Civil Rights
Column: New policy makes Michigan a more welcoming — and healthy — place for immigrants
Almost 30 years ago, my mom was overjoyed that she was approved to work in the United States. Though it was difficult to move halfway across the world and be apart from her parents, her siblings and her friends, she was grateful for this new chapter. Her story echoes the experiences of many immigrants: she […]
Ramaswamy rouses Michigan GOP faithful on Mackinac, claims there is ‘a war in this country’
In years past, the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference would attract several GOP presidential candidates, but this time Michigan Republicans had to settle for just one: Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur from Ohio, who enthralled the MAGA-dominated crowd with a full-throated embrace of anti-science rhetoric and an outright rejection of compromise. “I think we’re in the […]
U.S. House passes Wounded Knee memorial bill
The U.S. House approved by voice vote Wednesday a bill that would help protect land at the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota, where an estimated 350 Lakota were killed by U.S. soldiers. The site is within the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River […]
Bills to eliminating majority of court fees for Michigan juveniles get Senate hearing
Youth criminal justice stakeholders told lawmakers this week that some families of juveniles in Michigan owe upwards of $100,000 in non-restitution related fees to the court. They added that the time and money dedicated to collection of those fees outweighs any benefit to the state and Black families often bear the highest debts. The Michigan […]
Here are the states that arrest and punish the most pregnant women
Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina lead the nation in arresting and criminally punishing women for allegedly posing a danger to their fetuses, according to a report released by advocacy group Pregnancy Justice. Nationwide, nearly 1,400 people were arrested or subject to disparate bail, sentencing and probation for conduct related to their pregnancies between 2005 […]
Michigan Dem reps. set to attend Congressional Black Caucus Conference in D.C.
Democratic state House members are poised to travel this week to the nation’s capital to attend the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) 52nd Annual Legislative Conference held Wednesday through Sunday. “I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity to convene in D.C.,” said state House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit). “Not only is it a chance to […]
Michigan’s Reproductive Health Act has a questionable future as Democrat objects
Half of the package to repeal remnants of Michigan’s abortion restriction laws known as the Reproductive Health Act, cleared the House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday, with opposition from several members. Nearly 57% of voters in Michigan voted for Proposal 3 in 2022 to ensure the constitutional right an abortion. State Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) […]
Tuberville opponents plant hundreds of signs outside U.S. Capitol in protest of blockade
WASHINGTON — More than 300 signs dotted the lawn outside the U.S. Senate Tuesday, each bearing the name of a military nominee blocked this year by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy. Multiple Democratic senators delivered comments Tuesday at the sign installation organized by the progressive VoteVets Political Action Committee, which […]
Advocates, lawmakers push for firearm restrictions for domestic abusers in statewide day of action
A coalition of community groups and Democratic lawmakers rallied support at events around the state Monday for a set of bills that would prohibit convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms in Michigan. House Bills 4945 and 4946, both sponsored by state Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw), would make it illegal for anyone convicted of felony or […]
States urged by Biden administration to rectify underfunding of land-grant HBCUs
States engaged in decades of underfunding of land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, leading to a more than $12 billion disparity with comparable white institutions, leaders of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday. “Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities […]
MSU to terminate head football coach Mel Tucker amid sexual harassment investigation
Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker is getting terminated amid controversy over a report he sexually harassed prominent sexual violence advocate Brenda Tracy. In a letter dated Monday provided by MSU, the university informed Tucker that although a Title IX investigation is still underway into accusations made by Tracy, it has enough grounds […]
Michigan joins other states in challenging Idaho’s near-total abortion ban
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has added her name to a document from 23 other attorneys general who are supporting the Biden’s administration’s legal challenge on Idaho’s laws that essentially ban all abortions. Nessel joined the attorneys general last week in an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Justice’s case against Idaho that the […]