With the November election shifting the balance of power in the Legislature, lawmakers now have a real opportunity to rein in wasteful spending, lower taxes, and invest responsibly into roads, bridges, education and public safety.

As the minority vice chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, counterparts in the House, and the executive office to build a fiscally responsible budget that all Michiganders can feel good about.

Last session, I introduced legislation to allow firearm safety instruction to be taught in schools. During lame duck, this bill passed favorably through the Senate with strong bipartisan support before dying in the House.

On Feb. 4, I reintroduced this legislation. Senate Bill 58 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

This bill would make it so the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) would have to adopt a model program based on the Department of Natural Resources hunter’s safety education. MDE would make the program available to schools. Schools would have the choice to implement the class as an extracurricular class or as part of an existing course.

This class must be taught by a certified hunter education instructor and no firearms or ammunition would be allowed into schools for the instruction. The course would cover the following topics:
Proper usage and handling of a firearm, safe cleaning and maintenance of firearms, different types of firearms, safe hunting practices, and firearm and ammunition safe storage practices.

Students would be able to opt out of the class without penalty. And those students who complete the class will get credited for Michigan’s hunter’s safety course.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to report sightings and other potential evidence of the presence of gray wolves in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Wolves were largely removed from the state in the early part of the 20th century, but beginning in the early 1990s, they began a gradual and natural return to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. So far, there has not been evidence that they have reestablished themselves in the Lower Peninsula.

Sightings, photos and other signs of wolf presence can be reported to the DNR’s Eyes in the Field webpage through March 10. Reported sightings and other evidence will be reviewed by DNR Wildlife Division staffers and used as part of the DNR’s winter wolf survey, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/wolves.

With recent outbreaks of avian influenza (HPAI) throughout Michigan and the Midwest, many have asked if backyard bird feeders can contribute to the spread. While most backyard birds are at low risk of HPAI, the virus is present in some wild bird populations in the Great Lakes. Most cases occur in waterfowl and scavengers like eagles, hawks, and owls, but other wild birds, including shorebirds and gulls, can harbor the virus.

To help keep birds and yourself safe and healthy, wildlife experts recommend:

Visit the Michigan DNR’s HPAI FAQs page to learn more about the virus and how to keep Michigan’s birds safe.

Kids, families and educators who enjoy fishing or learning about fish can sign up to receive the DNR’s Fish Bites e-newsletter. The newsletter is published four times each year and includes games, puzzles, fun facts and information about fish and fishing across our state.