Elections & Politics
The 13 lawyers in the Michigan House with their party affiliation and hometown.

Ranks of lawyers in Legislature sparse

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LAWYER LEGISLATORS: Where have all the lawyers gone? Not to the Legislature, which has a scarcity of attorneys in its ranks, although they dominate the House Judiciary Committee. This year is the first time in Michigan history when the Senate has none. The 13 in the House include representatives from Hillsdale, Grand Rapids, Metro Detroit and Lansing. By Eric Freedman. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HILLSDALE, LANSING CITY PULSE, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service
The Capitol in Lansing

Women underrepresented in Legislature, data shows

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WOMEN LEGISLATORS: Nationally, a record number of women serve in state legislatures, including 35.8% of Michigan representatives and senators. This year is the first time women make up a majority of the House Democaric caucus. Women nationally account for a growing proportion of legislative leaders, although Michigan has never had a female House speaker or Senate majority leader. We talk to lawmakers from Farmington, Pontiac and Detroit and the Michigan Political Leadership Program run by MSU. By Sophia Lada. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, AND ALL POINTS.

Elections & Politics
A "vote" sign is staked outside Dixie Baptist Church in Oakland County's Springfield Township.

Michigan voters head to polls

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Michigan voters headed to the polls this morning amid a pandemic that’s helped push absentee voting to record levels. More than 3 million Michigan voters have cast absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s office, and 2 million people are expected to vote in person at the polls today. That could beat a turnout record of just over 5 million ballots cast in 2008.

Health

More counties oppose red flag laws with resolutions

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A growing number of county commissions are debating or adopting symbolic resolutions in support of the Second Amendment. Advocates say they worry that red flag laws will interfere with the right to bear arms. We talk to the sheriffs in Lake and Livingston counties and officials in Mackinac and Missaukee counties.

Ballot Issues

Supreme Court rejects redistricting in Michigan

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The Supreme Court has rejected a ruling that would have required district lines to be redrawn in Michigan. In April, three federal judges, including two from Michigan and one from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, ruled the current lines are drawn unconstitutionally to benefit the G.O.P. before the 2020 election. They said it suppressed Democratic voters. Two months later, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 they have no place to determine partisan gerrymandering cases. On October 21st, they dismissed the case entirely.

Business & Economy

Local tourists spots voice concerns over Pure Michigan cut

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer cut the proposed $37.5 million budget from the 2020 state budget. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MEDC, tells Focal Point News, “Governor Whitmer and the MEDC remain committed to the Pure Michigan Campaign and the positive impact it has had on the tourism industry in Michigan.” They continued to say the cut is a “recognition that the Legislature cannot continue to pass record-high budgets for Pure Michigan while funding for other economic development initiatives is cut to record lows.” Greg Taucher, an advertising professor at Michigan State, said you can’t just turn off the lights on Pure Michigan. “I think that if Michigan killed their tourism campaign, they’d be in a deficit position,” he said.