Michigan’s energy vulnerability exposed by natural gas scare, bitter cold
by Jim Malewitz (Bridge) LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants Michigan to learn from this week’s natural gas crisis that highlighted vulnerabilities in the state’s energy grid during bone-chilling weather. Whitmer, a Democrat, on Thursday called on the state Public Service Commission to investigate the state’s supply — and deliverability — of natural gas, electricity […]
Legal marijuana didn’t end black market elsewhere. What can Michigan learn?
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Out of the darkness and into the light. That’s how Michigan marijuana proponents framed the state’s transition to legalized pot — a regulated system they promised would bring new tax revenues, expand access for medical patients and protect public safety by making it unnecessary for consumers to buy from underground pot dealers. But […]
In Flint, trust is lost. And bottled water supplies are running low.
by Jim Malewitz (Bridge) FLINT — On a freezing Tuesday morning, Jim Carnes rolled his shopping cart across the parking lot of Asbury United Methodist Church. Wearing winter gear and the confidence of a man who has been here before, the retired truck driver approached a table piled high with grocery bags full of green beans, […]
Flint residents welcome Nestlé donations. But its ads? Not so much.
by Jim Malewitz (Bridge) FLINT — Peaceful music plays in the background. Residents wait for donations before dawn. And Nestlé Waters North America is there to help, as workers load a semi-truck of the company’s Ice Mountain bottled water and head south to Flint. “Some people have forgotten about Flint,” Flint water volunteer Sandra Jones says in […]
Bipartisan bills: New year, new chance for Michigan asset forfeiture reform
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) If police in Michigan believe you’re involved with a crime, they can take your cash, guns, cars or home if they can connect it to the alleged crime — even if you’re never actually charged or convicted. That property winds up in civil court and you have to fight to get it […]
Gov. Whitmer seeks speedy Michigan public record response, but not (yet) for her office
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) GRAND RAPIDS—Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order Friday aimed at speeding the response of state government to public record requests, even as she declined ‒ for now ‒ to lift the veil on her own office. Speaking before the Michigan Press Association, Whitmer said state government must be “open, transparent and […]
Federal court scuttles Michigan gerrymandering deal, rejects trial delay
by Joel Kurth, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) DETROIT – A federal court on Friday rejected an attempt to settle a Michigan gerrymandering case that would have redrawn 11 state House districts before the 2020 elections. The ruling paves the way for a trial to start in the explosive case Tuesday. A three-judge panel from U.S. District Court hearing the […]
Whitmer administration changing tone around Michigan marijuana regulation
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) As Michigan moves toward legal sale of recreational marijuana in 2020, new developments in pot regulation only reinforce expectation the industry will find a more sympathetic ear in Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The most obvious evidence is her backing of Proposal 1, which state voters approved in November to legalize recreational […]
Michigan cut school funding and school performance plummeted. Coincidence?
(Bridge) Michigan ranks dead last in the nation in school funding growth in the quarter century since Michigan radically changed how it funded public education system, according to a new Michigan State University study. School funding has dropped 18 percent since 1995 when spending is adjusted for inflation, according to the report. Only one other […]
Jocelyn Benson seeks to settle gerrymandering suit by redrawing House seats
by Joel Kurth (Bridge) New Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Friday she wants to settle a federal lawsuit alleging Michigan’s political districts were illegally gerrymandered by redrawing 11 state House seats for the 2020 election. The proposed settlement, which must be approved by the court and is already drawing fierce objections from Republicans, would […]
