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Senate panel to take up long-stalled bipartisan FOIA reform bills
Government transparency bills from an unlikely pair of lawmakers have managed to score a Senate hearing, after many years of the chamber resisting their calls to consider the legislation. State Sens. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) drafted the first iteration of the large bill package together when they served in the state House […]
Capitol gun ban tabled again, Dem rep. says she has to ‘work in fear’
A six-member commission tasked with implementing — or not — the state Capitol’s firearms ban adjourned Monday without a plan of action for a new policy, but with a plan to meet with GOP legislative leadership before moving forward. Monday’s meeting was the first time the Michigan State Capitol Commission (MSCC) had met in two […]
Michigan reports 924 new COVID-19 cases Thursday
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Thursday that 109,519 total Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,569 have died from the virus — an additional 924 cases and 17 deaths since Wednesday. The state notes that nine of Thursday’s additional deaths come from its most recent review of vital records […]
State rolls out free tuition program for essential workers
Gov. Whitmer on Thursday announced a major $24 million investment to give better educational opportunities to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was joined by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Director Jeff Donofrio, Michigan Manufacturers Association, SEIU Healthcare Michigan President Andrea Acevedo, Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Rachel Hurst […]
Whitmer: Trump is ‘the biggest threat to the American people’ on COVID-19
Updated, 12:57 p.m. 9/10/20 Six months to the day since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Michigan — and more than 108,595 cases and 6,552 deaths later — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised Michiganders’ efforts to contain the outbreak better than most other states. She also laid into the President Donald Trump administration for knowingly […]
Both legs of Line 5 now back in operation after OK from court, regulators
After being out of commission for nearly three months, the east segment of Enbridge’s Line 5 dual oil pipeline reopened Wednesday following approval from both federal regulators and a circuit court judge. The eastern leg of the underwater pipeline, which runs for about four miles under the choppy Straits of Mackinac, had first been shut […]
Whitmer slams Trump admin’s refusal to expand health coverage during COVID-19
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday released a scathing rebuff of President Donald Trump’s inaction on health care protections during the COVID-19 pandemic, after an administration official denied the request of 12 governors to establish a special Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment period for uninsured individuals. “The Trump administration’s cruel and inexplicable refusal to expand health […]
New: Coast Guard concludes Line 5 damage caused by Enbridge vessels, denies anchor ban request
Updated, 4:34 p.m., 9/8/20 with comment from Enbridge The U.S. Coast Guard has denied a request from anti-Line 5 groups to ban anchoring in the Straits of Mackinac to prevent future damage to the Line 5 dual oil pipeline, according to a Tuesday letter from the Sault Ste. Marie captain of the port. But Capt. […]
From tackling payroll fraud to suing Trump: Nessel recognized as leading AG on workers’ rights
Attorney General Dana Nessel is one of the leading state AGs in protecting workers’ rights, according to a new report published by the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute (EPI) prior to Labor Day. The economic justice think tank details the more prominent role state attorneys general have taken in labor rights issues since mid-2018 and […]
New: Line 5 east leg not damaged, internal tests show
The eastern segment of the dual Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac did not sustain damage during an incident that left an anchor support significantly bent, according to a court-ordered internal test. Canadian oil company Enbridge had been allowed to restart the east leg to complete an in-line inspection (ILI) on the […]
New: MSP rolls out website with use-of-force, traffic stop data
The Michigan State Police (MSP) Friday morning is rolling out new department accountability initiatives, including the creation of a citizen advisory council and a new website devoted to transparency in policing. In an exclusive interview, MSP Director Col. Joseph Gasper told the Advance that the advisory body will help bridge the gap between law enforcement […]
Michigan reports 685 new COVID-19 cases Thursday
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Thursday that 104,395 total Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,519 have died from the virus — an additional 685 cases and 10 deaths since Wednesday. The state notes that nine of Thursday’s additional deaths come from its most recent review of vital records […]