Author

Jon King is the Senior Reporter for the Michigan Advance and 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 2022 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.
Court of Claims rejects Craig appeal, GOP gov. candidates turn to Michigan Supreme Court
By: Jon King - June 2, 2022
The Michigan Court of Claims has denied an appeal from former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, one of five GOP gubernatorial candidates disqualified from the August primary ballot after thousands of signatures on their nominating petitions were deemed invalid. That now brings the number to three of Republican candidates seeking an appeal who have been […]
‘Quality guru’ Johnson remains off August primary ballot after unanimous court ruling
By: Jon King - June 1, 2022
One of the five Republican gubernatorial candidates who were tossed off the August primary ballot last week has lost a key court decision to rescind that decision. The Michigan Court of Appeals unanimously denied a request from businessman Perry Johnson to provide him a path back onto the ballot. Johnson had sought the decision after […]
‘Don’t say that we can’t do anything. Don’t say that now is not the time.’
By: Jon King - May 27, 2022
For the second straight day, Republicans who control the Michigan Senate blocked Democrats from speaking out on proposed gun reform legislation. The Senate session was ended Thursday by the GOP majority before statements, the time normally set aside for senators to speak for up to five minutes on any topic of their choice. Some Democratic […]
Michigan officials say over half of Benton Harbor lead lines have been replaced
By: Jon King - May 26, 2022
State officials announced this week that a major milestone had been reached in the city of Benton Harbor, as more than 50% of the lead lines had been replaced with new copper lines or verified as lead-free. On Tuesday, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Director Liesl Clark gathered in Benton Harbor […]
Michigan white supremacist leader sentenced on civil disorder charge
By: Jon King - May 25, 2022
The leader of a national white supremacist group was sentenced Tuesday in Michigan on civil disorder charges. Tuscola County Circuit Court Judge Amy Gierhart ordered Justen Watkins, 25, of Bad Axe to a term of 32 months to 4 years in prison for conspiring to train for a civil disorder and a mandatory consecutive 2 […]
Whitmer, White House tout Michigan electric vehicle efforts
By: Jon King - May 25, 2022
Efforts to advance Michigan’s automotive sector in a “pro-climate” direction was the focus of an online discussion Tuesday hosted by the Center for American Progress (CAP) featuring Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “The Future of Mobility, From the Midwest to Beyond,” was hosted by CAP President and CEO Patrick Gaspard and featured what was billed as “a […]
Benson claims Trump wanted her tried for treason and ‘potentially executed’
By: Jon King - May 23, 2022
Updated, 9:58 a.m., 10:53 a.m. 5/23/22 with additional comments from Benson’s office Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a national TV interview that former President Donald Trump wanted her to be tried for treason and “potentially executed” following his loss in the November 2020 election. Speaking with NBC News last week, Benson said […]
Report: GOP legislator who requested voting tabulator access ‘entangled’ in MSP investigation
By: Jon King - May 23, 2022
A Michigan legislator is under scrutiny as part of an investigation into whether third parties gained unauthorized access to election equipment and data after the 2020 election. State Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) tried to gain access to a tabulator, according to Reuters, which reported that a township clerk in Roscommon County said Rendon made […]
Michigan GOP House candidate says birth control should be banned, blasts sex outside marriage
By: Jon King - May 23, 2022
A former President Donald Trump-endorsed GOP candidate for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives says if elected, she will work to ban all forms of birth control. In an interview with the far-right website Church Militant, Jacky Eubanks said that if it ever came to a vote in the Michigan Legislature, “I would […]
Voting rights advocates organize in SE and West Michigan to get measure on the Nov. ballot
By: Jon King - May 16, 2022
Updated, 12:38 p.m., 5/16/22 Voting rights advocates are ramping up efforts on a ballot initiative that seeks to expand voting access in Michigan. On Saturday, Voter Not Politicians (VNP), the nonprofit group that successfully amended the Michigan Constitution in 2018 to create a nonpartisan citizen-led redistricting process, hosted a series of large-scale trainings and petition […]
Updated: Blue Lakes Fire in the northern Lower Peninsula is now 75% contained
By: Jon King - May 16, 2022
Updated, 4:12 p.m., 5/16/22 Firefighters continue to battle a wildfire in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula, which, as of Monday, is about 75% contained. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports its fire crews, along with local partners, continued to connect remaining containment line gaps in wet, low-lying areas in Montmorency and Cheboygan counties. The […]
GOP resolution seeks to abolish Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
By: Jon King - May 12, 2022
Just months after the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) completed new maps for each of Michigan’s new congressional, state Senate and state House districts, a resolution has been introduced to abolish the commission and return the state to a partisan process. The resolution was introduced Wednesday by state Rep. Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain) and […]