Michigan Government

A program meant to help young, nonviolent offenders get back on track is instead sending more to prison, where they say sexual assault is rampant.

The inmate known as John Doe 3 says the abuse began from the moment he entered adult prison.

The governor is telling voters there’s no alternative to Proposal 1. Lawmakers counter that there’s always a Plan B, but fear it might be worse.

Complex problems rarely have simple solutions, say the legislators whose last-minute work in December’s lame-duck session produced the byzantine statewide vote to fix Michigan’s roads.

As Michigan drivers swerve around, and fall into, cracks in the state’s transportation infrastructure, the only solution on the table is almost as much of a headache.

A wide range of groups are urging a yes vote on the plan to fix Michigan’s roads, and a few are opposing or staying neutral. How are they lining up? It depends on who stands to get paid.

Bill Drake won an award from his peers — the people who work behind the scenes to keep the Michigan Legislature running. He’s not used to being in the center of the frame.

The bipartisan deal aligns with overwhelming public support for road investment across the state, even if it means higher taxes. The deal captures $1.2 billion a year for Michigan’s crumbling transportation infrastructure, but requires voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase in May.

Four legislative leaders tell Bridge Magazine what's on their mind when the new legislative session begins in January.