Lee Chatfield

Michigan could become a completely hands-free driving state.  A new bill in the state House comes after Governor Gretchen Whitmer made distracted driving a priority during her State of the State address.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer set some big goals in her first State of the State Address Tuesday night.  She’s calling for major investments in infrastructure, education, and clean water, among other things.  But Republicans are skeptical about the costs of her ideas.  As Jake Neher reports, the speech represents a bold vision for Michigan that’s already sparking partisan divisions.

Republicans in the state Legislature are trying to limit the powers of statewide offices that – come January – will flip to Democrats.  It's a strategy that's angered Democratic voters, and protestors have been flooding the state Capitol with chants like “We voted for blue, not for you.”. 

Michigan’s new governor will start in January.  But Governor-Elect Gretchen Whitmer faces an adversarial state Legislature, which could impact what Whitmer is able to accomplish.

A new bill by state lawmakers would prohibit any anchor dropping in the Straits of Mackinac.  This comes after an anchor damaged an oil and gas pipeline.

Some businesses are set to get millions of dollars in tax incentives -- if Governor Snyder signs a package of bills.  Around the time those bills were going through the legislature, business groups were giving big political action committee donations to some key lawmakers.

Lawmakers in Lansing might not try to do away with the state income tax after all, but they are still looking to reduce it. 

Michigan and Louisiana are the only two states that don’t apply their public records laws to the legislature and the governor’s office.  A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers have rolled out bills to change that.