Michigan News

Michigan residents could get a break on their back to school shopping.  As Cheyna Roth reports, recently introduced bills would create a back to school spending holiday.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has again called on Republican leaders to reconvene the Legislature to wrap up work on a new state budget and a plan to fix the roads.

Michigan State University has agreed to three years of federal oversight.  As Cheyna Roth reports, the US Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced a resolution to a civil rights investigation.

A new bill in the state Legislature would ban the manufacturing and sale of personal care products with microbeads.  But, as Cheyna Roth reports, the small plastic beads are already banned in some products at the federal level.

The Michigan Court of Appeals has cleared up some uncertainty about the state’s spending requirements for local governments.  Cheyna Roth has more.

Some Democrats running for President say the last election wasn’t a fair contest and made that point at last night’s debate in Detroit.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

The state Department of Transportation has just released a new five-year plan to maintain and fix Michigan’s roads.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Michigan’s unemployment rate remained unchanged last month. That’s according to the latest jobless numbers compiled by the state.   We have details from Rick Pluta.

The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments on whether it was legal for the state Legislature to adopt citizen-led ballot initiatives last year…and then quickly change them.  Cheyna Roth was in court for the proceedings.

A state lawmaker says people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions should have their records cleared automatically now that Michigan has legalized it.  Rick Pluta reports.

Lawyers from the state Attorney General’s Office will be in front of the Michigan Supreme Court today.  The twist?  They’ll be arguing both sides of the same issue.  Cheyna Roth explains.

This week, the Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments on a debate that started during a contentious and busy lame duck session last year.  Whether or not the state’s highest court will actually step in with a ruling remains to be seen.

As Cheyna Roth reports, the battle is over whether it was okay for the Republican-led Legislature to adopt and then quickly amend minimum wage and paid sick leave ballot initiatives.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan has encouraged students to seek four-year college degrees at the expense of encouraging careers in skilled trades.  As Rick Pluta reports. the Whitmer administration says that’s cost the state’s economy, employers, and workers.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is urging the Legislature to return to Lansing to vote on the state budget and revenue to fix the roads.  GOP leaders say they won’t be pushed.  Rick Pluta was with the governor during a stop at a community college in Detroit.

The Michigan Supreme Court says the state’s tribal governments do not fall under a constitutional provision that can prevent some people from running for office.  Cheyna Roth has more.

A state grant program is trying to get internet companies interested in offering high-speed services in rural Michigan.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Michigan schools will finalize their budgets today but without knowing how much money they’ll have to work with.  Cheyna Roth reports.

Anti-abortion groups will soon be on sidewalks and at events around the state, asking voters to support measures that would restrict abortion in Michigan.  There are two groups trying to get enough signatures for their ballot initiatives.

Cheyna Roth breaks down the measures and how Michigan could effectively outlaw abortion in the near future.

The Michigan Supreme Court will take another look at whether it’s ever OK for taxpayer dollars to go to private or parochial schools.  As Rick Pluta reports, the court is responding to a challenge against state budgets.

The former dean of Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was found guilty Wednesday of misconduct.  Cheyna Roth reports.

A jury is expected to begin deliberations today in the trial of former Michigan State University Dean William Strampel.  As Cheyna Roth explains, Strampel is accused of two felonies and two misdemeanors.

A state elections board is going to work on new rules to govern petition drives that want to get issues before the Legislature or on an election ballot.  As we hear from Rick Pluta, the board’s job is complicated by legal challenges.

The state department in charge of Michigan’s prisons is not happy with a proposed spending plan in the state Legislature.  Cheyna Roth has more.

A new idea to raise money to fix the state’s roads involves selling state assets to pay for the infrastructure.  As Cheyna Roth reports, the assets include the Blue Water Bridge.

The National Transportation Safety Board blames human error and equipment failures for an anchor strike that dented the Line Five pipelines.  Attorney General Dana Nessel says the report is evidence the twin pipelines needs to be removed from the Great Lakes. 

New measures would ban abortions after a doctor detects a fetus’s heartbeat.  Michigan Public Radio’s Cheyna Roth reports bills were introduced Wednesday in the state Senate.

The Republican leadership in the state House and Senate has filed a challenge to a recent opinion by Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Opening statements and first witnesses were called yesterday in the criminal trial of the former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.  Cheyna Roth was in the courtroom for the case of The People versus William Strampel.

The annual Detroit Regional Chamber Policy Conference is underway on Mackinac Island.  It attracts the state’s political and business leaders.  This year is the first time Democrat Gretchen Whitmer has attended the event as Governor.  On the Grand Hotel porch, Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation to roll back auto insurance rates in exchange for capping medical coverage.  Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta sat down with the Governor.

A lawmaker in Michigan wants to start a task force aimed at helping curb the state’s lead problem.  The task force would not just be focused on lead in the water.