Politics + Gov
Nessel seeks special prosecutor for DePerno, 8 others in 2020 election conspiracy investigation
The presumptive Republican nominee for Michigan Attorney General may become the subject of a special prosecutor as part of an ongoing investigation into whether third parties gained unauthorized access to, and then tampered with, election equipment and data after the 2020 election. The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, has petitioned the […]
Whitmer conducting search for Strayhorn’s replacement on state Board of Education
Citing “new academic and athletic opportunities” that will require relocation outside of Michigan, former Michigan State University football player Jason Strayhorn has resigned from the state Board of Education. Strayhorn, who was elected as a Democrat in 2020 to the eight-member board, said in a July 29 letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that while serving […]
U.S. Senate passes major health, tax and climate bill in boost for Democrats
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate, along party lines, passed a sweeping energy, health care, climate and tax package Sunday afternoon, following an overnight marathon of votes that resulted in just a handful of notable changes to the legislation. The 755-page bill was passed after Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie in the evenly divided Senate. […]
‘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 […]
U.S. Senate Democrats’ climate, health and tax bill clears first hurdle to passage
The U.S. Senate voted along party lines Saturday night to advance to debate on Democrats’ sweeping energy, health and taxes bill, clearing a major hurdle to passage. The 51-50 vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie, cleared the chamber to debate and vote on amendments to the measure and indicated that it had enough support from […]
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 […]
Senate Democrats reach deal with Sinema on big climate, health and tax deal
U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the enigmatic Democrat from Arizona, is once again at the center of attention in Congress, where she’s the linchpin in Democrats’ plans to pass a party-line climate, health and taxes bill. Democrats need every member of their Senate caucus to support the sweeping 725-page bill for it to pass in the […]
Federal officials declare a public health emergency for monkeypox
WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced Thursday a public health emergency for the monkeypox virus, which means the federal government can more quickly assist states with distributing vaccines and conducting testing and public health campaigns. “We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, […]