9&10News

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's first four years in office were A LOT. But here we are on the cusp of Whitmer's second term. 9&10's Eric Lloyd sat down with Governor Whitmer to ask about the term that was, and what's ahead.

Democrats will control the executive branch, and both legislative bodies in Michigan for the first time in decades. It's the result of the November 8th election that saw sweeping victories for Democrats in the state. What will they do with the so-called blue trifecta? 9&10's Eric Lloyd asked Governor Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Senator Mallory McMorrow.

Every year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources makes some changes to the rules for deer hunting in the state. But this year the DNR is making it mandatory that hunters report their harvest online or with an app. Not reporting your kill is TECHNICALLY now a criminal misdemeanor. So how did that happen? Ed Golder is the spokesperson for the Michigan DNR, and 9&10's Eric Lloyd asked him about the reporting requirement.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and challenger Tudor Dixon will face-off in their first debate this week, and it couldn't come at a more critical time for the campaign. Strategist John Sellek talks with 9&10 News about the stakes of the debate, and state of the race.

The Federal Reserve raised the key interest rate again this week in an effort to combat inflation. What does that mean for you and your money? Professor of economics Jason Taylor from Central Michigan University explains that, and puts our current economy into some historical perspective.

Michigan's Palisades nuclear power plant ceased operations in May. But there's a new effort to get Palisades producing nuclear energy once again, and it has the support of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Nicholas Culp is with Holtec International, the company that currently owns the plant and is decommissioning it. He explains what has to happen to get Palisades up and running again, and why it could be a really good idea.

There's a new effort in Michigan to teach what really happened to Native Americans in this country and state. It's beginning to be incorporated into social studies curriculum in Michigan, and we talk to reporter Tracie Mauriello from Chalkbeat Detroit and Bridge Michigan who dug deeper into the story.

Michigan now ranks 10th in the nation for the number of home foreclosures. Why is it happening, and what can struggling homeowners do to stay in their homes? Mary Townley of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority explains the issue, and what help is available.

New polling this week shows a very tight race for the Republican nomination for Michigan governor. It also shows Many Republican voters are undecided, and there's just one thing that will likely make all the difference in this race. Political strategist John Sellek is breaking down the race with 9&10's Eric Lloyd.

Electricity demand is high and rising, especially on really hot summer days. Michigan utilities have so far been able to meet that demand, but they say something is threatening our electric reliability in the future. Tony Anderson from Cherryland Electric Cooperative, and Eric Baker from Wolverine Power give us a better idea of the trouble we could be in for.

There are all kinds of conspiracies and just plain wrong information out there about the reason we're paying so much for gas right now. Patrick De Haan, the Oil and Refined Products analyst at GasBuddy clears up the confusion, rumors, and lies. He also explains what the “crack spread” is, and how it's affecting you.

Prices for just about everything continue to rise. Inflation is causing increasingly more people to have a difficult time meeting household expenses. Just how many people? QuoteWizard by LendingTree's Nick VinZant analyzes their latest report to paint a dire picture of what's happening to family budgets in Michigan and nationwide.

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe Vs. Wade, a closer look at Michigan's 1931 law that would take effect banning all abortions in the state except for cases where the mother's life is in danger. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said she will not prosecute anyone under the old law, and has a lot to say about what could happen if the high court follows through with taking away a woman's right to choose.

The federal trial of four men in the alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer is over. Two men face a retrial, but the jury acquitted two others. Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are free men. With a mountain of evidence the government said proved they were plotting violence, how did their attorneys get them cleared? Let's ask them.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Building Michigan Together plan this week that will spend nearly $5 billion on infrastructure in the state. Alex Rossman from the Michigan League for Public Policy explains what it means for the people they advocate for, and what to expect as a result of the historic spending plan.

Fox News correspondent Lauren Blanchard is from Traverse City. She's currently covering the Ukrainian refugee crisis in Poland for the cable news network. 9&10's Eric Lloyd asked her about the situation and her role in reporting it.

For the first time, the Michigan Public Service Commission is taking into consideration a proposed project's impact on climate change. It comes as they consider Enbridge's permits to construct a utility tunnel for their Line 5 pipeline that runs through the Straits of Mackinac. Kate Madigan is the Executive Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network, a group opposing Line 5 and the tunnel. She explains why her organization sees this as a breakthrough in protecting the environment.

Uncertainty looms after an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seemingly offering any and all reasoning to justify the incursion. But what does Russian history tell us about the real motives behind the war? Ferris State University's Dr. Tracy Busch is a Russian history expert and guides us through the centuries leading to this moment.

There's a new effort to restore a tax incentive for filmmakers in Michigan. The last incentives ended seven years ago. State Representative Jack O'Malley is among a group of bipartisan legislators to introduce a bill to revive filmmaking in Michigan and create jobs along the way.

Governor Whitmer released her $74.1 billion 2023 budget proposal this week. We're breaking down some of the big investments, and getting reaction from lawmakers in Lansing. There is also a call from a diverse coalition in northern Michigan to fund the new office tasked with bringing expanded broadband internet service to rural areas.

Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian joins us to talk about where we are in the fight against the Omicron variant of COVID-19, why the state case count numbers are becoming less accurate, and why that's okay.

The Grand Rapids-based retailer set some ambitious goals for cutting their carbon footprint. At the helm of those efforts is Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer. I asked him about the new endeavor.

A medical breakthrough this week with the successful transplant of a genetically modified pig's heart into a man dying of heart disease. One of the doctors behind the procedure is from northern Michigan. We talk to him to learn more about what this means for the future of live-saving organ transplants.

Can we keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes? There are groups working hard to make sure we can. Marc Gaden from the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission joins us to explain the effort to get a permanent barrier built in Illinois to keep the carp out of Michigan waters.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is Michigan's chief medical executive, and she is not pleased with how the state is doing right now, especially when it comes to vaccines. She talked with 9&10's Eric Lloyd about where we stand with infections, variants, hospitalizations and vaccinations.

The switch to electric vehicles has begun in earnest, and all those cars are going to need a place to charge. Consumers Energy is boosting its effort to increase fast charging options in Michigan by joining the National Electric Highway Coalition. Brian Wheeler from Consumers Energy joins Kevin Essebaggers to explain what driving in the future will be like in Michigan.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is led by administrator Deanne Criswell, who is from Manistee. We caught up with Criswell to ask how she sees FEMA's mission at a time that every state is under an emergency declaration because of COVID-19, the role of climate change in weather-related disasters, and making federal emergency help easier to get.

The trillion dollar federal infrastructure plan is in motion. But how much of that money is coming to Michigan? Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association explains how it will be spent in our state.

Hospitals are struggling to provide services on top of surging patient loads from COVID-19. Munson Healthcare even invoked what they call their “Red Level Response.” What that means, and how it will affect healthcare in northern Michigan.

More people walking, running or biking are being hit by cars and trucks every year, even in 2020 when fewer people were driving. Michigan has one of the highest number of pedestrian deaths. David Reich from the National Road Safety Foundation explains why it's happening and what can be done to save lives.

President Joe Biden came to Michigan to sell his Build Back Better plan. He wants to focus on what's in the plan, and not what it costs. The cost is what concerns Republicans and even some in the president's own party.

Several factors are pushing up the price of oil, and it's affecting more than just gasoline prices. Patrick De Haan from Gasbuddy explains what's going on in energy markets that could make for a pricey few months ahead.

State lawmakers passed a nearly $70 billion budget this week, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign it. Before she does, Kevin Essebaggers caught up with the governor to ask her about the priorities it funds.

The latest enhanced child tax credit was sent to parents this week as part of the American Rescue Plan. Advocates are trying to persuade lawmakers to make the payments a permanent fixture of the tax code and they tell us why.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer discusses some of the top issues facing the state right now, including the budget, COVID-19 and the state accepting refugees from Afghanistan.

Amid the messy U.S. pullout in Afghanistan and the desperate effort to evacuate Americans and allies, we talk with Jack Segal who is a former NATO chief political advisor to operational military command in Afghanistan. He explains the 20 year conflict, the missteps along the way, and why he says he feels remorse, shame, and disappointment.

As President Biden announced ambitious new goals to transition America to electric vehicles, the automotive industry was meeting in northern Michigan. The U.S. Secretary of Energy was in our state too. We get reaction from them on the plan to reduce emissions by going electric.

The July jobs report is out and it did not disappoint. But what do the numbers mean for the economy and your pocketbook? Nick Juhle, Director of Research for Greenleaf Trust explains what's going on in this recovering economy.

The status of the gray wolf in Michigan's upper peninsula and what level of protection the animals should get from the government is a long-debated, often heated topic. In continuing coverage of the issue, Kevin Essebaggers talks with wolf expert Dr. Rolf Peterson from Michigan Technological University.

Law enforcement has a hiring problem right now. They're losing officers, and struggling to fill open positions. We look into why that's the case, and talk to two northern Michigan sheriffs and the Michigan State Police about the problem, and the creative ways they're trying to find new officers.

Senator Debbie Stabenow is sponsoring a bill to ensure U.S. Government contracts go to U.S. companies, closing loopholes that send $92 billion taxpayer dollars to foreign countries. She stopped in Cadillac this week to talk about the plan.

One year ago, two dams failed sending flood waters rushing through parts of Midland and Gladwin Counties.  On this week's Focus Podcast, we look back on the disaster with those who lived it, and find out how their unique spirit is setting the area up for a comeback.

There's a lot going on with vaccines. We look at vaccination rates in northern Michigan, the expanded eligibility for vaccinating younger people, and the "MI Vacc to Normal" program with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and doctors from local health departments.

Pure Michigan wouldn’t be nearly as pure without our abundance of trees and forests. There are plenty of threats to different species of trees, and one of them is Oak Wilt. May is Oak Wilt Awareness Month in Michigan. We learn all about it from arborist Julie Stachecki from the Michigan Oak Wilt Coalition.

COVID-19 variants are part of Michigan's recent surge in cases. So what are they, and how effective are the vaccines on the variants? Kevin Essebaggers asks those questions and more to Dr. Rosha McCoy, and finds out that we shouldn't fear the variants... yet.

Lake Superior State University was the first in the nation to open a cannabis chemistry program. The Cannabis Center of Excellence is leading the way, and just announced the first in the nation scholarship for students specifically in the cannabis program. Kevin Essebaggers asked Dr. Steven Johnson about it. Johnson is the Dean of LSSU’s College of Science and the Environment.

Coastal wetlands around the Great Lakes harbor wildlife and improve water quality for humans. Audubon Great Lakes announced a new, ambitious plan to restore coastal wetland areas under siege from development, pollution, and climate change. Kevin Essebaggers talks with Conservation Director Nat Miller about the plan, and what it means for birds and people.

While we wait for the COVID-19 vaccines to defeat the pandemic, testing remains an essential way to help fight the spread of the virus. Northern Michigan has a new option for rapid testing. Kevin Essebaggers asks TC Rapid Testing about the test’s usefulness, reliability, and affordability.

The pandemic is obviously terrible in almost every way. But some medical students are actually benefitting from the hands-on experience COVID-19 is offering. 9&10's David Lyden caught up with Debra Kimball-Christie, the program director of CMU's Physician Assistant program, and PA student Haley McNabb and discussed how students are getting involved in vaccination clinics.

Two things dominated the week in Lansing: The governor’s proposed budget, and more controversial remarks from republican senate majority leader Mike Shirkey. We get Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s take on both items in this week's Focus Podcast.

General Motors took a dramatic turn by announcing that they will only produce electric or zero emissions light duty vehicles by 2035. GM also announced an effort to be carbon neutral by 2040. It will likely shape our future when it comes to transportation. On the latest Focus Podcast, Kevin Essebaggers asked GM's Senior Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Strategies about the plan.