Michigan in Focus

 Addressing chemical contamination in Michigan waterways, farmland and military bases remains a critical and complicated issue for legislators going into a new administration, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said on a telephone town hall Monday night. PFAS, or Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of industrial chemicals, commonly used in manufacturing to make heat resistant, water repellent, and non-stick products. Dubbed “forever chemicals” because of their long half-life in the human body and environment, effects of prolonged exposure include cancer, high blood pressure, and pregnancy complications.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_1730e054-7504-11ef-91ef-63970474bda0.html

Michigan lawmakers are launching bipartisan efforts to increase police recruitment and benefits as the number of law enforcement officers trends downward in the state. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., introduced legislation Friday that would provide $50 million annually to state and local law enforcement agencies to create “Pathways to Policing” programs aimed at boosting recruitment in the field. The programs would specifically target candidates from underrepresented communities or with non-traditional educational and career backgrounds. The number of law enforcement officers in Michigan has decreased by more than 4,000 since 2001, according to statistics from the state's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_0ed22de0-7442-11ef-8696-4f5c04f4aae0.html

Michigan House lawmakers are taking steps to increase online child safety by introducing a bill that would impact minors, their parents and social media companies. The Social Media Regulation Act, introduced by State Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, would require social media companies to verify the ages of new and existing users, restrict companies from collecting data or sharing minors' personal information, and provide extensive parental controls. Among other requirements, social media companies would have to obtain express parental consent if the user is a minor and automatically prohibit minors from accessing their accounts between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_3d2e3b60-712d-11ef-8905-43cd5c07e117.html

 Seven Michigan public school districts, the recipients of the first electric school buses in the state, reported mixed but mostly positive experiences about the vehicles since adopting them five years ago. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy released summaries of feedback on electric buses' real-world performance, coming from public school districts in Ann Arbor, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Oxford, Roseville, Three Rivers and Zeeland. Within the past two years alone, Michigan has directed more than $239 million in federal and state taxpayer dollars to electric school bus infrastructure.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_0667716c-704e-11ef-a4b9-cfe8ba2c824f.html

Following a Michigan Department of Education report showing drops in reading and math proficiency in some grades, Michigan House Republicans have unveiled a multi-step plan to boost student achievement and teacher support. The plan would provide extra funding for school safety and mental health resources, waive state fees for teachers and modernize the standard curriculum, State Reps. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, and Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, announced Monday.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_baaeb866-6ec2-11ef-a57c-1bfde18b2245.html

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers addressed concerns voiced by Michigan lawmakers about the shipment of radioactive waste to Wayne Disposal, assuring the public all proper safety measures are in place and that environmental surveillance will continue throughout the transport process. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, had submitted a series of questions to the USACE, asking for details about its unexpected plan to ship 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete and 4,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater from the Niagara Falls Storage Site to Wayne County.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_013ba1d8-6b9c-11ef-85b0-07123e771c94.html

The Michigan Department of Education is awarding nearly $25 million in grants to local public education agencies to fund K-5 mathematics programs aimed at improving math instruction and learning recovery. The announcement follows MDE data released last week showing mixed progress in mathematics learning in schools across the state.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_e985a036-6ad6-11ef-9c56-bfbd3851e9d7.html

 Michigan's U.S. Senate candidates are running on their records regarding labor and economic policy, but they are opposed on the role of electric vehicles.  Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin's approach to labor policy focuses primarily on supporting domestic manufacturing. Republican former Representative Mike Roger's approach to labor policy focuses primarily on encouraging innovation and reducing government regulation, particularly for small businesses. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_d15bd68e-6639-11ef-a0d1-4fc2f1f80dab.html

 New data released from Michigan's Department of Education reveals mixed student progress in 2024, with some grades scoring higher on standardized tests than last year and others performing their lowest in years. Math, English language arts and science scores were gathered through the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP, for grades three through seven, while scores for older students came from PSAT and SAT results. Eleventh-graders had the worst overall decline, scoring lower than last year in all three subjects, with a drop of 3.6 percentage points in math.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_67cfbb6a-660f-11ef-92f3-4f55af16ff42.html

 Detroit's Election Commission is facing a lawsuit for selecting a disproportionately high number of Democrat poll workers in the August primaries, a possible violation of Michigan election law. The commission appointed about 2,337 Democrat poll workers and about 310 Republican poll workers, an imbalance of more than 7 to 1. Poll workers, also known as election inspectors, assist voters and manage ballot counting. They also identify and report any irregularities or issues that arise during the election process. The state's election law requires the board of election commissioners “shall appoint an equal number, as nearly as possible, of election inspectors in each election precinct from each major political party,” to help ensure election transparency and fairness.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_bf209fc0-634d-11ef-815e-cf0fedd7cf77.html

Republican lawmakers are not the only ones raising concerns about Michigan's minimum wage changes. Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a motion with the state's Supreme Court, asking for guidance on how to implement inflation adjustments. Nessel specifically pointed out how the court's broad language in its July ruling could lead to five possible options for when and how to adjust the minimum wage over time, with the state Department of Treasury's approach and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity's approach also at odds with each other. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_2392c5f2-60b8-11ef-849d-c7d19f4e90d5.html

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Enbridge Energy's request for the Line 5 lawsuit Nessel v. Enbridge to receive a rehearing in federal court, returning the case to state court. The court Enbridge had missed the 30-day deadline after Nessel filed the lawsuit in June 2019 to appeal moving the case to federal court, and that it relied on improper arguments when doing so. The Canadian company had proposed boring a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac to house the pipeline more than five years ago. Nessel's case seeks to void a 1953 exception to environmental rules which allowed that section of the pipeline to operate, arguing the environmental risks posed by the pipeline are too great.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_ffa2e8fa-5e39-11ef-ad84-b3ce178284da.html

Michigan has made progress addressing teacher shortages in hard-to-fill subjects and specialties within the past five years, the State Board of Education announced. Since the 2017-18 school year, the number of certified teachers teaching math jumped 60%, 31% for science, and 53% for English as a Second Language and bilingual education. The number of early childhood education teachers increased by 171%.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_4cd8ecfe-5b2f-11ef-86c7-971f392b7983.html

Michigan's health department is taking applicants for a new “Michigan Racial Health Equity Think Tank.” The forum group is one part of the fiscal year 2025 state budget's $35 million in Racial Disparities Task Force recommendations. The MDHHS website describes MiRHETT as a part of the Social Determinants of Health program, first implemented in 2022. The forum series will gather statewide leaders to “address and improve disparity gaps for racial minorities.” They will discuss final reports from the Black Leadership Advisory Council, the Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, the Michigan Poverty Tax Force and the Health Equity Plan.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_5609f796-5689-11ef-9254-db5e73ef42b3.html

After recent filings revealed electric battery producer Gotion receives subsidies from the Chinese Communist Party, state Sen. Lana Theis called on Michigan government officials to cease subsidizing the company's $2.4 billion dollar project in central Michigan. Gotion CEO Chuck Thelen had previously maintained the Chinese government  was not involved in the American wing of the company. But in July, the company admitted in a Foreign Agents Registration Act filing to receiving funding subsidies from the CCP. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_7ff4c0d6-5995-11ef-82ba-834e3aaea5b8.html

Michigan's local governments have until Aug. 12 to request funds from the $1.2 billion National Kroger Settlement on opioid abuse. The Great Lakes state is expected to receive $42 million over the course of 11 years. Eligible communities, at the city or county level, can apply for the funding to be used toward drug abuse treatment. Agreements are expected to be effective by early fall. Michigan previously received more than $1.6 billion in settlement funds from Allergan Pharmaceutical, CVS, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, McKinsey & Co., Publicis, Teva Pharmaceutical, Walgreens and Walmart.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_c118cca4-55be-11ef-9444-5f3465fd5010.html

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection field operatives seized 266 pounds of cocaine last week from a tractor-trailer entering the country outbound from Canada, the agency revealed Tuesday. Alerted by K-9s, CPB field operatives found 100 bricks of narcotics stacked behind a false wall in the trailer trying to cross at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry. Agents arrested the driver, a Canadian citizen, once testing confirmed the drugs were cocaine.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_a2e20bc8-54ca-11ef-ba81-c3d8427de8b6.html

Democrat Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers were confirmed Tuesday night as party nominees for the U.S. Senate as Michigan held its primary election. Current U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, will retire after finishing her current term. Stabenow joined Slotkin on stage after the race was called, and offered her endorsement. Slotkin beat actor Hill Harper with more than 76% percent of the vote, and ogers defeated former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash and physician Dr. Sherry O'Donnell with 63.3% of the vote. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_a1ea2662-542d-11ef-b009-b7784e666d09.html

Michigan's Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Wednesday the state's Republican-led legislature in 2018 acted unconstitutionally when it changed the language of a petition that would raise the state's minimum wage immediately before it became law. The minimum wage in Michigan is currently $10.33 per hour for non-tipped workers and $3.93 per hour for tipped workers. Following the court's decision, the minimum wage will rise to at least $12 an hour starting Feb. 21. Tipped workers will receive the same minimum wage as non-tipped by 2029.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_36d202a4-4f5b-11ef-a25a-a7a8f6b279e4.html

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently highlighted the need for the state government and the media to work together in combating election misinformation, as public trust in the media has hit an all-time low. Nessel also emphasized her department's work to address voter or poll worker intimidation, set up a hotline for voters to report suspicious election-related activities, and prosecute election fraud and other crimes.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_ac01f9da-4e9d-11ef-ab57-d3431c45436f.html

Candidates in Michigan's U.S. Senate race disagree on issues ranging from electric vehicles to crime, but most recently, they've clashed over foreign policy. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich, is facing former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. Republicans hope to flip the seat as incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow is not running for reelection. Slotkin criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent address to Congress, saying he “continues to play politics.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_071f2706-4dc8-11ef-9731-53211e5092dd.html

Michigan has a new way to address its EMT shortage. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law that would extend temporary EMT and paramedic licenses from 120 days to a year. House Bills 4613 and 4614 were sponsored by state Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_064371d0-4ab6-11ef-b890-e35831d24bf7.html 

Nearly six months after the Michigan Legislature repealed Right to Work laws, more groups of workers are taking action against what they say are coercive measures of some unions to collect fees. Mechanics from Brown Motors in Petoskey and drivers from MV Transportation in Ypsilanti successfully voted recently to remove their union officials' powers to collect union dues from nonunion members. The Brown Motors mechanics voted by 75% against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Right to Work Foundation Legal Defense Foundation said. The Teamsters also faces a new lawsuit filed by nurses at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township, who say union bosses threatened to fire them if they didn't pay union fees.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_56611d58-45ec-11ef-8e72-233cf799e918.html

Trump supporters in Michigan expressed varied but mostly positive opinions about his vice-presidential pick from Ohio, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, during street interviews with The Center Square.  At the Saturday Trump rally in Grand Rapids, the first featuring Vance, many people interviewed knew little about him, but those who did expressed positive opinions. Katie from Grand Rapids, who works in finance and declined to give her last name, said she thinks Vance is a great pick, especially because of his youth.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_bf055e6a-4843-11ef-a606-afd743c0d877.html

Michigan's governor, secretary of state and three other officials are facing a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign this week over granting some government offices the power to conduct voter registration. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order in December meant to designate certain state offices, including the Small Business Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to act as voter registration agencies. The governor said this would make it easier for Michiganders to obtain election information and register to vote and provide a much-needed update to the list of Michigan's voter registration agencies after 30 years.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_c8300346-44fb-11ef-8566-1b0d887635c0.html

A recent report on Michigan's Child Protection Agency shows organizational issues that have been going on for at least six years. An audit completed in 2018 revealed a failure to conduct background checks, major delays in abuse investigations, failure to meet with some victims, and a lack of safety plans for identified victims. The updated report, conducted by the nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General, reveals these issues have not been addressed.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_d45040de-438c-11ef-aab6-d38c74fc5d58.html

Michigan politicians from both sides of the aisle took to social media this weekend to show support for former President Donald Trump following an attempted assassination at a campaign rally. Trump's upper ear was pierced by a rifle's bullet during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, narrowly missing his forehead. Since then, many voices have come forward to condemn the murder attempt, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan GOP Chairman Pete Hoekstra.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_895dad98-42db-11ef-8153-8bcaf5881a7b.html

Four weeks out from Michigan's Primary Election Day, more than 1.5 million of the state's voters have requested or received an absentee ballot, breaking records set in 2020. More than 178,000 of those voters have already submitted a completed ballot.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_043034da-3f9b-11ef-8c4c-0b03daed14ce.html 

For multiple years, the deer population in southern Michigan has been out of control. Cars and crops have suffered alike from a deer surplus, but local conservationists say relaxed hunting regulations could solve the issue. Last year alone, deer were involved in 58,000 car wrecks, killing 19 people. Herds cause millions in crop damage per year. The problem is only exacerbated by declining hunting rates, which were down by 10% last year according to the state Department of Natural Resources.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_e7c168e2-3e27-11ef-8a9c-8bb404e522bc.html 

 Consumers Energy, the largest Michigan utility company, made a commitment Monday to install 1,500 public electric vehicle chargers by 2030 across the state. The decision would make transportation history yet again in the home of the automobile. Consumer's goal, as a part of the new Transportation Electrification  Plan, would nearly double the number of publicly accessible electric charging stations in the state. The plan builds on DTE Energy's goal to create 620 public fast chargers by 2028.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_967c8b4c-3e22-11ef-a923-2b84ed797e57.html 

 As a part of the new statewide budget for the 2025 fiscal year, bipartisan support was given toward opioid addiction services. About $48.2 million will be allocated to fighting the opioid epidemic. Statistics show one Michigan resident dies from an opioid overdose every four hours. All funding comes from a settlement reached with opioid companies at the end of 2023.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_198d8a8e-389e-11ef-bf55-d33c943cb52e.html 

After denying any interest in replacing President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination this fall, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined a team of fellow Democratic governors at a White House meeting Wednesday. It's currently unknown what the meeting entailed, but Biden was also scheduled to have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris. Whitmer said on social media Monday the president can still be reelected in her state, following rumors of her doubting his chances after last week's debate.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_469c5bb6-3972-11ef-bb62-ffc7fd0934b0.html 

Michigan's $82.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 passed in the House at 4 a.m. on Thursday following hours of debate over spending. With a surplus this past year, the House Democratic majority focused on urban community projects, affordable housing, free community college and a new firearm injury grant. House Republicans argue the budget does not emphasize rural communities, infrastructure or small businesses enough, prioritizing instead corporate programming and liberal policies.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_8ed53436-34b1-11ef-a4e4-cb225538bb03.html 

 Two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, a Michigan court blocked the state's required 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled the requirement infringes on the state's constitutional right to abortion, which was approved by voters in November 2022. The ruling also stops the state from mandating certain information be given before the procedure, saying it can be coercive.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_0cbc7078-33e3-11ef-ae6a-b7b13545110f.html

In an effort to boost voter turnout, the state of Michigan plans to bring politics to schools, workplaces and social media. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson played host to a roundtable earlier this week to discuss solutions to voter turnout gaps among young Michiganders. Compared to the rest of the nation, Michigan boasted a higher turnout of voters aged 18-29 in the 2022 midterm election. Yet, nearly 60% of active registered voters in that age group did not cast a ballot in 2022, according to Michigan Department of State data and national surveys on youth voter turnout.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_d3e49e4e-3318-11ef-8272-8732290edf38.html 

The Michigan House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation that supporters say will protect the state's elections from bad actors. House Bill 5551, sponsored by Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, would amend the Michigan Election Law to prohibit individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving on the board of state or county canvassers, which certify the election results. Michigan Election Law already prohibits those convicted of election crimes from serving as election inspectors at precincts. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_e7339666-2fef-11ef-b063-db5816b1ef09.html

SOAR is taking a fall against House Republican scrutiny, with numerous amendments preventing the package from leaving the House Economic Development Committee. The Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, first introduced in 2021 as a means of keeping business in Michigan, has faced recent backlash from both sides of the aisle for its high spending and lack of results. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is looking to right these wrongs with a rebranding of SOAR to the Make it in Michigan Fund, which would use $250 million toward “community investments.” Some Democrats want more extensive changes, as seen with pending House bills 5768-5770, which focus on public transport, housing, and an additional mobility trust fund.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_b90c08d4-2f24-11ef-a030-97312f7dc92c.html 

Michigan farms affected by the rise in bird flu cases are now eligible for financial assistance but at a cost. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has determined 20 Michigan dairy farms are eligible for up to $28,000 each, so long as they assist in researching the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Since first detected in March, 24 cow herds have been infected, alongside three Michigan farmers, making it the state with the highest cattle and human cases in the country.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_f9236440-2e65-11ef-a218-07163a12e104.html

 Two bills looking to fight against deed fraud have passed the Michigan House with bipartisan support. If successful in a Senate vote, HB 5598 and 5599 would enforce a new 10-year felony for anyone who tries to falsify information on a property deed, such as ownership or a forged signature. The bills would also allow registrar employees to submit fraudulent documents to a county prosecutor for analysis.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_fad2df32-2cd5-11ef-905a-532d59404901.html 

In what Republicans are calling a win for election integrity, the Michigan Court of Claims ruled election clerks cannot initially presume voter signatures are valid. The decision struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's second attempt in 2023 to adjust signature verification requirements, even after the court ruled in 2021 that those changes were invalid. The December 2023 guidance manual issued by Benson to help polling clerks stated “voter signatures are entitled to an initial presumption of validity.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_c86c40e6-2a5b-11ef-b273-23b5b6471458.html 

Southwestern Michigan impacted by recent storms might be given a federal disaster declaration. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants President Joe Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for four Michigan counties after the multiple tornadoes earlier this month. While Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties have all received state disaster support, and preliminary estimates suggest a need for federal financial assistance.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_d60ad364-26b1-11ef-a2c8-f79d9ee1a178.html

A small group of Michigan lawmakers want to crack down on illegal immigration. The Michigan House Freedom Caucus introduced a five-bill package and a resolution recently seeking to criminalize inaction on illegal immigration. State Reps. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix; Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers; Matt Maddock, R-Milford and James DeSana, R-Ash Township announced the package.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_4826e29a-24fe-11ef-b5d8-f7a938f7199f.html

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a new “PitchMI” competition, where startups will compete for $100,000 in the style of the television show “Shark Tank.” The state will partner with other organizations to award the best pitch on improving transportation. Details on applying are expected soon. The competition is timely, since the state is nearing the close of a five-year, $3.5 billion bond issued in 2019 for highway reconstruction. With more electric vehicles driving, and many roads remaining in disrepair, it raises the question of if traditional gas taxes will be enough to sustain construction.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_758b96de-2299-11ef-bc2a-87578e1eefcd.htmlSupport this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx 

One Fair Wage isn't giving up on a higher minimum wage in Michigan, despite an October ruling that ended a chance to get the question before voters in 2024. Instead, the group is banking on a court case and lawmakers to push the state's non-tipped minimum wage eventually to $15 an hour. A 2024 ballot proposal to raise Michigan's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027, circulated by One Fair Wage, had collected more than 360,000 signatures. But the Republican-led Board of State Canvassers ruled in October the language of the petition varied from what was originally approved, accusing One Fair Wage of misleading voters.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_e29315f4-228f-11ef-a0c3-931b4556252f.htmlSupport this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx

A bipartisan group of Michigan state representatives want to stop local delivery drivers from paying taxes twice. Reps. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn; Jimmie Wilson, D-Ypsilanti; Graham Filler, R-Duplain Township; and Jasper Martus, D-Flushing introduced HB 5745 and 5746 to eliminate a double sales tax on delivery companies like Instacart and Shipt. Under current Michigan law, local delivery companies pay a sales tax both when buying the product from the retailer and when they deliver to the consumer. Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_7832abee-1d1b-11ef-a9e0-fb83b33aefb6.html 

With border exposure and natural ports, Michigan Republicans want to change state law to make human smuggling illegal and criminalize harboring and transporting people who are or have entered the country illegally. There are no state-level criminal penalties for human smuggling. State Reps. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa, recently introduced legislation that would criminalize bringing unauthorized people into Michigan. Harboring and transporting people living in or who have entered the country illegally would also become a state crime.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_9976b486-1900-11ef-a316-b3a58d2713b7.html

After a recent Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, tensions remain between the Michigan Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In February, the governor proposed an $80.7 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Since then, both the House and Senate have passed their own. After the CREC, a final vote in both chambers is necessary to finalize the budget before the July 1 deadline.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_5bb74142-186f-11ef-91f4-73977fe5cf9c.html

Insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatments is now law in Michigan after Republicans and Democrats came together on legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 27 on Tuesday, requiring insurance companies to cover both issues to the same degree as medical coverage. Inpatient, outpatient and emergency services, and prescribed medication all fall under the bill's classification of treatment.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_128aff76-17b7-11ef-985d-97ee4806f551.html

 A Michigan lawmaker wants to restore what he calls a fur harvester licensed hunter's right to hunt coyotes all year. State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock recently introduced House Bill 5721 that he says would give that right back to hunters. The bill was created by a group of house Republicans after the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4-2 to end the coyote hunting season from mid-April to mid-July, after it had been year-round from 2016 to 2020.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_858efc2c-11f7-11ef-b0ac-fbb80f7e99d0.html 

Michigan House Democrats passed budget bills totaling nearly $81 billion – larger than Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recommendation. Republicans in the minority for the first time in 40 years decried the spending proposals as wasteful as Democrats said the budget would invest in all Michiganders. House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, welcomed the proposed budget. Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_62bede3c-0e0b-11ef-a747-abd578eaf622.html Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support

The Michigan Supreme Court declined to say whether the government can use drones to spy on people without a warrant. The unanimous Friday ruling follows a 17-year dispute between residents Todd and Heather Maxon and Long Lake township officials who say the 5-acre residential property is being used as an illegal junkyard. The 18-page ruling written by Judge Brian Zahra affirmed the Court of Appeals ruling and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceeding. Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_432391cc-0c75-11ef-9415-637b8d09f9a4.html Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support