Wednesday

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, also known as SUN Bucks, to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service has approved Michigan’s plan for the Summer EBT program to help low-income families feed children over the summer months. MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will partner together to get these benefits to families across the state.

“Summer is here, but hunger isn’t going anywhere,” said Governor Whitmer. “I’m proud that we’re continuing our successful Summer EBT program so no child goes hungry between school years. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to tackle hunger, including our work to deliver free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, saving their parents nearly $900 a year in groceries and time every morning. While folks in DC keep trying to find ways to cut health care for Michiganders and food benefits for hungry families, here in Michigan we will keep taking action to make a real difference in their lives.”

“Michigan children and their families shouldn’t have to worry about going hungry over summer break,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Summer break is a time when many children lose access to the reliable meals they receive at school, placing them at risk of hunger and malnutrition. The Summer EBT Program, in addition to our other nutrition assistance programs, like WIC and SNAP, helps us close the summer hunger gap by providing every eligible child with nutritious food, addressing one of the key social determinants of health, food insecurity.”

“Children need nutritious food—both during the school year and over the summer—to maximize their opportunities in and out of school,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “Along with summer food programs administered by the Michigan Department of Education, MDHHS’s SUN Bucks/Summer EBT program contributes to Goal 3 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, to improve the health, safety and wellness of all learners."  

Benefits will come in the form of EBT cards that families can use to buy groceries. Families who already have a Bridge card will have a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child, the standard benefit amount set by the USDA for the 2025 program year, added to their existing card. Those who don’t already have a card will be sent a pre-loaded card in the mail. Eligible families will receive a letter about the program. Funds will be distributed starting May 2025. 

Program overview:

• Benefit amount: Eligible families will receive $120 per child equating to $40 per month for June, July, and August 2025.
• Usage: Benefits can be utilized to purchase a variety of nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and more, at participating retailers.Eligibility criteria:
  Children may be eligible for SUN Bucks if they meet any of the following criteria:
•          Children aged 6 to 18 who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid benefits between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, will be automatically enrolled. Medicaid recipients’ income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
•          Students of any age certified as eligible to receive free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
•          Approved through the summer EBT application process.

Important usage information:

Expiration: Benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance.  Unused benefits will expire after this period and cannot be reinstated.

Participating Retailers: SUN Bucks can be used at any store or farmer’s market that accepts EBT, including select online retailers.

For more information on the SUN Bucks program, including detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions, please visit the MDHHS Summer EBT page at Summer EBT.

Additional programs designed to feed children during the summer months include MDE-administered programs like the Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meet Up and Eat Up in Michigan, and the Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meals to Go.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Slotkin (D-MI) joins Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in introducing the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, which would support Taiwan’s participation in the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This effort is necessary to challenge to the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing campaign to bully Taiwan. 

“Taiwan plays a significant and important role in the global economy — notably on computer chips — and needs to protect itself from Chinese economic coercion,” said Senator Slotkin. “They should return to the International Monetary Fund. The bipartisan Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 works toward that goal and reinforces our commitment to Taiwan and strengthening our partnership.” 

This legislation directs the U.S. Governor of the IMF to actively advocate for Taiwan’s full participation in the IMF, including its admission as a member, should Taiwan seek it. In doing so, the United States reaffirms its commitment to democratic values. The bill also urges the IMF to include Taiwan in its regular economic and financial policy surveillance, ensure equitable employment opportunities for Taiwanese citizens, and provide Taiwan access to technical assistance and training—privileges routinely extended to other sovereign, responsible stakeholders in the global economy. 

This is the Senate companion to H.R. 910, which was introduced by Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Al Green (D-TX) and passed the House Financial Services Committee on March 5. 

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LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Locos (26-20) scored seven unanswered runs – six in the seventh inning alone – to outpace the Beloit Sky Carp (24-22), 9-6, on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™.  The game featured 23 hits and 15 combined runs, yet was still played in a swift two hours and 19 minutes.
 

It was Lansing’s first victory over Beloit since June 21, 2022, the series opener from the last time the two clubs met up in Michigan’s state capital. They did not play one another at all in 2023, and the Sky Carp won all five of the 2024 meetings in Beloit, Wisconsin.
 

Beloit left fielder Michael Snyder delivered an RBI double and scored in a two-run second inning, doubled and scored in the fourth inning, and lined an RBI single and scored in a three-run sixth inning to help the visitors take a 6-2 lead off Lansing starter Grant Judkins.
 

T.J. Schofield-Sam tripled and scored on a Nate Nankil sac fly off Beloit starter Emmett Olson in the bottom of the sixth, bringing the Locos within 6-3. In the seventh, Beloit turned to reliever Justin Storm, and the Locos brought the thunder. With one out, Tommy White doubled, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer walked and Schofield-Sam was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nankil singled in White and Kuroda-Grauer and Jared Dickey doubled home Schofield-Sam to tie the score at 6-6.
 

After a walk to Clark Elliott, Jack Sellinger relieved Storm and allowed a tie-breaking sacrifice fly to CJ Rodriguez. Casey Yamauchi followed with a two-run triple, capping the outburst.
 

The Locos’ bullpen handled the rest. Henry Gómez fired 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Wander Guante pitched a scoreless eighth and Mark Adamiak notched his league-leading eighth save with a scoreless ninth. The three pitchers each allowed one hit, walked none, and combined for five strikeouts.
 

The Locos’ offense, meanwhile, combined for 12 base hits: three apiece from Nankil and White, who crushed his sixth home run of the year, and two apiece from Schofield-Sam, Dickey and Yamauchi. 

Schofield-Sam, notably, went 2-for-3 with a single, triple, two HBPs and three runs scored, lifting his league-leading batting average to .354.
 

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