Michigan may be reaching a breakthrough moment when it comes to access to justice. That’s according to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. She tells MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher that the pandemic has played a big role in getting Michigan's justice system to a better, fairer place. Subscribe to MichMash on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or..
WDET’s Annual Festivus Airing of Grievances for 2021
Just as we all thought things would get better in 2021, we’ve racked up a lot of grievances ranging from the ongoing pandemic to Metro Detroit’s favorite snack. “I think we have more self-respect than to tie our entire identity as people to chili on a hot dog.” --Ryan Patrick Hooper, WDET Host Stephen Henderson..
A Grieving Mother Seeks Answers After Detroit Police Investigation of Daughter’s Shooting Death
The morning of July 16, 2020, Antoinette Ivery got the worst news of her life. Her daughter, Kaniesha Coleman, was in the hospital. “I was told that she had shot herself,” Ivery says. “Reason and understanding just went out the window.” Ivery rushed to her daughter’s bedside, but Kaniesha was getting worse. Two days later,..
Petition Effort to Boost Michigan Minimum Wage Moves Closer to Collecting Signatures
The initiative campaign to increase Michigan’s minimum wage took another step Tuesday toward putting a question on the 2022 ballot. The Raise the Wage Michigan campaign filed with state elections officials a summary of its proposal that will appear on the petition form. The campaign will also file a copy of the petition form, but..
How Climate Change Shook Michiganders in 2021 — and What Things Could Look Like in the Years Ahead
Each year, the number of stories highlighting the changing climate has increased. In much of the world, there’s reason for that. This year, climate change took a particular toll in Southeast Michigan, where residents experienced one of the worst flooding seasons in its history. “It’s a different reality, it’s a new world in a changing climate. And really what..
Watch Live: Biden Outlines Plan To Address Surging COVID-19 Cases
As COVID-19 cases surge across the U.S. ahead of Christmas, President Biden delivers remarks on his administration's plans to fight the onslaught of cases and the rapidly-spreading omicron variant of the virus.
A Look Back at 2021 In Michigan Government and Politics
From federal COVID-19 relief funds to the newly formed Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, the Michigan Legislature has faced a lot of changes in 2021. Reporter Zach Gorchow looks back at the year’s political landscape in Michigan, and what to expect from 2022. “There has been some warming of this cold war that’s been going..
Michigan Supreme Court Rules Against Redistricting Commission in First Major Lawsuit
The state Supreme Court is siding against the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. A group of news outlets sued the commission after it discussed memos in secret during an October meeting. The memos covered legal opinions on the Voting Rights Act and historic discrimination. Lawyers for the commission argued that releasing the memos would violate..
Governor Announces Lake Erie Water Quality Improvement Plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is outlining her strategy to protect Lake Erie from agricultural runoff. The adaptive management plan involves lowering runoff at the source, land conservation, and education aimed at reducing the amount of phosphorus that gets into the lake. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) spokesperson Jennifer Holton said the state is..
Looking Back on 2021’s Most Significant Court Cases and News Stories, from Racial Justice to Oxford Shooting
There have been several high-profile trials and legal challenges this year that have dealt with everything from racial justice and abortion rights to how we treat minors and their parents in court. "I thought that [the conviction of Derek Chauvin] was incredibly important to show that police officers can be held accountable." --Barbara McQuade, University of Michigan Law..