Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Legislature sends K-12 budgets to Whitmer

By Rick Pluta • Sep 20, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) — Rick Pluta / MPRN

The Legislature has sent a K-12 schools budget to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The bill was adopted with the support of Republicans and Democrats, but the budget has a lot less money then what the governor recommended for special education and at-risk students.

Retailers have 14-days to stop selling flavored vaping products in Michigan

By Rick Pluta • Sep 18, 2019

Flavored vaping products will be banned in Michigan under emergency rules that were issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday.

Brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers have 14 days to remove flavored vaping products from their inventories that are available to the public, accofding to the department.

Gambling expansion on hold until after budget drama ends

By Cheyna Roth • Sep 18, 2019

Discussions to bring sports betting and online gaming to the state are on hold until Michigan has a budget.

Sports betting legislation gains traction

By Cheyna Roth • Sep 17, 2019

Plans to make Michigan a sports betting state are moving through the state Legislature. A package of bills is scheduled to be voted out of a House committee Tuesday.

State preps for winter weather

By Cheyna Roth • Sep 12, 2019

Michigan has multiple steps it can take to ensure there’s enough energy for homes and businesses if the state has another polar vortex this winter.

Whitmer and legislative leaders reach consensus: budget first, roads later

By Cheyna Roth • Sep 10, 2019

Negotiations to come up with a long-term plan to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads have been put on hold. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican legislative leadership announced Monday that their main priority is the budget.

Educators weigh in on controversial 3rd grade reading law

By Max Johnston • Sep 5, 2019

In 2016, then Gov. Rick Snyder signed the controversial “Read by Grade Three” bill into law. It's meant to improve the reading and writing abilities of third graders in Michigan, but if their scores don’t rise students could be held back.

As the law starts to take effect, educators are frustrated with how it aims to get test scores up.

Back to school

Lawmakers return to Lansing with criminal justice changes at top of to-do list

By Cheyna Roth • Aug 27, 2019

The state Legislature plans to go back to its normal schedule this week. Republicans in the state House plan to keep working on a budget and road funding plan they can agree on along with the Senate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, but they’ve got other priorities too.

School year could begin with no state budget

By Rick Pluta • Aug 22, 2019

The school year is about to begin in Michigan without contracts between many districts and teachers. That’s because the state Legislature has not adopted a K-12 schools budget to let school boards and teachers unions know how much money they’ll have to work with.

Embattled civil rights chief takes leave of absence

By Rick Pluta • Aug 21, 2019

The embattled director of the Michigan Civil Rights Department has taken a leave of absence. That’s after Agustin Arbulu resisted calls for him to resign amid findings of misconduct and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission refused to fire him.

Whitmer: Gas tax increase is economically responsible

By Rick Pluta • Aug 20, 2019

Governor Gretchen Whitmer toured an elementary school in Flint Monday to call attention to the fact that schools have started their academic year, but they don’t know how much financial support to expect from the state.

Governor bars embattled civil rights chief from cabinet meetings

By Rick Pluta • Aug 15, 2019

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has barred embattled Michigan Civil Rights Department Director Agustin Arbulu. Whitmer says it’s time for Arbulu to be fired for “unacceptable conduct.”

Whitmer wants tougher 'red flag' gun law

By Rick Pluta • Aug 14, 2019

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she would support a “red flag” law to allow law enforcement to seize firearms from someone who is deemed a risk.

Whitmer says Legislature should return to work on roads

By Rick Pluta • Aug 13, 2019

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer watches as road expert explains damage to bridge infrastructure. — Rick Pluta

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has again called on Republican leaders to reconvene the Legislature to wrap up work on a new state budget and a plan to fix the roads. But GOP leaders say there’s no reason yet.

Governor Whitmer signs bill designating portion of M-10 freeway 'Aretha Franklin Memorial Highway'

By Cheyna Roth • Jul 23, 2019

A former Detroit superstar will now have a portion of the freeway named in her honor. The Aretha Franklin Memorial Highway will run along a section of the M-10 freeway, between Livernois and I-94 in Detroit.

Michigan Supreme Court asks for input on jurisdiction on adopt and amend case

By Cheyna Roth • Jul 10, 2019

The Michigan Supreme Court is unsure if it can weigh in on the method used to change Michigan’s minimum wage and earned sick time laws, and it wants Attorney General Dana Nessel to weigh in.

Farmers get state and federal money to help with wet weather

By Max Johnston • Jul 9, 2019

Record rainfall this year has hit northern Michigan crops hard, and now farmers Up North are getting some help from the federal and state governments.

Anti-abortion groups get ready to canvass the state

By Cheyna Roth • Jun 26, 2019

Anti-abortion groups will soon be on sidewalks and at events around the state, asking voters to support ballot measures that would restrict abortion in Michigan.

Whitmer signs supplemental spending bill worth more than 28 million dollars

By Cheyna Roth • Jun 25, 2019

The money will be distributed to a variety of areas, including funding for implementing parts of the new Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water.

Points North, Ep. 18: Getting a good education

By Morgan Springer • Jun 20, 2019

This week on Points North, a good preschool education can lead to success later in life. As Michigan officials push to enroll more kids in programs, poor funding and infrastructure get in the way. Plus, we celebrate the teachers who have impacted your lives.

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11:05

Listen to the entire show here.

Preschools face uphill battle in northern Michigan

By Max Johnston • Jun 20, 2019

Researchers say if your kid goes to a good preschool, they'll be better off as an adult. A four-decade study from the HighScope Educational Research Foundation looked at the long-term effects preschool had on students. It found that kids who went to high-quality preschools grew up to have higher incomes and IQs than those who didn't. They also committed fewer crimes and had fewer teenage pregnancies.