LOCAL - Minimum Wage Increase

from WDIV Detroit Channel 4

The Michigan House voted Tuesday to raise the state's minimum wage by $1.80 an hour in October, the first increase in nine years.

The legislation now heads to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is expected to sign it.

Full-time workers making the minimum wage could earn an extra $288 per month, or about $3,700 a year, under the bill.

The bill would boost the state's minimum wage to $6.95 in October. The minimum would gradually rise to $7.40 an hour by July 2008.