Michigan’s first redistricting commission should take shape in August, after legislative leaders strike up to 20 people from the panel. Voters in 2018 opted to form the commission after years of complaints about gerrymandering.
Riley Beggin
Former reporter for Bridge.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan gyms to open Thursday as judge won’t budge on Whitmer appeal
A federal judge on Monday tells Gov. Gretchen Whitmer he won’t pause his order reopening gyms while she appeals, ruling that she failed to show that she’s likely to win on appeal or that the public will be irreparably harmed in the meantime.
Posted inMichigan Government
Protesters want big police reforms. Michigan lawmakers offer small changes.
Legislators in Lansing are offering incremental reforms that experts and even police themselves say won’t make much difference in reducing police violence and holding rogue officers accountable.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Enbridge rebuffs Whitmer, won’t close Line 5 after damage to anchor support
An anchor support to one leg of the pipeline was recently damaged. The company says it will continue to operate the other leg under the Straits of Mackinac. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says more needs to be known about the damage before resuming oil flow.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel pushes police reforms, with limits
Officers should lose their license for a broad range of misconduct and disciplinary records should be permanently maintained, she said. But Nessel said she may support limits on which disciplinary records are made public.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Democrats ‘in knots’ as calls to ‘defund the police’ grow louder
A newly popular proposal with an inflammatory name puts Democrats in a tricky situation. Republicans are making the most of it.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers fast-track police reform but some question necessity
Bills to ban chokeholds, require more training and ensure officers step in over excessive force have been introduced in recent weeks. Police officials, though, say the bills are mostly symbolic as such practices are already unauthorized.
Posted inMichigan Government
Lawsuit: Jocelyn Benson allowing ‘suspiciously high’ voter registration rates
A conservative activist sues Michigan’s top elections officials, alleging that 16 of the state’s 83 counties have registration rates of more than 90 percent of eligible voters. A state spokesperson calls the suit a publicity stunt.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Neighbors of Edenville Dam don’t want state investigating its failure
The same day Michigan sued owners of troubled dams whose failures sparked a catastrophic flood in Midland, nearby property owners call for an independent investigation. The residents say the state is misstating facts about its failure to regulate the dams.
Posted inMichigan Government
Midland failed dams, floods caused $200M in damages to 2,500 buildings
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed the estimates on Monday while announcing she is seeking a federal major disaster declaration. Just 8 percent of homes damaged had flood insurance, local officials estimated.