An unusually high number of confidential informants, troubles with key witnesses could pose challenges as the high-profile case nears trial. Prosecutors say evidence is overwhelming.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan is a deputy editor for Bridge Michigan. He helps plan and execute in-depth reporting and campaign coverage. As a longtime political reporter, Jonathan was named 2021 Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. He and a colleague shared that honor again in 2023, when they were also named Journalists of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter. Jonathan covered the state Capitol for The Detroit News and MLive before joining Bridge in September of 2019. He's from Grand Rapids, lives in Lansing and loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan GOP eyes limits to vaccine, mask rules. Health officials dismayed
A bill would allow employees to sue if they’re fired for refusing vaccines, while Republican leaders want activists to fight school mask rules.
Posted inMichigan Government
Amid Michigan rise in violent crime, little appetite for defunding police
Despite calls for radical change, police budgets are up in cities, even as departments say they are having trouble recruiting new officers. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and leading Republican challenger James Craig are making crime prevention an election issue.
Posted inMichigan Government
Census losses could squeeze northern Michigan, Detroit as redistricting begins
GOP areas in northern Michigan lose population, but so do some Democratic strongholds. Something’s got to give as the state loses one congressional seat.
Posted inMichigan Government
Census takeaways: West Michigan gains, Detroit & U.P. lose, state more diverse
With charts of county, city population changes: Much of Michigan loses residents, but growth of the west side offsets losses. Populations of Flint, Detroit plummet; challenge eyed.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan schools must teach in-person, get waiver, or lose funding
Even as COVID cases increase, online-only learning won’t be an easy option for schools this year. The policy shift was agreed to by the GOP legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Posted inMichigan Government
Top Michigan Republican will skip Mackinac conference over vaccine mandate
Sen. Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he’s already immune because he had COVID-19. But organizers of the Mackinac Policy Conference say all attendees must prove they are vaccinated.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan spent $5M on vaccine lottery, still well shy of 70 percent goal
Tuesday is the last day to register for sweepstakes. Michigan’s vaccination rate has moved 2 percent in two months since it was announced. Is that success? That depends on who is asking.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan sheriff enlists private eye to grill clerks in vote fraud probe
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf, who contemplated seizing voting machines, is now using a private investigator for an investigation of claims that local clerks say have been repeatedly debunked.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP is repealing Whitmer emergency powers. It won’t change much.
The Senate votes to wipe an emergency powers law off the books. One Democrat calls the repeal “a waste of energy and a waste of our air” because the state’s high court already declared the law unconstitutional.