Author

Julia Forrest

Julia Forrest

Julia Forrest is a contributor to the Michigan Advance. She has been covering Michigan and national politics for two years at the Michigan Daily and OpenSecrets. She studies public policy at the University of Michigan.

Google to pay Michigan $12M over location tracking services, experts say it’s a win for consumers 

By: - November 28, 2022

Google this month agreed to pay out $391.5 million across 40 states, including $12 for Michigan, after attorneys general sued the technology company for being deceptive about their location tracking practices in what experts said is an important win for consumers.  The settlement was a result of attorneys general suing Google for violating consumer protections. […]

Michigan redistricting advocates tout new process after first election under new maps

By: - November 23, 2022

The 2022 midterm elections featured a number of competitive congressional and legislative races across the state, from Traverse City to Midland and from Grand Rapids to Downriver. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who won reelection by 11 points, will enter her second term with a 56-54 Democratic majority in the House and a 20-18 Democratic upper […]

Democrats wrest control of Michigan Legislature for first time in almost 40 years 

By: - November 9, 2022

Updated, 9:31 a.m., 11/10/22  Democrats will now have a political trifecta in Lansing after retaining the top office with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and winning in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature on Tuesday. This is the first time Democrats will have total party control in the Michigan Legislature in roughly 40 years.  The Democrats last […]

Michigan artists join #iVoted online music festival to get out the vote 

By: - November 8, 2022

The Accidentals, a band from Traverse City, released the song, “Michigan and Again” as an ode to their home state. And now they’ll be repping Michigan again as part of an online music festival Tuesday night helping turn people out to vote. The #iVoted Festival is a free digital music concert featuring 17 stages — […]

Nessel files brief against Karamo’s Detroit voting suit, says it’s about ‘spreading misinformation’

By: - November 7, 2022

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel filed an amicus brief on Friday in support of the city of Detroit in the case filed against Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, in which GOP Secretary of State nominee Kristina Karamo attempted to disqualify absentee voters in the city. The lawsuit was filed by Karamo in an attempt to […]

These races could decide which party controls the Michigan House and Senate next year

By: - November 3, 2022

Michiganders are heading to the polls to make their voices heard on who will be governor, who will represent them in Congress and whether ballot proposals should pass on Nov. 8. But races taking place for dozens of state Senate and House seats could prove just as consequential.  Party control is up for grabs in […]

Here are four Michigan races that could determine control of the U.S. House

By: - October 28, 2022

As the clock ticks down to Election Day, four congressional races in Michigan could be at the crux of determining who controls the U.S. House. The fierce and often high-spending battles are taking place in Michigan’s newly drawn 3rd, 7th, 8th and 10th congressional districts.  While Democrats currently have a slim majority, Republicans have been […]

Who are the candidates for the four statewide education boards? 

By: - October 13, 2022

Updated, 3:26 p.m., with MSU President Stanley announcing his resignation As the Nov. 8 election approaches and buzz swirls around the top-of-the ticket races, statewide education races at the bottom of the ballot could also prove consequential.  Those races include the state Board of Education, University of Michigan Board of Regents, Michigan State University Board […]

Mich. voters will decide 3 constitutional amendments. Here’s what’s on your Nov. 8 ballot.

By: - October 5, 2022

The Michigan Board of Canvassers last week approved ballot language for three statewide proposals before voters.  Here’s what the constitutional amendments will do and the language that will appear on your ballot for the Nov. 8 general election: This constitutional amendment, Voters for Transparency and Term Limits, would change the existing term limit laws for […]

Nessel signs onto brief backing Texas patients’ right to travel outside the state for abortions

By: - September 30, 2022

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel signed on to an amicus brief alongside 21 other state attorneys general to ensure that patients can travel outside Texas to seek an abortion.  The amicus brief was sent in Fund Texas Choice v. Paxton, the case where reproductive rights advocates are aiming to prevent the enforcement of Texas anti-abortion […]

Schools and childcare centers would get lead-free water filters under bills passed in the Senate

By: - September 26, 2022

Two bills that streamline improving water quality in schools and childcare centers passed the Michigan Senate last week. The bills would install lead-free water filters and develop other water safety plans to be implemented in schools and childcare centers.  Senate Bills 184 and 185 were introduced by Sens. Curtis VanderWall (R-Ludington) and Jim Ananich (D-Flint). […]

Bipartisan bills would help screen kids for dyslexia, provide teacher training

By: - April 18, 2022

Most kids have received a “Happy Birthday” card with a handwritten note from a loved one.  But for about 20% of children who have dyslexia, like Anri Haglund, now 14 and a seventh-grader, reading birthday messages often comes with anxiety and stress as they try to decipher them or read them aloud at parties. “There […]