Michigan News

A liberal advocacy group has taken an early step to put a proposed amendment to the state constitution on the ballot this year.  As we hear from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta. it would place new controls on lobbying state elected officials.

Republican leaders in the Legislature say they are ready to adopt a petition-initiated bill to place new restrictions on abortion.  Rick Pluta tells us Republicans are looking to press the limits of the Roe versus Wade decision.

A state lawmaker from Ann Arbor has called for adding a new protection for people seeking housing in Michigan.  He says people should not be denied a house or apartment based on where they get the money to pay the rent.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Trust – or the lack of it – is holding up a deal to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts to rural hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.  A deal seemed close Thursday, but the state Senate Republican leader says he’s lost faith that Governor Gretchen Whitmer would hold up her end of any bargain.  And so, he wants a new state law to seal the deal.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Some Republicans in the state House want to limit the governor’s ability to move money around within state budgets.  They passed a bill out of a state House committee Wednesday.  Cheyna Roth has more.

Lying to your landlord about needing an emotional support animal could become a crime in the state.  As Cheyna Roth reports, bills in the state House would make it a misdemeanor.

A state lawmaker says Michigan’s hate crime law is overdue for an update.  State Senator Adam Hollier says it’s time to add violence or threats based on sexual orientation or gender identification as a deterrent to hate crimes.  Rick Pluta reports.

Mental health patients might have to wait longer to get their conditions diagnosed – if they can get care at all.  That’s according to mental health counselors, who say a rule change by the state is about to put thousands of them out of business.  Rick Pluta has more.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed 375 million dollars in one-time road funding.  As Cheyna Roth reports, the governor finished signing all 16 state budgets hours before the October 1st deadline.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign budget bills today and avert a partial shutdown of state government at midnight.  But, as we hear Rick Pluta, it’s not “game over” for the governor’s request for more money to fix roads. 

Abortion has moved to the forefront of national politics.  Where lawmakers stand on the issue has become a litmus test when determining if someone is a Republican or Democrat.  But it hasn’t always been this way.  As part of a joint project with the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Cheyna Roth reports, the political shift started around 1980...

Fighting counterfeit airbags is on the agenda for a bipartisan pair of lawmakers in Lansing.  Cheyna Roth reports.

A state lawmaker wants to make sure Michigan doesn't have any privately run prisons.  Michigan Public Radio Network's Cheyna Roth has more.

A lawmaker in Lansing wants to make it mandatory for people working in certain professions to report suspected animal abuse and neglect.  Cheyna Roth has more.

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.