Michigan News

President Joe Biden traveled to Michigan Tuesday to pitch his Build Back Better and infrastructure plans to swing-state voters in a politically critical region. His destination was a union hall in Howell. Rick Pluta reports. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday tried to stop speculation that local governments and state universities risk losing funding if they have COVID-19 vaccine or mask mandates. Republicans put language to that effect in the state budget the governor signed this week. The governor did not veto the language, but she also said it’s not enforceable. Rick Pluta explains. 

The Michigan Senate has voted to advance a set of election-related bills. Colin Jackson has more.

A bipartisan bill to help teachers recognize mental health needs in the classroom has cleared the state Senate. Colin Jackson has more.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the final two bills of the new state budget. We have more from Rick Pluta.

State employees are being told they once again have to mask up at the office as a health precaution. We have more from Rick Pluta.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office has confirmed she traveled out of state more than a month ago to visit her father.  This was before the governor was vaccinated against COVID-19.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

The Michigan Bureau of Elections says a petition campaign to initiate a law to curtail the governor’s use of emergency powers has gathered the signatures it needs.  As Rick Pluta explains, the next step is to have that ratified by a state board.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says many of the state’s COVID-19 data trends are moving in the right direction and suggested more restrictions could soon be lifted.  But, as we hear from Rick Pluta, the feud between the governor and the Legislature over the state’s COVID response has not lifted.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer told a US Senate committee Wednesday that the country needs a national strategy to tackle failing infrastructure and climate change.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

There will be a new Republican serving on the bipartisan state board that certifies election results – most recently President-elect Joe Biden’s Michigan victory last November.  Governor Gretchen Whitmer -- a Democrat -- selected Tony Daunt from a list submitted by the Michigan Republican Party.  We have more from Radio’s Rick Pluta.

The Michigan State Capitol Commission adopted a rule Monday banning the open carry of guns at the Capitol.  There are exceptions for law enforcement officers and people with concealed pistol licenses.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

State Attorney General Dana Nessel says her office has opened a criminal inquiry and is “actively investigating” whether members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers were the targets of illegal harassment as they met to certify the results of the November 3rd election.

A bipartisan state board has certified the results of the November 3rd election and awarded the state’s 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. 

Starting Wednesday, restaurants in Michigan are again limited to delivery and takeout, high school and college classes can only be online, and non-professional sports games are cancelled.  That’s under an order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s public health director.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

President Donald Trump’s campaign has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for Western Michigan to block certification of the state’s election results.  A similar case was also argued yesterday in the Wayne County Circuit Court.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Today’s elections will be historic in many ways: A record number of absentee ballots cast in a swing state in the midst of a health crisis.  Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke with Rick Pluta about dealing with an election cycle where passions run hot and tempers are short. 

The Michigan Supreme Court is the next stop in a legal fight over whether guns can be openly carried at polling places on Election Day.  Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel say guns can be intimidating – especially in a contentious election.  But gun rights advocates say the state can’t step on a right that’s guaranteed under state law.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills into law Thursday that show Democrats and Republicans can find room to cooperate on the state’s response to COVID-19.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is once again allowing in-person visits at nursing homes across much of the state.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Republican state lawmakers have presented their version of a COVID-19 response plan.  This state House GOP proposal follows a court ruling that struck down many of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s unilateral emergency orders.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

The state’s Chief Medical Executive was among those who testified Monday before a joint House and Senate committee examining the state’s COVID-19 response.  We have more from Rick Pluta. 

The legislative committee looking into the state’s COVID-19 response meets again today.  Top health officials in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration will face questions from the committee.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign a series of bills adopted by the Legislature as part of a deal on the state’s response to COVID-19.  It includes extending unemployment benefits for people who lost their jobs during the health crisis.  Rick Pluta reports.

The investigation is “ongoing” into an alleged plot by extremists that included plans to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  That’s according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the FBI.  They announced Thursday that 13 men were charged with a variety of state and federal crimes.  Authorities say the men wanted to overthrow the state government and incite a civil war.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday a court opinion that she exceeded her authority with a series of COVID-19 emergency orders will not be the final word on the issue.

The court fight over absentee voting in Michigan is not over.  Republican leaders say they’ve filed a notice Thursday that an appeal of the latest court ruling is on the way.  Rick Pluta reports.