Republicans who tried to put forth their own electors in 2020 election should face charges, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says. In December of 2020, 16 pro-Trump activists — including Michigan GOP chair Meshawn Maddock — tried to get into the state Capitol to put forth their own slate of electors, but were blocked. They also submitted documents making false claims. The group was not authorized to do anything election related..
Michigan unemployment agency director says state is attempting to recoup money from fraudulent claims
Billions in fraudulent unemployment claims paid out during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was the subject of a joint House and Senate Oversight Committee Thursday. According to an independent audit, of the $8.5 billion paid out fraudulently, some of it went to people impersonating others while the majority went to people using their own name to sign up for unemployment. It’s unclear if those people were attempting to defraud the system or..
Michigan health officials warn state is headed toward ‘very sharp crest’ in omicron surge
Fueled by the omicron variant, infections during Michigan’s sustained fourth wave of COVID-19 continue to rise. Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Elizabeth Hertel says they’re expecting the number of new infections to drop quickly after a sharp peak. We're heading toward what will likely be a very sharp crest in this wave..
Matching IDs for Transgender People Is Life-Saving for the Community, Local Activist Says
Members of the trans community are disproportionately impacted by violence -- and some of the hostility has been state-sanctioned. Governmental entities have outed trans individuals by refusing to acknowledge their gender or chosen name. That trickles down into other areas of their life -- like getting health insurance. Late last year, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced..
Rep. Dan Kildee Shares His Story of the Capitol Insurrection: ‘It Was Really Scary’
Even before the insurrection at the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021 was set to be different. Rep. Dan Kildee entered the day set to defend Michigan’s Electoral College votes from a Republican challenge. The GOP goal was to deny Joe Biden the required votes needed for the presidency and keep Donald Trump in the nation’s highest office. Kildee,..
Pranks and False Threats at Schools Carry Heavy Penalties, Michigan Attorney General Says
Students, parents and teachers across the state are concerned about school safety. Worries about gun violence in the wake of the Oxford High School mass shooting have state legislators debating the best way to go about it. While solutions to that problem is a political flashpoint, one thing that could help ease the minds of everyone is an..
Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to Begin Voting on New Legislative Maps
The first iteration of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was bound to have some hiccups. It’s difficult enough redrawing heavily gerrymandered state legislative districts, but then bad advice by the commission’s legal team led to a 90-minute closed door session and a lawsuit taken to the Michigan Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the state’s new redistricting commission will start the process of voting..
Whitmer Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated and Booster Shots “Before Omicron Is Everywhere”
Get vaccinated, then get boosted against the coronavirus – that’s the message from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as the state deals with an extended fourth wave of the pandemic and the state’s health care system -- and its workers -- have been pushed to their limits. “We all see the stories playing out of people who have not been vaccinated who desperately ask to be vaccinated..
Highly Contagious Omicron Variant Could Be Beginning of the End of the Pandemic, Doctor Says
The highly infectious omicron variant of COVID-19 is in Michigan -- and it won’t be long until it’s the dominant strain. The omicron is present in 46 of 50 states in the U.S. and across the border in Canada. It’s more contagious than the delta strain, which has already caused a prolonged fourth wave of infections in Michigan. Some scientists believe that omicron is so infectious practically..
Striking Kellogg Employees Rally After Union and Company Reach Tentative Agreement
Striking Kellogg employees and their families rallied in Battle Creek on Friday as the union for the food giant have a new tentative agreement. 1,400 members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union will vote Sunday and Monday on the new offer. Workers in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee walked off..