Business

A split House on Wednesday voted to preemptively bar municipalities from regulating what Michigan employers can or cannot ask during job interviews, sparking criticism from Democrats who said such ordinances can help close the wage gap between men and women. The Republican-sponsored bill, which won Senate approval previously, will go to Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday for his expected signature. …

A reactor at a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan is shutting down this week for refueling, maintenance and testing. Indiana Michigan Power says power has been reduced at Cook Nuclear Plant’s Unit 2 and the unit will be shut down starting Thursday. The outage is expected to last several months. About 1,800 contracted workers will supplement the plant’s 1,100-person …

The Michigan Department of Transportation says $384 million in track improvements have led to faster train speeds and reduced travel times to Chicago. The Amtrak Wolverine route, which runs from Detroit to Chicago, has reduced transit time by 20 minutes, said Michael Frezell, a department spokesman. The Blue Water route, which runs from Port Huron to Chicago, has been reduced …

Burr Oak Tool representatives will attend the 2018 Acrex India trade show Feb. 22-24 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre in India. Burr Oak Tool and Oak India staff will be available for discussions about production solutions for the heat exchanger manufacturing industry. The show features more than 600 exhibitors from 30 countries, and is expected to receive at least 50,000 visitors …

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature voted Wednesday to override Gov. Rick Snyder’s veto of a speedier tax cut for those who trade in their car for a new one, the first override in his tenure and just the fourth in the last 67 years. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said the “timing was right” — the same day the chamber approved …

This year’s holiday season in downtown Three Rivers got off to a good start. We held a well-attended Christmas Around Town with a full range of activities for the families who came out. Between Meritt’s hard work, our calls to action, and the work of others, more people are starting to step to the plate and help make our events …

Michigan’s minimum wage will rise to $9.25 an hour starting January 1st. That’s a 35-cent raise from the current minimum of $8.90 per hour. It’s the final definitive increase provided by a 2014 law, the state said Friday. Beginning in 2019, however, the minimum wage is due to increase annually with inflation unless the unemployment rate is high. Employers can …

A reactor at a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan is back in operation after being shut down since September for refueling and maintenance. Indiana Michigan Power says Cook Nuclear Plant’s Unit 1 reactor was connected to the transmission grid on Tuesday. The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports the company says the shutdown was longer than usual since it was …

Officials say the discovery of about three dozen boxes of cremated remains in southern Michigan after the death of a funeral director isn’t being investigated as a potential criminal matter. Calhoun County Medical Examiner Dr. Joyce DeJong says the family of Joy Spencer Spoor discovered the cremains in storage after her Octotober 14 death. Spoor was a former owner of …

Layoffs are expected to begin late this year from a northern Indiana factory with about 115 workers that’s slated for closure. The company that owns the Crown Audio plant in Elkhart has notified state officials it intends to lay off 50 workers effective Dec. 22. Harman International Industries announced last month it would close the factory that makes audio devices …