What a recruiting stretch this week has been for Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford.
Michigan
Michigan’s Tipped Minimum Wage Changes, Explained
Major changes are coming for minimum wage workers in Michigan, including those in the restaurant industry who depend on tips.
After a contentious back and forth that dates back to 2018, Michigan lawmakers in February reached a compromise in the state’s tipped minimum wage saga. But the deal didn’t materialize until the Michigan Supreme Court forced Lansing officials to work together. The bipartisan agreement reached in September reduced the increases stipulated in a bill introduced six years ago, and that’s left progressives fuming.
What does this all mean for the tens of thousands of restaurant and bar workers in Michigan who are paid minimum wage? When will key policies take effect? And what’s next for advocates in Michigan and beyond? Eater Detroit has put together this handy guide to help better understand the changes and the next steps in the struggle over how much workers should be paid.
How did we get here?
In 2018, supporters launched a ballot initiative that asked voters whether to raise Michigan’s standard minimum wage from $10.10 an hour to $13.03 an hour and raise the tipped wage to $11.73 an hour starting in 2025. A second petition focused on sick leave.
The proposal never made it to ballots as conservative lawmakers amended the proposals after adopting the two measures. Years of legal battles followed until July 2024 when the state Supreme Court ruled the moves illegal. In September 2024, in clarifying the gradual elimination of the tipped minimum wage by 2030, the Michigan Supreme Court set the original proposal to become law on Friday, February 21.
Instead, Michigan’s Republican-led legislature, supported by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, and Democrats came to a compromise that slowed the wage increases. With different business models — for example, counter versus table service, or chain versus independent — restaurants will handle the measure differently.
The move left the progressive lobbying group One Fair Wage and its allies furious.
What is One Fair Wage?
Established in 2019, One Fair Wage is a nationwide grassroots effort that grew out of the worker advocacy group Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York. The phrase began gaining traction as legislation popped up in states before the pandemic with support from progressives including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. One Fair Wage organized in cities across the country and has pressured local lawmakers to take action against the tipped minimum wage, arguing the practice hurt BIPOC workers while pointing toward pay discrepancies. The campaign found success in Chicago, which passed an ordinance in October 2023 to gradually eliminate the tipped minimum wage by 2028.
Lobbying groups, like the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, argued that restaurant owners couldn’t afford to eliminate the tipped minimum wage and that doing so could force restaurants to close. They’ve worked with conservative lawmakers to fight One Fair Wage’s campaign.
What is the standard minimum wage?
The hourly wage in Michigan is currently $12.48 for adults and $10.61 an hour for minors.
On January 1, 2026, wages will increase by $1.25 for adults, or a 10.2 percent raise, for a standard minimum wage, which will rise to $13.73. Wages will increase again to $15 on January 1, 2027. Starting in 2027, the state will adjust those wages in October based on the rate of inflation. If the unemployment rate is more than 8.5 percent the previous year, pay adjustments due to inflation would be made on January 1 of the following year, according to the Detroit News.
What about the tipped minimum wage?
The tipped minimum wage in Michigan is currently $4.74, or 38 percent of the standard minimum. If a worker does not reach the standard minimum wage with tips during any given shift, employers are required to pay the difference or face fines of up to $2,500. However, the tipped minimum wage also allows workers to potentially earn more than the standard hourly minimum if they receive substantial tips. Progressives argue that eliminating the tipped minimum wage allows for more predictable, fair, and equitable pay, regardless of whether a restaurant is experiencing a slow night.
Under the new law, each year on February 21 until 2031, the rate will rise by 2 percent until it reaches 50 percent of the standard minimum wage.
And what about sick leave?
In addition to increases to the minimum wage, progressives have also campaigned to increase sick time. Michiganders will be able to more broadly accrue paid sick time, earning one hour of compensated leave for every 30 hours of work. Effective Wednesday, October 1, employees who work at businesses with 10 or fewer employees can accrue and use at least 40 hours of paid sick time per year. Starting immediately, workers at larger businesses will be able to accrue and use 72 hours of paid leave a year. Employees can now also carry over up to 72 hours of unused paid sick leave into the new year, with smaller firms required to allow up to 40 hours to carry over from one year to the next.
So what’s next?
Organizers from One Fair Wage called February’s decision impacting Michigan’s 400,000 tipped workers an attack on their economic security and a betrayal of the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling.
Looking ahead, One Fair Wage is seeking to place a statewide referendum on ballots to overturn last month’s legislation by mobilizing hundreds of workers and volunteers across the state to collect signatures and bring the issue to a vote.
How do workers feel about all of this?
Workers whose livelihoods depend on tips have mixed feelings about the fight to phase out the tipped minimum wage. While some say that wage increases for Michigan servers could help them take home more money and reduce restaurant turnover, many others worry that they’ll earn less money.
It feels like I’m constantly hearing about tipping lately. Do I still need to tip?
It can feel sometimes as consumers that we’re constantly being hounded to tip at just about every point of sale, or seeing tips or service fees automatically added to higher-end restaurant bills. In some markets, service fees have been popping up to compensate for any lost tippings. Last year, the U.S. saw a widespread movement to eliminate “junk fees” partially in response to this malaise. It’s leaving customers fatigued.
But the bottom line is, yes, of course, continue to tip. The Michigan tipped minimum wage isn’t being completely eliminated. Keep in mind that tipped workers’ incomes are still contingent on customers, at least customers who value good hospitality and want to see their favorite restaurants survive while navigating a hurricane of inflation and rising labor costs.
After snagging a commitment from four-star bell-cow Tyson Robinson this past weekend, Alford nabbed another high-profile tailback in the 2027 class, as Grand Rapids (Mich.) Kenowa Hills star Lundon Hampton announced his pledge to the Wolverines.
Hampton is the fourth in-state commit for Michigan this cycle and the 14th overall member. Michigan beat MSU, Penn State and Iowa for Hampton, who visited Ann Arbor twice this spring, including for the spring game at The Big House. He was offered while on his March trip, and Alford saw Hampton workout during the contact period.
At 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Hampton is the No. 24 overall athlete in the country and No. 19 recruit in the state of Michigan, according to Rivals.
Maize n Brew breaks down film from Hampton junior campaign, providing an in-depth look at the potential he brings to the table.
Since the beginning of last month, Maize n Brew has seen Hampton twice. First was in Nashville for Battle 7v7 and later for the spring game. Hampton didn’t compete down south, but both instances provided an opportunity to examine his physical build.
Hampton is every inch and weight that Rivals reports right now. He’s filled out and how he compares to his peers physically is noteworthy, especially those at the positions he plays at the prep level. When examining his Hudl film, athleticism aside, Hampton stands out significantly. The sky is the limit for his body development once he enters Michigan’s strength and conditioning program.
Alford recruited Hampton as a running back because of his ability to evade tacklers in the open field and his explosiveness. On film, arm tackle attempts and dives to Hampton’s lower half never delay his forward progressions when the ball is in his hands. He can break runs to the outside, take proper angles, and has the speed to kick it into another gear to outrun defensive backs.
The way Hampton makes cuts through holes between the hashmarks is also noticeable. It’s similar to the prowess of Robinson, so it’s not difficult to pinpoint why Alford wanted the pair. Although Hampton doesn’t have as many route running and pass catching highlights as Robinson, the former can become a target and make an impact in that aspect.
Hampton also brings a versatility trait that could get molded well under the guidance of Michigan’s staff, meaning he may not remain at running back in college. Other top programs were eyeing him to play linebacker, cornerback and safety, and his junior tape shows multiple clips of him contributing at all three positions. He also came down to the line of scrimmage as an edge rusher.
His instincts on defense allow him get off the block and record tackles for a loss. While defending the pass, he sticks to the hip of opposing wideouts to breakup balls in the air or record interceptions. Hampton plays on special teams as well for his high school, serving as punt returner.
He does not have verified times reported in the 40-yard or 100-meter dash, so determining that benchmark and where development could transpire to improve that area will be something to monitor. Also, if he commits to running back only, how will he separate himself from the other rostered players? He’ll bring a heated work ethic because of the opportunity to play for the in-state school, which should elevate progress down the road.
A new study on water pollution in Illinois may make you think twice before jumping into the lake this summer.
According to the Environment Illinois Research & Education Center, the recent study found microplastics across all 31 tested sites, including Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. These tiny pieces of litter may pose a potential health risk to humans and marine life, but what does that really mean for Chicagoans?
What actually are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters. Studies on the possible links to illnesses, such as cancer, are being conducted by the government and academic researchers.
What did this study find in Lake Michigan and the Chicago River?
The study found microplastics, microfibers, microfilms and microfragments across the tested sites. These tiny, sometimes invisible to the naked eye, pieces of litter come from single-use plastics, fast-fashion production and stormwater runoff from nearby factories that use plastic pellets (also found in the waters).
RECOMMENDED: The historic Chicago River Swim is coming back in September
Should I worry?
Not immediately. The presence of plastics and other forms of litter are so widespread that there’s no simple fix. Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would require plastics manufacturers to better control runoff stormwater around their factories. The state also introduced a law in 2023 that bans Styrofoam food containers at state buildings.
Can I still go in the water?
Yes. Minimizing your contact with the water can, of course, limit the risk of any negative effects, but this study is not a reason to avoid the water completely. That being said, it’s probably wise to avoid submerging yourself in the Chicago River (after all, we all remember the Dave Matthews Band incident of 2004, right?). However, the Chicago River Swim returned last year after nearly a century, which confirms that the water is, technically, safe enough to swim in.
Now what?
There are a few ways residents can help keep the waters clean. The Environment Illinois Research & Education Center recommends avoiding single-use plastics and fast-fashion trends, and reusing items when possible. The organization has also recommended that the state develop green infrastructure, pass additional producer responsibility laws and halt policies that promote increased manufacture and use of single-use plastics.
Despite these findings, it’s still safe to enjoy a dip in the lake. What’s better than jumping off the concrete beach on a scorching summer day? Just be sure to pick up your trash before you leave.
4Warn Weather – You might have seen headlines circulating about an expected El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean.
It’s true that El Niño is likely to ramp up as we head into the summer, but what does that actually mean? And, more importantly, how could it affect the weather in Metro Detroit heading into the summer?
El Niño refers to the warm phase of a fluctuating climate pattern along the equator in the tropical Pacific Ocean. More specifically, it describes sea surface temperature anomalies along the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
The last El Niño occurred during the winter of 2023-24. These fluctuating sea surface temperatures can have a major influence on weather patterns around the globe, including across the United States.
During an El Niño pattern, the southern United States tends to be wetter and sometimes cooler than average. Meanwhile, parts of the Midwest, including Michigan, are more often drier and warmer than average.
Some headlines have already begun teasing the possibility of a “Super El Niño.”
That term refers to sea surface temperature anomalies in the monitored El Niño region exceeding 2 degrees Celsius. Since 1950, that has happened only three times, most recently during the 2015-16 event.
Right now, ocean temperatures are only beginning to trend above average. The Climate Prediction Center expects El Niño to develop in the coming months.
While forecasters say it’s likely El Niño conditions will develop, the exact strength of the event remains less certain. The likelihood of a very strong, or “super El Niño”, comes in around 37% as we get into the early part of winter.
In general, strong El Niño events don’t guarantee stronger impacts; rather, they just make certain impacts more likely.
As global temperatures continue to rise, emerging research suggests climate change is amplifying the strength of El Niño and La Niña swings by about 10%. The expected El Niño could push 2026, and even more likely 2027, to a near record category in terms of average global temperature.
So what does this mean for Metro Detroit?
Since there is a high certainty of an El Niño developing, then our forecast would look for the potential of warmer than average temperatures, as well as drier than average temperatures. This does not preclude us from getting frontal boundaries through the region that bring chances for showers and thunderstorms, but overall, the summer would trend drier and warmer than average.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
-
Kansas2 minutes ago2026 Fort Wayne Komets vs Kansas City Mavericks – FloHockey – Hockey
-
Kentucky8 minutes ago
Georgetown Police working ‘active scene’ that left 1 person dead, 1 in custody
-
Louisiana14 minutes agoSenate amendment to bill would allow active climate change lawsuits
-
Maine20 minutes agoPetition to restrict trans student rights may be removed from Maine ballot
-
Michigan32 minutes agoFilm Study: What 2027 RB Lundon Hampton brings to Michigan Football
-
Massachusetts38 minutes agoMassachusetts’ Charming Town Just Outside Worcester Is A Peaceful Escape With A Beautiful Lake And Garden – Islands
-
Minnesota44 minutes agoRenowned Minnesota musician Charlie Parr to make Detroit Lakes debut on June 5 at Historic Holmes Theatre
-
Mississippi50 minutes agoWhy Samantha Ricketts said Mississippi State beat OU for first super regional win
