Good morning reader, Five months ago, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state’s top economic development officials hailed an “historic” deal to build a $2.36 billion EV lithium battery factory near Big Rapids in Mecosta County with the help of state tax dollars. But as political and trade relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated, so too has enthusiasm in some quarters for the company behind the new plant: Gotion Inc., which has corporate links to China and its Community Party-led government. Last month, local officials sought a federal review of whether the company’s ties pose a national security risk. And, as Paula Gardner reports, some state lawmakers have joined the list of skeptics, particularly since the state pledged $715 million in state tax breaks and other funding to build the plant. In other news: Cheers to Michigan lawmakers, who are working to make permanent a pandemic-era policy that allows restaurants and bars to sell carry-out and delivery cocktails. The Michigan Lottery Commission reported $4.9 billion in sales last year, the equivalent of $500 for every resident in the state, according to an annual report from the agency released this week. Troy Forbush, one of five MSU students critically injured in the Feb. 13 mass shooting, appeared Thursday at a March For Our Lives rally at the Capitol in Lansing and shared details of how he survived gunfire in Berkey Hall that killed two of his classmates and injured several others. The Michigan Court of Appeals cleared the way Thursday for the parents of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley to stand trial for allegedly giving their son access to firearms despite signs of troubling behavior ahead of the 2021 mass shooting. And the Bridge Culture Club returns April 18 with the nonfiction selection: “We Kept Our Towns Going: The Gossard Girls of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula” by Phyllis Michael Wong, who will join Bridge readers for the free Zoom session. Register here to join us. Thanks so much for reading Bridge Michigan, we couldn’t do our work without you. Please consider donating to our nonprofit newsroom. And if you have a moment, please help us improve Bridge by taking part in our annual reader survey. – David Zeman See other newsletter options Chinese EV battery factory planned near Big Rapids faces renewed scrutiny Gotion Inc. plans to break ground this summer, but questions persist about its corporate ties to the Chinese Communist Party and whether the deal presents U.S. security risks. Gotion announced plans last year to build a $2.36 billion factory in Michigan. Support Bridge Michigan's nonpartisan reporting Thank you for subscribing to our daily newsletter! We currently have more than 120,000 email subscribers. Yet, just eight percent of subscribers financially support our newsroom. You count on Bridge Michigan. Can we count on you? See our member benefits Senate votes to continue pandemic-era carryout cocktails in Michigan Senators voted to make permanent a pandemic policy to allow takeout liquor. It heads to the House next. Michigan sold $4.9 billion in lottery tickets last year, or $500 per resident Only Massachusetts and Georgia residents spend more on a per capita basis than Michigan. In 2022, $1.25 billion from the lottery went to Michigan schools. MSU shooting survivor: I met ‘pure evil,’ played dead and pleaded for life A survivor of last month’s mass shooting speaks publicly for the first time, saying he is still haunted but will never forget those who came to his aid. Oxford shooter’s parents can be tried for manslaughter, court rules The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s finding that James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley, can face trial on involuntary manslaughter charges. culture club Bridge Culture Club resumes in April with ‘We Kept Our Towns Going’ Join us April 18 for our latest Bridge Culture Club event with author Phyllis Michael Wong to discuss ‘We Kept Our Towns Going: The Gossard Girls of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’ Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Email Too many Bridge emails? Update your preferences Never want another Bridge email? Unsubscribe here This email was sent to: Cb31450@gmail.com Copyright © 2023 The Center for Michigan • 220 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197