A series of public hearings in May and June will allow self-identified “communities of interest” to make their case for inclusion in the redrawing of district maps for federal and state elections.
Elections & Politics
Big money, lack of transparency, raise concerns over ballot petition drives
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PETITION COSTS: What’s a statewide ballot petition campaign cost? Millions. We look at the two underway now, Unlock Michigan to limit governors’ emergency powers and Fair and Equal Michigan to expand anti-dsicrimination protection for LGBTQ individuals. The Michigan Campaign Finance Network bemoans the high price tag and the fact that donors’ names to petition campaigns don’t need to be publicly disclosed. By Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS.
Elections & Politics
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
‘We now have a seat at the table:’ Michigan tribes embrace new Interior secretary
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INTERIOR SECRETARY: What do Michigan’s tribes want from the new secretary of the Interior, the country’s 1st Native American Cabinet member? We hear from Northern Michigan University’s Center for Native American Studies, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The state is home to 12 of the 574 federally recognized tribes, including the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. By Shelden Krause. FOR BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, PETOSKEY, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, HARBOR SPRINGS, XXX AND ALL POINTS.
Environment
Conservation experts wary of legalizing trotlines and juglines
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TROTLINES: A Lowell representative wants to let anglers use trotlines and juglines to catch fish, primarily catfish. Michigan United Conservation Clubs and Michigan Trout Unlimited have concerns. We also talked to Lansing bait shop owner. For news and outdoors pages. By Chloe Trofatter. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Capital News Service
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.
News
Let us play: High school athletes rally at the Capitol to restart sports seasons
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Michigan high school athletes and supporters rallied at the Capitol Jan. 30, appealing to the governor to end the COVID postponement of sports
A young crowd, mostly masked, was peaceful, in contrast to recent rallies at this and other Capitols. The students said that sports keep them engaged in school, lift their mental health in dark times and help some of them get into college.
Several who attended said they would like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to acknowledge their #letusplay #letthemplay peaceful demonstration and their demand for a quick return to sports.
Capital News Service
Outlook mixed on Michigan’s effort to ‘fix the damn roads’
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ROADS: The governor is again pushing the Legislature for more generous funding of infrastructure projects, although her pleas have fallen on death Republican ears in the past. Advocates of more money to fix deteriorating roads, bridges and sewer lines say they hope the new Biden administration will be more generous than the Trump administration in supporting state and local projects. We hear from the Michigan Municipal League, road officials in Chippewa, Wayne and Montmorency counties and the Michigan Association of Counties. By Shel Krause. FOR MONTMORENCY, SAULT STE. MARIE, DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
News
Accused of spreading falsehoods, Trump activists say they’re not being accurately portrayed
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Supporters of President Donald Trump, who have held rallies to protest the outcome of the November election, say there are false impressions of their motives. Elections officials and critics of their efforts, however, say they’re spreading false information.
Article
Young voters critical of election process
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The President has been decided, but young voters are still talking about the presidential election. Undecided
“They should have known coming into this election the mail in ballots would be a lot more popular due to COVID-19,” said Aaron Ross, a Michigan State University student. “We should have been prepared and ready to receive and count each ballot properly and ensure everything is correct on time.”
A ballot drop box location in Commerce Township. One of the many drop box locations in Oakland County that can be dropped in. Credit: Lance Limbo
Oakland University student Ethan Talampas agrees.
Ballot Issues
Meridian Township residents weigh mail-in voting pros, cons
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This story is about how voters are feeling about their votes, and if they are having doubts about their ballots being properly collected mainly via mail.