Author

Jon King

Jon King

Jon King has been a journalist for more than 35 years. He is the Past President of the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors Association and has been recognized for excellence numerous times, most recently in 2021 with the Best Investigative Story by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Cleary University. Jon and his family live in Howell, where he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Livingston Diversity Council.

Lawsuit filed to keep GOP gov. candidate off the Nov. ballot for ‘engaging in insurrection’

By: - July 14, 2022

Updated with Kelley’s comments, 6:46 p.m., 7/14/22 Calling him “a clear and present danger to democracy in Michigan,” a lawsuit has been filed with the Michigan Court of Appeals seeking to prevent Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley from being on the general election ballot. The suit, filed by Oakland County voter Lee Estes, cites federal […]

West Michigan clerk facing felony charge resigns after being stripped of election duties

By: - July 14, 2022

A West Michigan municipal clerk facing a felony forgery charge has resigned after being ordered by the Michigan Bureau of Elections not to administer any elections or participate in election-related activities. Montcalm Township Clerk Jessica Shearer was arraigned earlier this month on a charge of forgery of a public document, a felony that carries a […]

Poll: Majority of Michigan voters believe Jan. 6 was a coup attempt

By: - July 12, 2022

A recent poll of likely Michigan voters found that a majority believe the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was an attempted coup on the U.S. government, while nearly eight in 10 believe American democracy is under attack. The poll, commissioned by the Detroit News and WDIV-TV, was conducted July 5 to 8 […]

Whitmer urges Biden to allow over-the-counter birth control

By: - July 12, 2022

Citing a need to “get creative and use every tool in our toolbox to protect reproductive freedom in Michigan and across the United States,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday called on President Biden to make birth control available over the counter without a prescription. In a letter to the president urging federal action, Whitmer […]

Poll: Majority of Michigan voters favor early voting, dispute 2020 election conspiracies

By: - July 11, 2022

A recent poll indicates a majority of Michigan voters support an increase in early voting and other election reforms, in contrast to GOP legislation to restrict those efforts. A new poll commissioned by the nonpartisan election policy group Secure Democracy USA found that approximately seven in ten Michigan voters are in favor of early voting […]

GOP gov. candidate Kelley pleads not guilty to Jan. 6 charges

By: - July 7, 2022

Just hours after participating in a Michigan Republican gubernatorial debate, candidate Ryan Kelley entered a not guilty plea Thursday to federal charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Ryan, who made the plea via video to a federal judge in Washington D.C., was arrested June 9 during a raid by the […]

GOP gubernatorial candidates embrace election conspiracies, reject gun reform in debate

By: - July 7, 2022

Four of the candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Michigan governor took the stage Wednesday night in Grand Rapids in a debate aired statewide. While right-wing commentator Tudor Dixon, far-right activist Ryan Kelley, businessman Kevin Rinke and chiropractor Garrett Soldano shared ideological ground on issues such as abortion, gun control and the validity of the […]

West Michigan tribe applauds Senate resolution

By: - June 30, 2022

Tribal officials are applauding a Michigan Senate resolution urging the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve a petition by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians (GRB) for federal recognition. Senate Resolution 151, introduced by state Sen. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker), notes that the GRB has been seeking federal recognition for three decades and that […]

Statewide COVID rates rise for first time in five weeks

By: - June 29, 2022

After five consecutive weeks of declines, COVID-19 rates in Michigan saw an increase in numbers reported Tuesday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).  Those statistics show a total of 2,606,431 Michiganders tested positive for COVID-19 — an additional 14,353 cases, up from 10,681 last week. Overall, 36,918 have died from the […]

Republican resigns from state elections board as he seeks state House seat

By: - June 28, 2022

A Republican member of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers (BSC) who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election former President Donald Trump lost has resigned his position, as he is seeking a seat in the state House. Norman Shinkle of Williamston had served for 13 years as one of two Republican members on […]

Michigan Republicans rejoice at demise of Roe v. Wade, push to make abortion illegal in state

By: - June 27, 2022

While Michigan Democrats and pro-choice advocates express shock and anger at Friday’s rejection of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court, Republican lawmakers and candidates for the state’s top offices are universal in their celebration of the decision. The overwhelming support from GOP candidates and lawmakers, as well as their push to make […]

Whitmer urges Michigan Supreme Court to consider abortion lawsuit

By: - June 24, 2022

Following Friday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to deny the constitutional right to abortion, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer filed a motion urging the Michigan Supreme Court to weigh in on whether the state constitution will offer that protection. “Today, I filed a motion urging the court to immediately take up my lawsuit to protect abortion […]