Good News/Bad News from Census Bureau
With an estimated 2012 population of 9,877,607, Michigan realized population growth this year for the first time since 2004 – the good news. Michigan saw approximately 1,000 new residents. The bad news; however, is that Georgia has surpassed Michigan and moved into position as the Country’s 8th largest state having gained about 205,000 residents since 2010.

Gunman Charged with Terrorism
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced charges this week against Raulie Casteel, the man charged with 21 separate attacks along the I-96 corridor this fall. The state charges replace the Livingston County charges that had already been filed, and include one count of terrorism, one count of assault with intent to murder, five more firearms-related charges. The alleged gunman is also facing as many as 60 separate charges in Oakland County.

State Unemployment Drops
Michigan’s unemployment rate dropped again in November – by 0.2 points to 8.9 percent; however, the decrease was due largely to a significant drop in the state’s workforce, not job bump. The 24,000 individuals no longer in the labor force are due to a combination of retirements, people moving out of state, and people no longer looking for work. On the bright side, regardless of the drop in work force, the state still has 46,000 more individuals employed today than in November of 2011.

Hemond to be Chief of Staff
House Democratic Leader-elect Representative Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) has appointed Adrian Hemond as his Chief of Staff. Hemond had served as Appropriations Coordinator for former Appropriations Committee Chairman Representative George Cushingberry (D-Detroit), and more recently as a lobbyist with Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. (GCSI).