That, by adding zero zero zero (000), gives you the estimated population of Michigan today according to the US Census Bureau. The media is decrying it as further evidence that we all are lagging the Nation in, well, almost everything.
In terms of population growth, we are lagging. But the other side of this news includes:
-- after losing a million jobs during the 90's, it's amazing that the population hasn't decreased accordingly
-- we still rank pretty high among the states in population; it's difficult to navigate the Census website but it appears we're still in the top 10, certainly the top 15
-- putting it in perspective, Michigan had 9.94 million residents in 2000 ... so we actually grew in population during the last nine years
-- given our natural resource identity, and our infrastructure needs, would it be better to have grown
It doesn't mean we don't have work to do (BTW, does a double negative equal a single positive?), for we surely do, but all in all this is a positive -- not negative -- item, evidencing a more balanced story can be told ... if one looks at it half-full.