Politics + Gov
Whitmer to attend NAACP dinner headlined by Harris
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is slated to be at the NAACP’s annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit on Sunday, her spokeswoman has confirmed to the Advance. Presidential hopeful and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is the keynote speaker. She also has two events scheduled in metro Detroit on Monday. Three other Democratic presidential candidates […]
DeVos whacks Big 3 in Manhattan Institute speech
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke at a dinner held in her honor by the free-market urbanist think tank the Manhattan Institute on Wednesday. She included pointed words about Detroit’s major automakers in her traditional pitch for the expansion of America’s charter school system. The West Michigan billionaire compared Detroit’s big three automakers — Ford, […]
Booker’s upbeat message resonates with Black officials in Detroit
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) brought his message to Detroit of how “love is the best strategy” to defeating President Donald Trump. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) Economic Development Conference on Thursday morning, the presidential hopeful recalled meeting with an Iowa voter who said he wanted […]
Bill forgiving snow days lands on Whitmer’s desk
Many Michigan schools moved closer on Thursday to getting relief from the state over snow days called due to the state’s days of wicked winter weather earlier this year. The state Senate advanced House Bill 4206 sponsored by state Rep. Ben Frederick (R-Owosso) with immediate effect. The legislation forgives four snow days for school districts […]
Duggan asks for volunteers to combat Detroit flooding
As Detroit is facing even more rain this week amidst flooding, Mayor Mike Duggan has put out the call for people to help their neighbors. Duggan asked for volunteers to sign up to help fill and place thousands of bags of sand along key sections of the seawall to effectively raise their height. The city […]
Plan to release ‘medically frail’ prisoners on its way to Whitmer
Legislation that could make it easier for elderly or “medically frail” prisoners to be released from prison early will soon be on its way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk. The Senate overwhelmingly approved on Thursday a four-bill package that could free 20 to 30 prisoners who may fit the criteria for medical release outlined in […]
U.S. House passes climate bill in a rebuke to Trump
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday approved legislation that would force the administration to remain in the Paris climate accord, despite President Trump’s plans to exit the pact. The bill from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) was passed largely along party lines by a vote of 231-190. The Michigan delegation was split on partisan […]
Michigan snags 4 presidential candidates in 4 days
Four Democrats hoping to be the one who beats President Donald Trump next year will be swinging through Michigan over the course of four days starting Friday. As the Advance previously reported, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) will headline the NAACP’s annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit on Sunday. That will be her […]
Michigan Republicans are ready to ‘turn the page’ on Mueller report. Democrats are not.
WASHINGTON — Michigan Republicans are eager to put Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report behind them, but Democrats say the investigations are just getting started. The redacted report on Russian election interference in 2016, released in late April, has been the epicenter of a heated political debate on Capitol Hill this week as lawmakers have returned […]
Whitmer orders examination of Michigan auto insurance rates
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants the state’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to look into Michigan’s sky-high auto insurance rates. In a news release on Wednesday, the Democratic governor directed the agency to examine how insurance providers in Michigan use non-driving factors like ZIP codes, credit scores and educational attainment as a way of […]
Detroit rally for undocumented immigrant rights draws 500
Five hundred people marched on Wednesday along West Vernor Highway in Southwest Detroit to demand driver’s licenses for all — including undocumented immigrants. Protests also were held in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Movimiento Cosecha, which sponsored the event, is a national movement fighting “for permanent protection, dignity and respect for all 11 million undocumented immigrants […]
TSA has too few pipeline security officials, Upton and Dingell say
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) say there are not enough federal officials within the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) assigned to help protect the nation’s 2.7 million miles of pipelines carrying oil, gas and other hazardous liquids. Upton, ranking member of the Energy Subcommittee on the U.S. House Committee on […]