Civil Rights
Mark Cuban trashes politics at Mackinac Conference, calls DeSantis’ feud with Disney ‘bulls–t’
Mark Cuban may own a basketball team, but he came to the Mackinac Policy Conference to hit some zingers with his address. During a conversation that lasted a little more than half an hour, Cuban took aim at former President Donald Trump and politicians writ large, including those in attendance at the policy conference where […]
What does Gen Z want? Equity in education funding, better transportation and more.
A Wednesday panel at the Mackinac Policy Conference highlighted the influence of young people in Michigan’s political, social and economic environments, while also calling attention to issues most pressing to Generation Z. Moderator Angelique Power, CEO of the Detroit-based grantmaking organization the Skillman Foundation, was joined on the panel by youth education activist Imani Harris, […]
Gilchrist stresses importance of inclusive policies, community-engaged policymaking strategies
Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist on Wednesday morning outlined the role communities play in creating inclusive policies and initiatives during a panel at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference. Kat Stafford, a national investigative correspondent for The Associated Press who’s a Detroit native, moderated the event in which Gilchrist, alongside business and policy experts, shared perspectives on […]
Billboard outside Florida airport warns travelers of DeSantis’ anti-abortion policy, urges them to go to Michigan
Following travel advisories warning visitors that Florida might not be a welcoming place for Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ people, now comes a warning that anyone capable of getting pregnant might also be better off in another state. Michigan, to be precise, according to a billboard just erected outside Orlando International Airport. It features Dr. Tim Johnson, an OB-GYN […]
Tlaib introduces bill expanding public land access for environmental justice communities
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), alongside Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives aimed at breaking down barriers to accessing the outdoors – particularly public lands and waters – faced by many environmental justice communities. The Environmental Justice in Recreation Permitting Act (EJRPA) would require an interagency study between […]
Rep. Scott offers ‘Negro Leagues Day’ bill honoring history of African Americans in baseball
State Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) has introduced a bill designating May 2 of each year as “Negro Leagues Day.” “I am honored to be introducing this legislation to declare May 2 of each year ‘Negro Leagues Day’ in Michigan,’” Scott told the Advance on Wednesday. “I want to recognize all of the outstanding Black athletes […]
Indigenous leaders urge Biden to shut down Line 5 pipeline due to ‘imminent’ threat
Leaders from the Indigenous Women’s Treaty Alliance submitted a letter Thursday to the Biden administration with an emergency request to decommission the Line 5 pipeline due to imminent threats of oil spills impacting the Bad River Watershed and the Great Lakes. The controversial 70-year-old pipeline, operated by Canadian oil company Enbridge, flows crude oil from […]
Senate committee OKs bill to create online tracking system for absentee voting
The Michigan Senate Elections Committee this week approved bills that would seek to streamline the absentee voting process by creating an online tracking system for applications and the ballots themselves. SB 339, sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D- Royal Oak), would allow voters to track their absentee ballot at every step of the process, from […]
Planned Parenthood of Michigan opens new virtual health center
Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) announced Thursday that its new virtual health center is open for use. Previously, patients had to book telehealth services through a brick and mortar health center, but this new service creates a centralized online location for those all over the state to seek care. Across Michigan, there are a number […]
Working with local clerks, Dem lawmakers seek to prohibit firearms in polling places
In the wake of heightened scrutiny surrounding elections and the harassment of poll workers, a group of Michigan Democrats is working with municipal and county clerks from around the state to pass legislation prohibiting firearms from polling places. State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) is the sponsor of HB 4127, which alongside HB 4128 would […]
‘It’s basically ransom for our freedom’
During a hearty dinner with festive music, Michigan Liberation held its “Michigan Black Mama’s Bail Out Celebration” this week in Detroit’s Old Redford community. The occasion was designed to fete mothers it has bailed out of metro Detroit area jails over the last four years. “I have witnessed a demonstrative carceral system failing the people […]
New bipartisan immigration legislation proposed in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of six U.S. House lawmakers on Tuesday described details of proposed legislation that would create a legal pathway for citizenship for undocumented people through work requirements, and would also fund border security measures. The two Latinas who spearheaded the bill, Reps. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat, and María Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida, […]