Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and longer days with the start of the spring season! I encourage you to spend some time outdoors and maybe even go fishing to celebrate the start of fishing season! It is also tax season, so please keep in mind taxes are due next week.
Featured in Today’s Newsletter:
- It’s Tax Month! Working to Maximize Your Return
- Fishing Season Begins
- Severe Weather Resources
- Michigan Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers
- Career Exploration and Awareness Month
- Michigan Innovation Dollar Coin
- Free Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Training Programs
- Food Safety Reminders for Spring Holiday Celebrations
As always, it is an honor to represent you. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-8360.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
It’s Tax Month! Working to Maximize Your Return
The rising cost of living continues to make it more difficult for Michigan families to get by — that’s why my colleagues and I have fought hard to cut taxes and lower costs for our residents.
Last session, we passed the historic Lowering MI Costs Plan — the biggest tax relief initiative Michigan has seen in decades. This plan repealed the unfair retirement tax to help seniors save an average of $1,000 annually and provided the largest tax break for working families in state history, helping them save an average of $3,150.
Taxes are due next week on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. To learn how to take advantage of these expanded benefits and maximize your tax return ahead of the filing deadline, click here.
Fishing Season Begins
The 2025-26 fishing season began April 1. The start of the season marks the new sportfishing regulations for Michigan’s 2025 fishing season that are in effect through March 31, 2026. Changes this season include modifications to steelhead and muskie size limits and gear restrictions on some waters.
To learn more about the newest regulations, please make sure to review the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations. You will also need a fishing license to fish if you are over the age of 17. To purchase a fishing license, please visit MDNR-elicense.com.
Additionally, if interested in fishing location maps, helpful resources, fish ID information, and weekly fishing reports, please click here.
Severe Weather Resources
From a dangerous ice storm knocking out power for thousands of Northern Michiganders to severe thunderstorms ripping through the lower peninsula, our state has recently faced significant storm damage. Here are some resources that may be useful in the aftermath of recent severe weather:
- To report downed power lines:
- DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
- Consumers Energy: Call 1-800-477-5050
- For storm recovery resources, click here.
- For insurance help, click here.
- For additional resources and safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/miready.
Michigan Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers
With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Dept. of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft.
Often, the taxpayer is already a victim of identity theft when a cybercriminal attempts to claim a state tax refund. To be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft:
- Avoid clicking links, pop-ups, or attachments from unknown sources.
- Verify email senders by typing website names manually.
- Don’t share personal information online — legitimate organizations won’t ask for it.
- Review privacy settings on social media to limit information sharing.
- Trust your instincts — if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use strong passwords (at least 12 characters) for all accounts and devices.
- Never reuse passwords — choose unique ones and update them regularly.
- Report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
You can report tax fraud or identity theft to the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
To learn more about the state Treasury Department, go to Michigan.gov/Treasury. Additional information about state individual income taxes can be found at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax.
Be sure to only connect to secure, password-protected networks.
Career Exploration and Awareness Month
In honor of Career Exploration and Awareness Month, Gov. Gretchin Whitmer joined the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to encourage Michiganders to explore the many career pathways available to them. Michiganders are urged to take advantage of state resources like Michigan Reconnect, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the Community College Guarantee, which lowers the cost of college and skills training and helps more young people get the skills they need for good-paying jobs.
To learn more about in-demand careers and education needed to land these jobs, Michiganders are encouraged to check out Pathfinder, LEO’s career exploration tool. This free online resource helps users create an individualized career roadmap and provides information to students of all ages, parents, school staff, and career counselors to make informed choices about educational and career options.
Additionally, there are a variety of valuable resources to help Michiganders follow career and labor trends. These include Michigan’s Hot 50 Job Outlook report, which showcases the top in-demand, high-wage occupations expected to see significant growth through 2032; Michigan’s Career Outlook report, which provides multiple lists of in-demand occupations by education and training requirements; and Regional Career Outlook reports, which provide a breakdown of career outlook data in each of the state’s 10 regions. Individuals who are currently seeking job opportunities should visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect, where you can find nearly 90,000 active openings.
Michigan Innovation Dollar Coin
This past Tuesday, April 8, the 2025 American Innovation Michigan Dollar was unveiled at the Detroit Historical Museum.
The American Innovation Michigan Dollar design features a 1930s-era assembly line of a team of auto workers lowering an automobile body into place. The design was created by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by U.S. Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw. The common design on the other side of the coin, introduced in 2018, illustrates the Statue of Liberty.
While the coins are not being issued for circulation, current and past issues are available on the Mint’s website USMint.gov as well as the Mint’s annual catalog.
Free Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Training Programs
The Access for All Program and Women in Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training Program are free training programs that provide Michigan residents with the skills and experience needed for placement in the building and construction trades industry.
The first step to taking advantage of this opportunity is to create an account in their online portal MyOneFlow, fill out an interest and application form, and upload your documents. Click here to start your application.
For an applicant to be eligible, they must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be a Michigan resident
- Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (Reinstatement assistance available)
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have a social security card and birth certificate
- Have an updated resume
Training components include:
- Certifications
- OSHA – 30
- First Aid, CPR, and AED
- Lead, Asbestos, and Silica
- Multi-Craft Curriculum (MC3)
- Essential employment skills
- Construction math
- Construction-site work experience and networking opportunities
- Blueprint reading
- Computers and the trades
- Financial literacy
- Industry awareness
- Labor history
- Diversity and cultural awareness
Access for All: Runs for nine weeks. Starting May 5th, there are 11 different training locations throughout the state. It will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, online and in person. Students will receive a stipend of $200 per week, as well as $50 per week for gas while in the program.
Women in Skilled Trades: Runs for 16 weeks, and the next cohort will start in September 2025. It takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students will receive a stipend of $100 per week, as well as $25 per week for gas while in the program. Child care payments are available.
Food Safety Reminders for Spring Holiday Celebrations
With the celebration of Easter, Passover, and more, it is important that hosts keep food safety in mind. Taking a few simple precautions to keep your food safe and your guests happy and healthy can ensure a successful celebration.
- Wash Hands Frequently: Handwashing is one of the most important steps to preventing foodborne illness. Research shows that handwashing lowers the rates of certain respiratory and gastrointestinal infections up to 23 and 48 percent, respectively. Your hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and warm, running water before, during, and after preparing food; after using the restroom or blowing your nose; and after returning to the kitchen if you must leave during food preparation.
- Clean and Separate: Start with a clean kitchen by washing all surfaces and utensils and using separate cutting boards for raw meats and other foods.
- Eggs: Hard boiled eggs should not be left at room temperature. Instead, refrigerate them until ready to serve. Cook all egg dishes until firm and set. If you plan to consume painted or dyed eggs, make sure to use food-grade dye. If you use real eggs in an Easter egg hunt, these should not be consumed after the hunt.
- Meats: Ham, brisket, lamb, and poultry are classic supper entrees. Keep in mind that various meats require different techniques of preparation. Use a food thermometer to ensure the meat is thoroughly cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature. Plan ahead to allow enough time for meat to thaw safely and cook thoroughly before serving. Follow thawing and cooking instructions on the label.
- Side Dishes: The rule of thumb for side dishes is “keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.” Bacteria grow most rapidly in the “danger zone” range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. If possible, place cooked hot foods in chafing dishes, preheated steam tables, warming trays, or slow cookers. Place cold foods in containers on ice. Never keep food, whether served hot or cold, out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
- Leftovers: If food has not been left at room temperature for more than two hours, leftovers can be safely refrigerated or frozen to be enjoyed later. Store leftover food in small, shallow containers in the refrigerator or in the freezer for later use. Shallow containers help cool leftovers more quickly than storing them in large containers. Leftovers should be consumed within four days. If you want to keep leftovers longer, freeze them within that four-day period. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely, though the quality may decrease over time. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within two to six months. Always reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F, using a food thermometer.
For more tips and resources regarding food safety, visit FoodSafety.gov or Michigan.gov/foodsafety.