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Michigan keeps losing teachers. Educators hope apprenticeship programs can stop that.
Dozens of intermediate school district (ISD) superintendents are banding together to help plug the leaky teacher pipeline and address the state’s educator shortage. Thirty-nine ISDs have created the “talent together” partnership to offer solutions to make it easier for Michiganders to become educators. This is the largest education collaboration of its kind in state history, […]
With new Democratic leadership next year, what long-inert legislation will now pass?
It has been decades since Michigan Democrats have been able to fully enact their legislative priorities. That could change next month as the 102nd Legislature comes to order. Following Democrats’ historic victories on Nov. 8 — which included winning both the House and Senate and a sweep of statewide offices — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and […]
The future of the state’s EITC hangs in the balance this lame duck session
The Republican-led Legislature has the chance to pass a bill with bipartisan support during the lame duck session that would expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that helps working-class families. And advocates for the expansion are saying now is the time. During a roundtable Wednesday, former state Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) said that […]
Whitmer orders flags to be lowered to honor victims of the Oxford school shooting
To honor the victims of the shooting at Oxford High School last year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Wednesday all U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff and a statewide moment of silence. “It’s been one year since we lost four beautiful young souls in Oxford. One year since a community was changed forever,” […]
State board certifies Michigan election results despite protest from some GOP candidates
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers unanimously voted Monday to certify the results of the Nov. 8 election. The midterm election resulted in victories for the three Democratic incumbents in the top statewide offices. Democrats in Michigan also took control of both the state House and Senate, making it the first time in four decades […]
Whitmer taps Bolden as first Black female Michigan Supreme Court justice
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday afternoon that state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden (D-Southfield) will be joining the state Supreme Court upon current Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack’s retirement. Bolden will be the first Black woman to serve on the high court and is Whitmer’s first appointment to the state’s Supreme Court. Michigan […]
‘My life should not be up for debate’
After five people were killed in a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ club late Saturday night, many in the Michigan LGBTQ+ community around Michigan are concerned about their safety amid increasing hate crimes nationwide. “I feel fear, anger, disgust, concern. Hearing the news, it was this overwhelming feeling of just, not again. We’ve […]
MPSC approves much smaller rate increase for DTE after activists pushed back
The Michigan Public Service Commission authorized last week DTE Electric Co. to implement a $30.6 million rate increase effective Friday — but that’s significantly less than the company’s original request. In January, DTE Electric filed an application seeking a $388 million rate increase, but opponents in Southeast Michigan fought back against a hefty price increase […]
Voters in Michigan’s abortion deserts helped pass Proposal 3
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Michiganders had the chance to vote on whether abortion would stay legal in the state. The statewide proposal ended up passing on Nov. 8 by a 13-point margin, even finding support in deeply Republican counties and counties with no current access to abortion care. […]
Whitmer, Gilchrist thank college-aged voters
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist penned a letter to Michigan’s college students Thursday thanking them for showing up in record numbers in the midterm election. “No matter why you went to the polls or who you voted for, thank you. You waited in line — sometimes for hours — to make your […]
Right-wing groups focused on winning local school boards this election. Did it work?
Education-related issues dominated the last few months of top campaigns in Michigan, especially as Republican candidates like Tudor Dixon pushed bans of “pornographic” books in K-12 schools, anti-critical race theory agendas and anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the classroom. With these contentious issues firing up parents on the right, that resulted in outsized attention and spending on […]
In Michigan, ‘red wave’ spin gives way to a blue ‘blowout’
“This is absolutely historic, an epic landslide for pro-democracy Michiganders.” That was the assessment of Jeff Timmer, a former Michigan GOP executive director now with the anti-Trump Lincoln Party, after seeing the midterm election results Wednesday morning. Democrats in Michigan have made history for the first time in four decades by taking back control of […]