Sarah Lightner

A new judicial task force report calls for an overhaul in how Michigan’s local courts are funded. The report says the local jurisdictions rely too much on fines and fees to fund their operations. The report says that is not only unfair, it undermines faith that courts and judges are more interested in dispensing justice than collecting money. We have more from Rick Pluta.

Michigan prosecutors are still asking for more time to respond to a recent state Supreme Court ruling that banned mandatory life sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds. Colin Jackson has more.

A state House committee voted along party lines Wednesday for a bill to blunt the effects of a Michigan Supreme Court decision. The ruling says 19- and 20-year-olds cannot be automatically sentenced to life-without-parole. Rick Pluta has more.

Bills to toughen the penalties for making or selling opioids made it out of the Michigan House Wednesday. Colin Jackson has more.

A Michigan House Committee voted out a bill Tuesday to lower Michigan’s income taxes slightly. Colin Jackson has more.

Michigan lawmakers pulled an all-nighter and worked until sunrise to finalize the new state budget and then begin the Legislature’s summer recess. Rick Pluta reports.

The state House adopted a bill Tuesday that would reduce the state’s contributions to the public school employee retirement fund. Rick Pluta reports.

The Michigan Legislature voted Wednesday to allow trial courts to continue assessing court fees on guilty defendants for another two-and-a-half years. Colin Jackson has more.

House and Senate committees held a hearing Wednesday on improvements to Michigan’s juvenile justice system. The topic was ensuring youths charged with delinquency get adequate legal representation.

The Michigan Legislature wrapped up work on the state budget Wednesday and headed out for the summer. New school funding plans, including money for universal pre-school and university tuition caps were all part of it. Rick Pluta and Colin Jackson help unpack it all.