Whitmer signs Right-to-Work repeal, prevailing wage restoration
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday signed bills repealing the state’s Right-to-Work law and restoring prevailing wage rates, doing away with Republican labor policies long despised by union groups. Taken together, the legislation would end a 2012 law that prohibits compulsory union dues or fees and restore a construction-industry “prevailing wage” law the GOP repealed […]
‘Abortion pill’ under legal scrutiny; what it means in Michigan.
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) State and national abortion providers say medical abortions can continue — but possibly at a less effective rate, even if a Texas judge strikes down a long-time FDA-approved pill now used in nearly every medication abortion. At issue are two drugs, commonly known together as the “abortion pill.” The drugs […]
Enbridge Line 5 tunnel project in Michigan delayed another 1.5 years
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) U.S. federal regulators say they need more time to scrutinize the environmental impacts of the proposed Line 5 tunnel, adding another year-and-a-half delay to a project that Canadian energy company Enbridge Energy originally vowed to complete next year. Instead, the years-long tunnel construction project won’t begin until at least 2026, […]
Michigan State University 911 calls: Students broke windows to escape shooting
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) NOTE: This account contains disturbing and graphic accounts of a mass shooting. It was updated late Friday to include new statements from MSU about the location of gunfire within Berkey Hall. LANSING — Shortly after shots were fired in Berkey Hall at Michigan State University, students and professors hid in […]
Michigan schools find creative ways to nudge receptive students to read more
by Janelle D. James Reading levels for Michigan students are far below the national average, but schools across the state have implemented initiatives to encourage students to read more and at their grade level. About 45% of third grade students scored proficient or higher in English language arts during the 2018-2019 school year, according to […]
DTE, Consumers Energy to Michigan lawmakers: We need to do better
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Elouise Garley says she never imagined she’d have to use lanterns to light her home after leaving war-torn Liberia more than 20 years ago for Detroit. “As a teenager, we used (lanterns) as electricity, and I got traumatized by darkness. Whenever it’s dark, I think of the days of […]
Michigan moves to end threat of jail to hunters who fail to report deer kills
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Michigan lawmakers are moving to reform a controversial law that threatens hunters with 90 days in jail for failing to notify state regulators of deer kills. Fresh off the first season under a mandatory reporting policy that was never fully enforced, momentum is building to ease penalties to a simple […]
Whitmer signs anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ residents in Michigan into law
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s LGBTQ residents will be covered by the state’s anti-discrimination law under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday. The legislation, dubbed historic by supporters and LGBTQ rights advocates, means that employers won’t be able to fire or refuse to hire a person because of their sexual orientation or gender […]
From migrant worker to Michigan teacher: ‘Just keep fighting for your dreams’
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) KALAMAZOO – It’s 3pm on a rainy February day at Arcadia Elementary, part of Kalamazoo Public Schools, and the 20 kindergarteners in Alfredo Aleman’s classroom are squirming in their seats. Ninety percent are what the Michigan Department of Education calls economically disadvantaged. Eight are from homes where English isn’t spoken. […]
Michigan voter roll maintenance means removing nearly 100,000 registrations
Oralandar Brand-Williams, Votebeat (for Bridge Michigan) As Michigan election officials prepare to remove nearly 100,000 potentially ineligible voters as part of a periodic cleanup, they are turning to local clerks and community groups to check their work and ensure no eligible voters are improperly removed. Clerks and other election officials have scoured Social Security death […]
