Wins for Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and Grand Rapids attorney Elizabeth Welch have shifted the ideological makeup of Michigan’s high court from a 4-3 conservative majority to a 4-3 majority of justices nominated by Democrats.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan's environment for Bridge Michigan, with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change, industrial pollution, water quality and wildlife. She joined Bridge in March 2020 after reporting for the Oregonian, where her coverage earned national honors and sparked efforts to better protect Oregon's natural resources. Kelly holds a master's degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University.
Kelly grew up in Harrison and is based in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan voters approve Proposal 1, changing rules for parks funding
Proposal 1, a statewide ballot measure to remove a $500 million cap on the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and give fund managers more flexibility in how they spend trust fund dollars, passed resoundingly.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Gray wolves, now off endangered list, may be targeted by Michigan farmers
If the federal change is upheld, farmers will have more leeway to kill wolves preying on livestock. But legal wolf hunts won’t be sanctioned, for now. Here is what to expect if the state takes control of the gray wolf population.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan officials warn of ‘despicable’ robocalls in Flint to confuse voters
Officials sound alarms about calls reminding people to vote on Wednesday, a day after polls close. Turnout in the city is up, though, with few other problems reported.
Posted inMichigan Government
Your Michigan Election Day 2020 voting toolkit: know the candidates, issues
Presidential politics may dominate the news, but Michigan’s ballot will include a host of races you might not know much about. Here is your last-minute research guide for those down-ballot races.
Posted inMichigan Government
Leelanau condemned the N-word, but the fight over racism had just begun
Like the rest of the nation, northern Michigan began a reckoning on race after George Floyd’s death in May. Then, a Leelanau County road commissioner’s racist outburst made it an undeniably local issue.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Proposal 1 ballot measure would change rules on Michigan parks fund
Supporters say the proposed changes will help Michigan’s public land managers update and expand recreational amenities on public lands. But opponents argue the changes improperly divert money away from land preservation to plug holes in state and local budgets.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan lawmakers want to make Enbridge Line 5 anchor strikes a felony
Following a series of recent strikes to the Line 5 pipeline, the legislation would ban large boats from dropping anchor in the Straits of Mackinac and force operators to pay for any resulting damage.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
After possible Ice Age discovery, group urges halt to Line 5 tunnel
A group composed mostly of Native American women say they’ve discovered evidence of an Ice Age cultural site in the Straits of Mackinac, and they want state officials to investigate before making decisions about Enbridge’s plan to drill a tunnel under the Straits.
Posted inMichigan Government
Wolverine Watchmen militia linked to Whitmer kidnap plot has Boogaloo ties
Michigan is ‘the birthplace of the militia movement,’ but experts say the Wolverine Watchmen group linked to plots to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, target police and storm the state Capitol appears to be part of an increasingly extreme and conspiracy-minded antigovernment movement.