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This week on Live with the League, we discuss the many rewards and benefits of winning the League’s prestigious Community Excellence Award (CEA)—along with some practical advice on getting started—with Eric Waara, City Manager for the City of Houghton; and Mona Lang, consulting director for the City of Negaunee’s DDA. We then pivot to an update on what’s been going on in Lansing.  Interested in sharing your community’s placemaking successes for a chance to take home the CEA cup? Be sure to submit your project by April 17, 2026! 

On this week's Live with the League grab bag, we’ll be covering the recently concluded CapCon 2026, a conference at the National League of Cities, some election bill updates, and—of course—everyone's favorite topic: housing. 

We're focusing on the housing bills recently introduced in the Michigan Legislature, including the MI Home Program (now House Bills 5660 and 5661). The housing discussion will continue in Lansing on March 10 during our general session at CapCon 2026. In the meantime, be sure to show your support for the MI Home Program! 

 A Michigan architect describes his life, professional career, and what made him ultimately choose to settle in Negaunee—winner of the 2025 Community Excellence Award. 

Our State & Federal Affairs team gives an update on the recently introduced housing package, plus a call to action for our members, conversations around preemption, and what all this could mean for local government. Also, a breakdown of Governor Whitmer's newly released budget recommendation and what communities should be watching as that process moves forward. 

Today we focus on what's happening at the Capitol and what it means for communities across Michigan: campground legislation and energy policy, drones, property tax reform conversations, and a quick note on an upcoming primary election. 

The League’s intern, Jack Brady, discusses how Michigan can reverse the flight of Generation Z from the state. 

League intern Jack Brady discusses why young people who grew up in Michigan are choosing to build their adult lives elsewhere. 

There's a ton to discuss this week! We preview the upcoming Capital Conference in Lansing, especially useful for first-time attendees; shine a spotlight on the Michigan Funding Hub and how it can support your community’s funding strategy; finally, a legislative update covering recent rulings, revenue updates, and a look ahead to Governor Whitmer’s final State of the State address. 

Agnes Krahn, League communications associate, reflects on the value of connected communities—places that encourage you to put that screen down and get out into the real world. 

We’re hitting the ground running in 2026 with a conversation between League Executive Director and CEO Dan Gilmartin and our new Board President, Josh Atwood, Commissioner of Lapeer. We then shift gears and talk about key legislative priorities this year, and what communities should be watching as the session in Lansing gets underway. 

Jack Brady discusses the joys, possibilities, and potential of building a life in Michigan, from the perspective of Gen Z.

We’ve got several important legislative items moving right now, and this week we’re walking through what they mean for Michigan communities. We discuss the latest movement on economic development packages, what the new transparency law sets up for next session, early signals on property tax reform, and the push to wrap up sunset extensions and brownfield incentives. Finally, a preview of what to keep an eye on in the year to come. 

This week, the League is touching base with the beautiful Lake Michigan community of Frankfort, where we spoke with City Superintendent Joshua Mills about Frankfort’s unique housing situation, the successes of its recently implemented housing commission and land trust, and its new Attainable Housing District. From there, we heard a Lansing legislative update on the MI Home Program proposal, as well as the zoning reforms communities are now implementing. Learn what our members should be watching for in terms of housing and development bills—and make your voice heard! Pattern Book Homes For 21st Century Michigan https://mml.org/resources-research/books-and-briefs/pattern-book-homes-for-21st-century-michigan/ MI Home Program https://mml.org/advocacy/mi-home-program/ Online Learning with the League https://learn.mml.org/login/index.php Webinar, "Michigan Women in Municipal Government Presents A.I. & Local Government: Tools and Guidance for Responsible Use" https://mml.org/event/michigan-women-in-municipal-government-presents-a-i-local-government-tools-and-guidance-for-responsible-use/ Newly Elected Officials Training https://mml.org/education-events/elected-officials-academy/newly-elected-officials-training/ Join the next show live on Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F8NZLHYzTA2S2w1gk8z5gQ#/registration  

This week’s chat begins with a check-in with Taylor Pine, the League’s Digital Media Developer, on our Marketing & Communications team’s recent visit to the Upper Peninsula in search of stories, successes, and sightseeing.   We then turned to our regularly scheduled legislative news, including a hot-off-the presses update on revenue projections for road funding and revenue sharing, the postmark property tax bill, oath of office deadlines, and some thoughts on how to make your voice heard in Lansing.