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Citizens cannot do their job of running their government if they don’t know what their public servants are doing. Bridge will take you beyond the political food fights into the policy decisions that affect everyday life.
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Nessel investigates Unlock Michigan petition drive
One longtime elections attorney said the attorney general's probe could result in misdemeanor criminal charges against circulators, petition firms or others involved in the effort.
After a summer of protest, will Michigan’s young voters show up in November?
Young voters could be a formidable bloc in the November election, and activists from both major political parties say they’re more motivated than ever. But despite efforts to make it easier to vote than ever, some question if they will.
Whitmer orders Michigan schools to tell the public about COVID cases
Pressure mounted for more than a month on the administration to require more immediate public notifications of coronavirus outbreaks at Michigan schools as students returned for the fall term.
Whitmer: Michigan movie theaters can open and K-5 students must wear masks
Many businesses set to reopen on Oct. 9 — like event venues and bowling alleys — have been closed in much of the state since mid-March.
State and national Republicans sue Michigan over extended ballot deadline
A Court of Claims judge temporarily blocked a rule requiring ballots be received by Election Day for them to count. Republicans hope to reverse that.
After Breonna Taylor decision, protests still outpace legislation in Michigan
Key police reform bills were urgently drafted in June, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. But they are still awaiting approval in Lansing, which one lawmaker predicted would come in this year’s lame-duck session.
Bills to wipe criminal records clean pass Michigan Legislature
The package may make hundreds of thousands more Michiganders eligible for expungement.
Bill to speed up absentee ballot counting passes Michigan House
Democrats have said the GOP-led legislation doesn’t go far enough, but all agree it will at least partially help ease the crush of expected ballots.
MI ‘actively considering’ ordering K-12 schools to reveal COVID outbreaks
Hours after a committee hearing in which health officials said they can’t report school outbreaks more than once a week, Michigan’s public health director told Bridge Michigan the Whitmer administration may order schools to publicly reveal outbreaks as they are confirmed.
Unfazed by crises, northern Michigan embraces Trump record on jobs, abortion
Welcome to Missaukee County, where 3 of 4 voters backed Donald Trump four years ago and voters say racial injustice and the coronavirus aren’t pressing issues. Trump needs to dominate in such rural areas if he hopes to repeat in November, experts say.
Six Michigan regions view politics far differently. They may decide election.
Michigan is up for grabs in the presidential election. But rather than one cohesive state, it consists of six independent regions that digest politics far differently. Here’s what to look for in the six weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
Signature fight expected over Michigan petition drive to limit Whitmer powers
The Unlock Michigan group seeking to repeal Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers has collected enough signatures to advance its initiative to the Republican-led Legislature for likely enactment. But they may not be counted until next year, setting up a fight.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pledges to make Michigan carbon-neutral by 2050
Michigan becomes the ninth state in the nation to set a carbon neutral goal. Environmental groups say the impact of climate change is already harming the Great Lakes State.
Fact Squad | Meijer hits and misses with ad on Scholten health care plan
In a new TV ad, Peter Meijer says hospitals will close with Hillary Scholten’s health care plan. Studies suggest that may be true. But Meijer also fudges his own stance.
State: Officials too busy to report MI school COVID outbreaks more often
Once-weekly reporting of coronavirus outbreaks in schools is the most local public health workers can handle, state health officials argued Wednesday.
Schools spared, pork added, Pure Michigan restored in $62.8B state budget
Months after dire predictions that COVID-19 would force massive state spending cuts, rebounding revenue and federal assistance helped Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders strike a deal to avoid major service cuts. They even managed to find enough money for 33 “pork barrel” spending projects.
In Senate bid, John James is blunt about police, racism. Less so about Trump.
Seen as a rising star and the GOP’s best chance at flipping a Senate seat, John James opens up about his mistreatment at the hands of police and sympathies for protesters. But he’s less candid about the president he once said he supports “2,000 percent.”
Whitmer, GOP leaders ditch transparency on budget for secret COVID deal
State lawmakers could vote as soon as Wednesday on a roughly $60 billion budget bill that few have seen. It’s the latest development involving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who campaigned on a pledge of transparency but has been slow to release information during the pandemic.
How to vote early in the November election in Michigan
Early voting begins on Thursday, when clerks begin sending out absentee ballots to regular voters. Here’s how to cast your absentee ballot before Election Day.
Five ways Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, replacement could impact Michigan
Health care, abortion and even the presidential election could be impacted by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Friday evening.