State News

Two major lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Michigan’s new legislative redistricting commission have been thrown out of court. The suits – one brought by a group of individuals, and the other brought by the Michigan Republican Party – alleged that the rules excluding those active in partisan politics, and people …

Michigan’s auto insurance laws change significantly today. For many years, the state has mandated that motorists carry full, lifetime medical coverage for injuries that occur in crashes. That has provided great benefits for those who were hurt, but it also pushed our auto insurance premiums to the highest in the …

The controversial Enbridge Line Five Pipeline will remain mostly shut down – for now. Yesterday, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo ordered that the preliminary injunction that had stopped the flow a few days ago remain in effect until the state and the company sort out what happened after …

Children in the Copper Country could return to school this fall – if there’s no uptick in COVID-19 cases. As promised, Governor Gretchen Whitmer rolled out the “MI Safe Schools Road Map” yesterday. The 63-page document sets out the structure and guidelines for the reopening of K-12 schools… The plan …

Michigan’s Lewis Cass office building in Lansing has a new name. Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week rechristened it the “Elliott-Larsen Building.” The new name honors Republican State Rep. Melvin Larsen and Democratic State Rep. Daisy Elliott who wrote Michigan’s civil rights legislation in 1976. Whitmer also called on the legislature …

A second legal opinion has confirmed the position taken by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel that the Michigan State Capitol Commission has the authority to ban guns in the capitol building. The commission generally concerns itself with benign issues such as capitol building maintenance. It was thrust into the spotlight …

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has rejected a call from a group of Republican U.S. Representatives for an investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at nursing homes. The request was signed by six U.S. House members, including first district representative Jack Bergman. Nessel noted that similar letters had …

Saying that COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our state budget, state leaders yesterday announced a bipartisan agreement to cut costs. The joint release from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield marked an unusual bipartisan moment. The three said the arrangement provides …

Governor Whitmer says she’ll support a bill that will direct how $850 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Fund money will be spent in Michigan. The supplemental budget bill will allocate $120 million to raise the wages of direct care workers by $2.00 per hour through September. $125 million will be …

Saying the “The Stay Home, Stay Safe Order” has saved lives, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the COVID-19 state of emergency through July 16th. At her announcement yesterday, Whitmer hinted that the emergency order could stay in effect much longer. Despite some success in reopening the state following the expiration …