State News

Michigan’s Lewis Cass office building in Lansing has a new name. Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week rechristened it the “Elliott-Larsen Building.” The new name honors Republican State Rep. Melvin Larsen and Democratic State Rep. Daisy Elliott who wrote Michigan’s civil rights legislation in 1976. Whitmer also called on the legislature …

A second legal opinion has confirmed the position taken by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel that the Michigan State Capitol Commission has the authority to ban guns in the capitol building. The commission generally concerns itself with benign issues such as capitol building maintenance. It was thrust into the spotlight …

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has rejected a call from a group of Republican U.S. Representatives for an investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at nursing homes. The request was signed by six U.S. House members, including first district representative Jack Bergman. Nessel noted that similar letters had …

Saying that COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our state budget, state leaders yesterday announced a bipartisan agreement to cut costs. The joint release from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield marked an unusual bipartisan moment. The three said the arrangement provides …

Governor Whitmer says she’ll support a bill that will direct how $850 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Fund money will be spent in Michigan. The supplemental budget bill will allocate $120 million to raise the wages of direct care workers by $2.00 per hour through September. $125 million will be …

Saying the “The Stay Home, Stay Safe Order” has saved lives, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the COVID-19 state of emergency through July 16th. At her announcement yesterday, Whitmer hinted that the emergency order could stay in effect much longer. Despite some success in reopening the state following the expiration …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she’ll unveil a back-to-school plan for K-12 districts on June 30th. “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” will include requirements and suggestions for the safe reopening of schools this fall, even as the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue. The plan is being developed in conjunction with …

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers today is expected to reject petitions that would have placed a proposal to ban the second trimester “dilation and evacuation” abortion procedure on the November Michigan ballot. Organizers led by the Michigan Values Life Committee needed 340,000 signatures to push the issue forward. They …

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has agreed to review an old case involving the death of a black man at the hands of private security officers. 25-year-old McKenzie Cochran died in 2014 after he was pinned to the floor of the Northland Mall in Southfield. As in the recent death …

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has introduced seven proposals to reform police procedures in Michigan, following the nationwide outcry over the deaths of black suspects at the hands of law enforcement officers. Nessel says the proposals will serve as a starting point to bring transparency and accountability to investigations of …