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.

lgbt

Civil rights commissioner introduces resolution backing ban on conversion therapy for minors

By: - April 26, 2023

Updated, 4:28 p.m., 4/25/23 Efforts to ban the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ minors picked up support this week at a Michigan Civil Rights Commission meeting. Commissioner Luke Londo, an independent who also serves as Hazel Park’s mayor pro tem, introduced a resolution Monday imploring the Legislature to ban conversion therapy for minors, and […]

Health care advocates say ACA ruling has ‘disastrous’ impact on Michiganders 

By: - April 25, 2023

A panel of Michigan health care advocates said a recent federal court decision striking down part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the latest in a “continuous assault” on health care by Republicans since the law was signed 13 years ago.  Organized by Protect Our Care Michigan, the webinar included state Rep. Julie Rogers […]

Officials stress abortion remains legal in Michigan after latest SCOTUS abortion pill ruling

By: - April 24, 2023

Michigan leaders are weighing in following the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that continues nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The court issued a stay early Friday evening in the court case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, filed by anti-abortion organizations that reversed lower court rulings about when and how the abortion […]

Tensions rise as bargaining stalls on new contract for U of M graduate instructors 

By: - April 24, 2023

Updated, 10:42 a.m., 4/24/23 Negotiations have hit an impasse between the University of Michigan and the union representing graduate student instructors, as tensions escalated last week into a confrontation requiring police intervention. The strike by the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) AFT Local 3550 began March 29, with economic issues the main point of contention. The […]

Moss: When it comes to the Holocaust, ‘Never again’ isn’t so obvious anymore 

By: - April 20, 2023

The Michigan Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution recognizing April 18 as Holocaust Remembrance Day, but not before its sponsor said words were not enough in the face of a documented increase in antisemitism. The resolution, SR 34, was sponsored by state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), who is Jewish. He began by noting the refrain […]

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein takes leave for mental health treatment

By: - April 19, 2023

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein announced in a statement released Tuesday that he would miss an upcoming session of the court in order to seek mental health care out of state. “I have chosen to participate in short-term mental health treatment outside the state of Michigan while working remotely on active cases,” read the […]

Eight Michigan lawmakers sign SCOTUS brief opposing Texas abortion pill ruling

By: - April 18, 2023

Eight Democratic members of Michigan’s congressional delegation have signed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to try and reverse a controversial ruling concerning the use of mifepristone. Access to the drug, considered the most common form of abortion care and a key component in miscarriage management, was called into question by a Texas […]

Judge recommends U of M grad student strike be halted, union says it will appeal

By: - April 18, 2023

A state administrative law judge ruled Monday that the University of Michigan Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) AFT Local 3550 violated the no-strike clause in its current contract when they walked off the job on March 29.  The union is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and represents almost 2,300 Graduate Student Instructors […]

A statue on MSU's campus adorned with a teal ribbon

Nessel calls for new MSU board to turn over Nassar documents

By: - April 17, 2023

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has renewed her request that Michigan State University provide all remaining documents pertaining to the department’s investigation of disgraced former Dr. Larry Nassar. The request from the Democratic AG came in a letter sent Friday to the MSU Board of Trustees, which is composed of six Democrats, one Republican and […]

Muskegon Co. man charged after making gun threats against state officials during court proceedings 

By: - April 14, 2023

A West Michigan man has been charged with threatening to use a gun against state government officials. Daniel Callahan, 59, of Fruitport, in Muskegon County, was arraigned April 6 in 61st District Court on charges of false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime.  The counts, which were filed […]

Michigan Dems reintroduce legislation allowing driver licenses regardless of immigration status

By: - April 13, 2023

After failing to get a hearing last session when Republicans controlled the Legislature, bills were reintroduced Wednesday by majority Democrats allowing Michigan residents to obtain state identification cards or driver licenses regardless of their immigration status. At a press conference to announce the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom and the Economy) bill package, House Majority […]

New Michigan COVID cases drop for fourth straight week, while weekly deaths rise

By: - April 12, 2023

Michigan is reporting 4,646 new COVID-19 cases, according to a weekly report the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released Tuesday. That’s a decrease from the last report issued April 4, when the state said there were 5,263 new cases for the week. A total of 3,094,023 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 since […]