THE WEEK IN REVIEW, WITH AN EYE ON WHAT’S NEXT NEED TO KNOW

 TAX BILLS PASS HOUSE, GET TRIPPED IN SENATE

THE NEWS: House Democrats — and one Republican — passed sweeping legislation ursday that would give Michigan taxpayers a one-time $180 rebate, phase out the “retirement tax,” boost a credit for lower-wage workers, pump up to $1.5 billion into a business incentives fund and prevent a permanent cut in the individual income tax. Shortly after, e orts to push the bill through the Senate stalled when Republicans who oppose it caught majority Democrats o guard and adjourned session.

WHY IT MATTERS: e adjournment delays movement on the bills until this week and brought promises of payback from Democrats. Republicans said the move was payback for the House passing the bill without open debate.

 DUGGAN PROPOSES $150M SPENDING PROGRAM

THE NEWS: Mayor Mike Duggan has proposed spending more than $150 million of Detroit’s budget surplus in part to x broken sidewalks, demolish dangerous buildings, renovate parks and add money to the city’s pension program. e $156 million proposal, submitted to City Council for a vote, comes after 2021-22 revenues were “much higher” than expected, according to a statement from the city.

WHY IT MATTERS: e increases are primarily due to increased income tax revenues from new jobs in Detroit.

 MYMICHIGAN ALMA NURSES CALL OFF POSSIBLE STRIKE

THE NEWS: Nurses at MyMichigan Medical Center in Alma have called o a potential strike after reaching a new, three-year tentative deal with management. e deal limits mandatory overtime, increases wages for existing and new nurses and improves language for contract sta ers, the nurses’ union Michigan Nurses Association said in a news release.

WHY IT MATTERS: Unrest among health care workers has boiled over this year as COVID-19 pandemic woes continue to impact labor in the eld.

 WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE SELLS KEDS BRAND

THE NEWS: e Rockford-based footwear company Wolverine World Wide Inc. announced that it has sold the underperforming but iconic Keds brand to Columbus, Ohio-based Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI), the parent company of retailer DSW, in a deal that closed Feb. 4. Wolverine (NYSE: WWW) also said that it planned to license its legacy Hush Puppies brand to Designer Brands in the United States and Canada, e ective July 1, 2023.

WHY IT MATTERS: Not even a multi-year sponsorship deal with pop megastar Taylor Swift could right the ship for Keds, a agging lifestyle footwear brand that Wolverine has owned for the last decade.

 BED BATH & BEYOND TO CLOSE 7 MORE STORES

THE NEWS: Bed Bath & Beyond will close 150 more stores — including seven more in Michigan — as the beleaguered home goods chain cuts costs as it works to stay a oat. e latest store closings in Michigan will be in Troy, Westland, Okemos, Holland, Saginaw, Flint and Portage.

WHY IT MATTERS: Bed Bath & Beyond has drastically shrunk its footprint and is still widely expected to le for bankruptcy protection.

Correction

 A story on Page 9 of the Feb. 6, 2023, issue titled “Earmark spurs growth for nonpro t helping young adults” incorrectly reported the source of the earmark Garrett’s Space received. It was federal funds.

Restaurants

Hopcat targets Livonia for its 11th location

 HopCat will open its 11th bar and restaurant this summer in Livonia.

e popular eating and drinking establishment, known for its Cosmik Fries and dozens of beer taps, will open at 17800 Haggerty in the former home of Claddagh Irish Pub, which closed in 2019, spokesperson Adam O’Connor con rmed to Crain’s on ursday. In other HopCat news, the Grand Rapids-based chain was set to host a public grand opening celebration Saturday at its new space in Royal Oak.

e Main Street restaurant has indoor seating for 288 guests. An outdoor, dog-friendly patio during the warmer months will o er seating for an additional 98 guests.

e main bar area has 60 beers on tap and seating for 30 guests.

e Royal Oak location also features two private rooms that can be combined into one larger space, each with room for 30 people.

e restaurant features a 3,700-square-foot kitchen for dine-in guests as well as the company’s rst dedicated kitchen for o -premise orders, including carry-out, third-party delivery and catering.