy to navigate — something that matters more than ever at a time when air travel can feel increasingly frustrating and inconvenient.

Expanding Cherry Capital Airport will help bring more routes and new flights into and out of Northern Michigan. It is also an important part of a broader vision: building a stronger, year-round economy that creates opportunities for our children to stay closer to home when they grow up.

Congratulations to Kevin Klein and everyone at TVC for hosting the groundbreaking ceremony. I look forward to helping secure state investments to make this dream a reality and beginning the next stage of growth here in Northern Michigan.

Michigan’s 37th Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and portions of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.