Civil Rights
Nessel joins coalition of AGs opposing Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general from across the country in filing an amicus brief opposing Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education Act,” otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Nessel, a Democrat who is Michigan’s first openly gay top statewide official, says that the law, which prevents […]
Rick Haglund: Republicans claim we’re in a recession, but most economists say otherwise
Now that the candidates for November’s general election are set, you’re going to be hearing the dreaded R-word, as in recession, even more than in the past few months. Are we heading for one? Are we already in one? And what the heck is a recession, anyway? Republican candidates trying to unseat Democratic incumbents will […]
‘It provided hope’: Michigan advocates look ahead after abortion rights vote in Kansas
After the U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down Roe v. Wade, Mary Wehrman called the reproductive rights group Kansans for Constitutional Freedom. She was enraged. A resident of Pittsburg, Kan., a small city near the Missouri border, Wehrman wanted to volunteer with the organization fighting a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would […]
A West Michigan library faces closure after voters defund it over LGBTQ+ books
A small West Michigan library was essentially defunded in this week’s primary election in a dispute over the LGBTQ+ material in its collection, although advocates say it represents more than just a dispute over books, but an assault on personal liberties. What is normally a routine millage renewal for the Patmos Library in Ottawa County’s […]
Advocates worry federal law protecting Native adoptees could be overturned by Supreme Court
As far as Susan Devan Harness knew, she was an only child whose birth parents died in a car crash long ago. Only in her early 20s did Harness — a Native American adopted by a white couple — realize that not only was her birth mother alive and located just 30 miles away, but […]
Haaland, Newland to hear Native boarding school survivors’ stories in Pellston
Pellston is the next stop on U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s year-long “road to healing” tour, in which the country’s first Native American cabinet member will hear from survivors and descendants of so-called Indian residential schools. The nationwide implementation of boarding schools — five of which were located in Michigan — was once part of […]
Report: GOP lawmakers have spent $71K in taxpayer funds defending 1931 abortion ban
As the fight over implementation of Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban continues in the courts, a liberal advocacy group says Republican lawmakers have spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on legal resources to defend it. Progress Michigan says it submitted financial disclosure requests to the Michigan House and Senate Business offices to determine what public […]
‘She shouldn’t be telling doctors and physicians how to practice medicine’
Updated, 7:49 a.m., 8/5/22 Following the results of Tuesday’s GOP gubernatorial primary election, physicians around the state said they’re concerned about what a Tudor Dixon administration could mean for pregnant people. Dixon, whose run was bolstered by an endorsement by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination with 40.6% of the vote. She was […]
Whitmer stresses ‘stark differences’ with Dixon on abortion rights, 2020 election
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday addressed her GOP opponent, Tudor Dixon, and right-wing attacks on abortion rights during a campaign rally held at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Dixon, a right-wing commentator, on Tuesday won the state Republican gubernatorial nomination. Michigan has only had two female governors: Whitmer and fellow Democrat […]
Whitmer again asks Michigan Supreme Court to protect legal abortion
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday evening once more urged the Michigan Supreme Court to review a lawsuit she filed in April, asking the Court to determine if the state Constitution protects abortion. There have been several court actions this week. On Monday morning, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a temporary injunction barring […]
How election deniers are campaigning to control voting in four critical states
Mark Finchem, an Arizona state representative who has said he would not have certified the 2020 election, won the Republican primary for secretary of state on Tuesday, making him the latest election denier to move closer to controlling his state’s election system. Across the country, Republicans who say the 2020 election was rigged are vying […]
Election officials at U.S. Senate hearing describe threats, spread of misinformation
WASHINGTON — Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday explored how to combat violent threats lodged against election officials, while Republicans questioned why the Department of Justice isn’t doing more to investigate threats against crisis pregnancy centers and Supreme Court justices. During a hearing on protecting election officials, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite […]