Michigan
Embattled Michigan civil rights chief takes indefinite leave
Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) Director Agustin Arbulu has taken an indefinite leave of hiatus after a scandal in which it was revealed that he made sexist comments to a coworker. Arbulu will be replaced by his deputy, Mary Engelman, who will now serve as acting director of the MDCR. A spokesperson for the […]
Biz leaders make push for new road revenue as Whitmer, GOP leaders keep talking
The state’s leading business advocacy groups want Michigan lawmakers to know that they’ll stand with them if they vote to raise taxes for road-funding revenue. Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, officials from other groups like Business Leaders for Michigan and various regional chambers held a press conference on Tuesday […]
U.S. Steel lays off roughly 50 in Ecorse, plans more cuts
The manufacturer U.S. Steel has laid off almost 50 employees at its Great Lakes Works Facility in Ecorse, according to a letter they sent earlier this month to the state’s Workforce Development Agency. In the letter, the company’s director of employee relations, Mark Tade, notes has temporarily idled one of its furnaces “due to current […]
Mid-Michigan Dems fight to save Affordable Care Act
Laura Packard says she’s fighting to protect her own health and the well-being of millions of Americans. “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) saved my life, which is how I know that Republicans’ continued attacks on health care represent a literal life-or-death scenario for millions of Americans,” said Packard, a former Michigander, small business owner and […]
SOS seeks college students for voting panel
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson this week said she’s forming a Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force and is seeking 20 to 25 members. The panel is open to Michigan student attending a two- or four-year higher education institution. Task force members will be selected by members of the Department of State’s Election Modernization Advisory Committee […]
Statewide study: 10% of Michigan public water systems have PFAS
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) published the results of the first statewide study of toxic PFAS (or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water last week, after testing more than 1,700 water supplies across the state. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” and are found in food packaging, cookware, firefighting foam and more. […]
In Detroit, Pence touts Trump admin. economic gains as recession fears rise
Updated, 6:23 p.m. 8/19/19 with comments from Rep. Levin Vice President Mike Pence on Monday urged a group of Southeast Michigan business leaders to “reject the siren song of socialism” and reelect his boss, President Donald Trump, to a second term. In a 25-minute speech to the Detroit Economic Club — his third appearance before […]
Rick Haglund: What’s behind Patterson’s economic legacy in Oakland County
Within hours of his death on Aug. 3, journalists served up two stark portraits of controversial Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. Some condemned Patterson for his long history of racially charged comments about Detroit and its majority-black population. Others praised him for his deft leadership of wealthy Oakland County. If you haven’t already done […]
Inside Michigan Government: All our video interviews with Michigan department heads
Last year was a sea change election in Michigan, electing new leaders for top statewide offices, starting with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Changes may have started at the top, but they’ve rippled through state government, as Whitmer has appointed new directors for most departments. For the last several months, the Michigan Advance sat down with seven […]
Alex Rossman: Public charge rule attacks immigrants and American values
In my 20-year career, I thought I had seen all of the tricks, maneuvers and strategies in the political procedure book. But President Donald Trump has found something new and has been using it ad nauseam. Exploiting complex and technical rules and regulations, his administration has turned government bureaucracy into a nearly untouchable partisan tool […]
Former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard nominated for U.S. attorney, raising questions on Inman case
Updated 11:26 p.m. with comment from Sen. Debbie Stabenow President Donald Trump has nominated former state House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) to serve as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan. That nomination raises questions about whether Leonard will recuse himself from one of the district’s most high-profile cases — its prosecution of state […]
Michigan Democratic Party teaming up with Stacey Abrams on voting rights
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams said this week that she won’t be running for president next year, and instead will concentrate on protecting voting rights in 20 states, including Michigan. Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Lavora Barnes told the Advance on Wednesday that it’s critical for the party to partner with Abrams’ new effort, Fair Fight […]