Politics + Gov
National parks nominee pledges to ramp up workforce, improve staff morale
President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the National Park Service told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday he would work to rebuild the agency’s workforce, which has shrunk even as park attendance hits new records. Charles F. Sams III, of Oregon, would be the first enrolled tribal member to lead the National Park Service. He is […]
Enviro, social justice activists rally in metro Detroit for Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ plan
Environmental advocates and community justice groups held rallies in Detroit and Warren on Monday to urge passage of the Biden administration’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act, a measure that addresses climate change, immigration reform, education funding, rising health care costs and other measures. “Government is about people,” said U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) during […]
Berrien Co. health officials resign, citing ‘politicization of public health’ during pandemic
Two Berrien County Health Department officials announced Monday they are resigning, saying the politicization of the pandemic has made it impossible for them to do their jobs. Acting Health Officer Courtney Davis and Communications Manager Gillian Conrad will leave the health department in Southwest Michigan on Nov. 3 and Oct. 29, respectively. “I make this […]
Michigan’s new top doctor had to consider violence against health officials before taking job
When Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian was considering accepting an interim position as Michigan’s chief medical executive, the stream of public health officials who have faced a barrage of vitriolic criticism and threats over COVID-19 health mandates weighed heavily on her mind. “Before taking this role, that was one of my considerations,” Bagdasarian said in a Friday […]
CVS names Khaldun VP and chief health equity officer
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, who stepped down last month from her role as chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has a new role. CVS Health on Monday announced that Khaldun is the company’s new vice president and chief health equity officer. “As a health […]
Redistricting commission defends splitting up Black-majority districts in proposed maps
As the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) gears up for the second round of public comments on the approved 10 proposed maps, they say that their maps remain compliant with the Voting Rights Act (VRA) even without minority-majority districts. However, some voting rights activists have vocalized concern that their maps do not include enough […]
Feds launch long-awaited plan to combat PFAS
The President Joe Biden Administration announced Monday newly accelerated efforts to prevent and mediate pollution from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of “forever chemicals” known to cause harm to human health. PFAS can be found in drinking water, soil and air across the country, and are a growing concern. As part of the […]
There are a lot of plans to improve childcare in Michigan. Here’s what they do.
Carrie Anderson, owner and director of Morning Star Child Care in Dexter, has worked in the childcare industry for over 25 years. While she loves her job, she has grappled with some of the perils that come along with the industry: low wages, insufficient amounts of staffing and making it affordable for parents. Now there […]
Column: Here’s what we can do to combat disinformation
As the state representative of Michigan’s 41st House District, the health of my constituents is my No. 1 priority — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of too many Michigan residents. At the same time, we are also living through what some researchers have called an “infodemic,” a surge of disinformation […]
How a Mississippi court case could pave the way for new abortion bans across the U.S.
WASHINGTON — A six-week abortion ban in Texas enacted in September forced those seeking abortion services in the Lone Star State to look across state lines for care. But the timing couldn’t have been worse for Texans living near the state’s eastern border. The law took effect as neighboring Louisiana was reeling from the destruction […]
Former U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek dies at age 69
Former U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls) has died at age 69. Benishek represented the 1st Congressional District spanning the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan from 2011 until he retired in 2017. He was a surgeon who had five children with his wife, Judy. They had five grandchildren. “We are heartbroken by the sudden loss […]
Whitmer vetoes another two bills from GOP voting restrictions package
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed Friday two voting bills from the Senate Republicans 39-bill election package that she said would “divert key resources away from ensuring that every qualified Michigan resident can cast a secure ballot in our elections.” Senate Bill 277, introduced by Sen. Michael MacDonald (R-Macomb Twp.), aimed to allow county clerks to remove […]