Civil Rights
Rep. Manoogian alleges Rep. Marino committed domestic violence
State Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) released a statement Wednesday afternoon alleging that state Rep. Steve Marino (R-Harrison Twp.), who was stripped of his committee assignments Tuesday without explanation, committed domestic violence. “The unfortunate reality is that many people in our society have experienced domestic abuse, which often comes from someone we would never expect,” Manoogian […]
What will happen to telemedicine abortion in Michigan if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
Following a U.S. Supreme Court opinion earlier this month allowing a Texas abortion ban to go into effect, many people across the country are considering what their future options may be for safe, legal abortions. It’s the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. to go into effect, banning abortions as early as six weeks […]
Revised voting rights bill rolled out in U.S. Senate, with Manchin on board
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a revamped voting rights bill that would expand voter registration as well as create nonpartisan redistricting committees, but the measure is still likely to face an uphill battle in an evenly divided Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the legislation to the floor of […]
Immigrant driver license hearing gets canceled at last minute
Updated, 4:31 p.m. 9/14/21 with a list of groups that planned to testify Michigan House Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Clare) asked to nix a long-awaited hearing Tuesday on legislation expanding access to driver licenses and state IDs for a wide range of Michiganders, including both documented and undocumented immigrants. The Michigan House Rules and Competitiveness Committee, […]
Black business group bikes from Detroit to Mackinaw City, seeking investment
Members of a Detroit-based organization on Sunday launched a 377-mile bike ride from the Motor City to Mackinaw City, making the case that African-American entrepreneurs, businesses and nonprofits are not getting their fair share of opportunities. “The pandemic has shined the light on an issue that has been here,” said Black Leaders Detroit CEO Dwan […]
Michigan school board members struggle with anger, threats over COVID-19 rules, culture war issues
School board members in Michigan — volunteers who are typically parents or former educators — are facing unprecedented pressure and scrutiny as a third school year dawns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike last year, Michigan does not have a statewide mask mandate, leaving the decision in the hands of county health departments and local school […]
Nessel joins 20 AGs in lawsuit against South Carolina abortion ban
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 20 other colleagues from around the country to support Planned Parenthood in its fight against a restrictive abortion law in South Carolina. In the amicus brief filed Wednesday in the Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Wilson case, which is levied against South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the […]
Bills axing ‘tampon tax’ sail through House committee
Two bills aimed at ending taxes on menstrual products on Thursday passed through the House Tax Policy Committee. House Bill 5267, introduced by Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Cannon Twp.), and House Bill 4270, introduced by state Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods), would exempt menstrual products from the state’s sales tax and use tax, respectively. Rep. Steve […]
On this day in 1925: Man killed during mob attack on Black physician’s Detroit home
On Sept. 9, 1925, a white mob attacked the Detroit home of Dr. Ossian Sweet, an African-American physician. The Sweet residence was located in a predominantly white neighborhood on the city’s lower eastside. Sweet bought the home located at 2905 Garland Street in June of that year for $18,500, about $6,000 more than its fair […]
House reconciliation package would provide path to citizenship
A provision tucked in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package would direct Congress to chart a path for citizenship for millions of undocumented people. If passed, the House provision would provide a pathway to citizenship for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, often referred to as Dreamers; farmworker workers; those who hold a Temporary […]
Whitmer calls on GOP Legislature to repeal Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged the Michigan Legislature on Tuesday to repeal a 1931 state law criminalizing abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court last week issued an unsigned order allowing a Texas abortion ban law to go into effect. Experts say the recent SCOTUS opinion signals the fall of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case […]
Oxfam: Michigan falls to 29th best state for workers in 2021
The Boston-based nonprofit Oxfam has ranked Michigan as the 29th best state for workers overall in its most recent annual report on working policies and conditions. Michigan’s 2021 ranking is a far cry from what it was in 2020 — then 13th in the country overall, nearly cracking the top 10 best states to work […]