Local Government
Michigan cities rank above national average on annual LGBTQ+ scorecard
More than one-third of the Michigan cities ranked in a national survey of LGBTQ+ rights, including Detroit, received perfect scores. The 12th annual Municipal Equality Index, released Nov. 14 by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, in partnership with the Equality Federation, ranked 506 cities across the nation based on criteria in five areas; non-discrimination […]
On this day in 1979: Anna Diggs Taylor is sworn in as a federal judge, making history
On Nov. 15, 1979, Detroit attorney Anna Diggs Taylor was sworn in as a federal court judge for Michigan’s Eastern District. The 46-year-old was the first African-American woman to serve in the post. She was appointed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter. Attending the ceremony included United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young; Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young; […]
Three localities voted to adopt ranked choice voting. But additional roadblocks remain.
Three cities in Michigan voted on Tuesday to move to a ranked choice voting system for local elections. But whether the proposals passed by voters will take effect remains uncertain. Voters in East Lansing, Kalamazoo and Royal Oak approved initiatives placed on the ballot by Rank MI Vote, a nonprofit organization modeled after Voters Not […]
Casino and Blue Cross labor strikes stretch on in Detroit
Detroit casino workers are continuing their strike against three operators, hopeful that they’ll be able to secure a big win like the UAW has in tentative deals with domestic automakers. It’s day 26 for the strike. On Oct. 17, unionized casino workers at MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown launched a […]
Michigan House leadership prepares for a 54-54 partisan tie with two Dems departing soon
For 10 months, Michigan Democrats have held the first bicameral majority in the state Legislature in almost 40 years. But now that’s ending. Two Democratic House members won their mayoral elections in Southeast Michigan on Tuesday, knocking Dems 56-54 majority down to 54-54 once they get sworn into their new offices, likely next week. Democrats […]
Legislature OKs final bills giving state regulators authority over renewable energy permits
In a party-line vote on Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate advanced a package of energy siting bills that proponents say would streamline permitting for large-scale renewable energy developments. The House approved the final versions of the bills later on Wednesday. The legislation now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who had declared […]
Four metro Detroit communities resoundingly vote against cannabis dispensaries
Voters overwhelmingly rejected proposals Tuesday to allow recreational marijuana sales in four metro Detroit cities. The proposals were defeated in Birmingham, Grosse Pointe Park, Rochester and Keego Harbor. Recreational marijuana use will be legal in 21 states after ballot measures pass In Birmingham, 73.6% of the voters rejected a proposal to provide a license to […]
Democrats win mayoral races in Westland and Warren — and temporarily lose Michigan House majority
Two Democrats may have won their respective mayoral races Tuesday, but the result will be a loss — albeit likely temporarily — for Democrats in the Michigan House. Two of the Tuesday contests in Southeast Michigan featured state lawmakers, Reps. Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) and Lori Stone (D-Warren), who triumphed in mayoral races in their respective […]
Federal lawsuit argues Hamtramck’s LGBTQ+ Pride flag ban is unconstitutional
A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges the city of Hamtramck’s Pride flag ban violates free speech rights and numerous other state and federal laws. The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Detroit was filed on behalf of former Hamtramck Human Relations Commission members Russ Gordon and Cathy Stackpoole. The Hamtramck residents were fired from the commission […]
Legislature passes spending bills funding roads, bridges and school district debt relief
A $615.6 million supplemental spending bill passed through the Michigan legislature Thursday, mostly along party lines. It is now on the desk of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to sign it. House Bill 4292, sponsored by state Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield Twp.), appropriates $339.8 million for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget that ended […]
Michigan House approves changes to clean energy siting, renewable standards and more
In a marathon session that stretched from Thursday morning into the early hours on Friday, the Democratic-controlled Michigan House pushed forward on their clean energy priorities, voting on a slate of Senate bills addressing clean energy, energy waste and affordability, alongside a package of House bills giving state regulators authority over permitting clean energy projects. […]
Businesses, activists and local leaders show support for Senate water affordability bills
A wide swath of community advocates, utility operators and environmental groups showed up in support of a six-bill water affordability package, testifying on Tuesday before the Michigan Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services. With the cost of water adjusted for inflation nearly doubling since 1980, lawmakers have introduced Senate Bills 549–554 in a bid […]