During last week’s State of the State address, Gov. Rick Snyder placed a heavy focus on the unemployment rate for veterans in Michigan. During Monday’s Legislative Luncheon at Montcalm Community College, local legislators kept focus on the issue. “Our veterans do not have access to the opportunities that are available to them,” State Sen. Judy Emmons said. “We are last in the country for our veterans in Michigan accessing the programs that they have earned, that they have sacrificed for and we have to improve that.”

Road conditions were one of the main topics at Monday night’s Panhandle Area Chamber of Commerce legislative dinner.

State Sen. Judy Emmons was one of four Senate Economic Development Committee members to receive campaign funding from the company opposing a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

Gov. Rick Snyder centered his second State of the State address Wednesday night on building on the successes of 2011 and continuing to improve in 2012. Speaking in an upbeat manner, Snyder did not announce any major changes for the upcoming year and kept his topics on issues from 2011, stating he wants to instead focus on finishing “what we started.”