Around Michigan & State Government

We’ve Got Issues: Leelanau County nurse running for open seat in MI House

By David Cassleman • Feb 26, 2018

State Rep. Curt VanderWall has announced he won’t run for re-election and will instead run for the state Senate. That means the race for the 101st District seat is wide open.

Officials hope 'mortgage' payments will dig Grand Traverse County out of pension debt

By Aaron Selbig • Feb 23, 2018

Over the last three years, many of the Grand Traverse County’s top officials have resigned or been fired, and the county is now looking for its fourth administrator since 2015.

Much of the turmoil stems from the county’s pension debt – the amount of money the county has promised to retired employees. Right now, Grand Traverse County doesn’t have enough money to cover the pension debt.

Listen

Listening...

/

5:11

Grand Traverse County officials hope their plan to make annual payments on the county's pension debt will be good enough. A new report, expected in June, will measure their progress.

Students and others rally for gun control at state Capitol

By Cheyna Roth • Feb 23, 2018

High schoolers, lawmakers, and concerned citizens held a rally at the state Capitol Thursday for changes to the state’s gun laws.

The rally comes the week after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 17 students and staff members were killed.

Participants called for a ban on assault rifles, stricter background checks before buying a gun, and more money for mental health services. But most of all, the high school students at the rally want to feel safe in their schools.

State House passes 175 million dollar spending bill for roads

By Cheyna Roth • Feb 22, 2018

Lawmakers in Lansing want to put 175 million dollars toward the state’s roads. The state House passed the spending bill Wednesday.

Governor Rick Snyder initially proposed a similar spending bump for the next budget cycle. But lawmakers say the potholes and crumbling roads need to be addressed as soon as possible. They want the money available in time for construction season.

Bills would keep sexual assault assailants away from victims on school grounds

By Cheyna Roth • Feb 21, 2018

A high school freshman came to the state Capitol Tuesday to advocate on behalf of sexual assault legislation.

Gianna Duva goes to Brighton High School. She was sexually assaulted by a fellow student off school grounds. Duva and her mother unsuccessfully petitioned the school board when they found out her assailant would be allowed to return to school with her after he finished his sentence. So they went to the Legislature.

'A Pandora's box of problems': Grand Traverse County struggles with stability

By Aaron Selbig • Feb 20, 2018

To an outsider, Grand Traverse County is a picture of success. New homes and businesses are popping up all over Michigan’s third-fastest growing county, and property values are on the rise.

But insiders describe a county government in chaos.

Listen

Listening...

/

10:08

Former county officials say an entrenched culture resisted Administrator Tom Menzel's changes. But others say Menzel led the county with a top-down, corporate style.

VanderWall won’t run for re-election, will run for state Senate

By David Cassleman • Feb 20, 2018

One of northern Michigan’s most competitive state House districts will have an open seat this fall.

Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) has announced he will not seek re-election in the 101st District, which spans from Northport to Ludington.

VanderWall is instead running for the open 35th District state Senate seat. Twelve counties make up that large Senate district, including Leelanau, Wexford, Crawford and Ogemaw Counties.

We’ve Got Issues: Governor would pick MSU, UM boards under new proposal

By David Cassleman • Feb 19, 2018

A group of state lawmakers is proposing to end public elections for university boards in Michigan and to give that power entirely to the governor.

The people who govern Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University are elected by the public. The state’s 12 other public universities have board members that are appointed by the governor.

Listen

Listening...

/

6:31

Michigan Public Radio reporter Cheyna Roth discusses a measure that would end public elections for choosing governing boards at MSU, UM and WSU.

TC attorney running against Inman in 104th District

By David Cassleman • Feb 16, 2018

Dan O'Neil announced his candidacy for Michigan's 104th District on February 15, 2018. — David Cassleman

A trial attorney from Traverse City is running as a Democrat for Grand Traverse County’s seat in the state House. Dan O’Neil made the announcement at Horizon Books in Traverse City on Thursday morning.

MSU faculty Senate to vote tomorrow on no confidence in Board of Trustees

By Cheyna Roth • Feb 13, 2018

Michigan State University’s Faculty Senate will hold a no confidence vote in the school’s Board of Trustees Tuesday. The vote is, in part, the result of the Board’s appointment of former governor John Engler.

“Although it’s mostly a symbolic vote, I think it very accurately represents our community at this point,” said MSU senior Alondra Alvizo.

Former Gov. Engler will be MSU's interim president

By David Cassleman • Jan 30, 2018

Michigan State University’s board of trustees will pick former Michigan Gov. John Engler to be MSU’s interim president on Wednesday.

The Michigan Public Radio Network confirmed the choice today.

Listen

Listening...

/

5:06

Detroit Free Press reporter David Jesse discusses the choice of former Gov. John Engler as Michigan State University's interim president.

Governor to give final State of the State Tuesday

By Cheyna Roth • Jan 23, 2018

Governor Rick Snyder delivers his eighth State of the State address Tuesday. The State of the State is a yearly event where the governor lays out his priorities for the upcoming year.

Uppal resigns as Grand Traverse County administrator

By Aaron Selbig • Jan 17, 2018

The administrator for Grand Traverse County abruptly resigned Wednesday.

Vicki Uppal served as Grand Traverse County administrator for only four months. She took over for Tom Menzel in September, and quickly began shaking things up in the county leadership.

Legislature and Snyder’s office work on changes in wake of federal tax code

By Cheyna Roth • Jan 5, 2018

Governor Rick Snyder’s administration is looking at making changes to state tax laws early in 2018. That’s after it discovered the new federal tax law could have an impact on Michigan resident’s wallets.

One consequence is the loss of some exemptions. That would raise what people owe in state taxes. Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley has been looking into the issue. He said the administration wants to change the state tax code so residents can still use all the state tax exemptions. Calley said they’re waiting for a bit more data before making any final decisions.

More lenient charges for minors in possession of alcohol in 2018

By Jennifer Weingart • Jan 2, 2018

Starting this year, minors found in possession of alcohol will get a little more leniency under the law. The consequences defined by Michigan’s minor is possession or MIP law changed January 1st.

Former Congressman, longtime tax reformer Dave Camp says tax bill a “positive move forward”

By Stateside Staff • Dec 21, 2017

Listen

Listening...

/

Stateside's conversation with Dave Camp, former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

President Trump and Congressional Republicans are celebrating today after the House and Senate delivered an epic overhaul of our tax laws.

The GOP is hailing the package as a gift to the middle class, although the biggest tax cuts go to corporations and the wealthiest Americans.

Dave Camp is a former Michigan Congressman. He served in the House from 1991 to 2015.

Tax reform was one of his main priorities. In fact, he served four years as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the House's tax writing body. He is now a Senior Policy Advisor for PwC.

Michigan counties file lawsuit against major drug companies

By Cheyna Roth & Rick Pluta • Dec 20, 2017

Nine cities and counties from across Michigan are taking drug companies to court. From the Upper Peninsula to Detroit, they are trying to recover many millions of dollars in costs related to the opioid crisis.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court Monday night. It claims manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy chains misled doctors and the public about the dangers of opioids. And the legal actions also say the drug companies failed to follow safeguards that would have reduced the number of people addicted to opioids.

State opens 6,300 miles of forest roads to ORVs

By David Cassleman • Dec 19, 2017

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Thousands of miles of forest roads will soon open to off road vehicles in northern Lower Michigan.

Governor Rick Snyder signed a law last year permitting ORVs on all Lower Peninsula forest roads, except those closed by the state. Around 6,300 miles of roads will open on January 1.

Northern Michigan representatives push for English as official, state language

By Morgan Springer • Dec 13, 2017

A bill to make English the official language in Michigan has passed a House committee. HB 4053 would require all public government documents be written in English, although they could be printed in another language as well.

Northern Michigan Representatives Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) and Tristan Cole (R-Mancelona) are co-sponsors of the bill.

State could delay cage-free egg rules five years

By Morgan Springer • Dec 13, 2017

Farmers might have more time to come up with cage-free housing for their egg-laying hens.

In 2009, the state passed a bill saying farmers could not confine their lay hens throughout the day. The hens must be able to stand, lie down or turn 360 degrees during most of the day. But a new bill before the Michigan Senate would delay the start date of those rules by five years, from 2020 to 2025.

Democrats try again to repeal Right to Work law

By Cheyna Roth • Dec 13, 2017

Democratic lawmakers are trying once again to repeal the state’s “Right to Work” law.

Five years ago, a Republican-led Legislature made Right to Work the law of the state. It prohibits contracts that make union membership a condition of employment.

Democrats say letting people opt out of unions gives them a free ride to the benefits of the union.

Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) is a bill sponsor. He said strong unions are important to Michigan, but Right to Work diminishes the power of unions and reduces the number of members.

Emmet County offers administrator job to fired GT county employee

By Morgan Springer • Dec 4, 2017

A fired employee from Grand Traverse County has been offered the position of Emmet County administrator. Jennifer DeHaan served as deputy administrator for Grand Traverse County until the county's new administrator, Vicki Uppal, asked her to resign or be fired for “poor performance.”

DeHaan refused to resign, saying the county's issues with her were political and not about performance. She was fired last month.

Commissioners voted 5–2 to offer DeHaan the administrator position last Thursday.

We’ve Got Issues: What does Line 5 deal mean for pipeline's safety?

By David Cassleman • Dec 4, 2017

The oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac will be shut down during bad storms. That’s just one of the agreements reached in a deal announced last week by the state of Michigan and the Canadian oil transport company Enbridge.

Enbridge will replace Line 5 under St. Clair River

By Rick Pluta • Nov 28, 2017

The state of Michigan is imposing some new conditions on the operation of a controversial oil and gas pipeline. The actions include replacing a portion of Enbridge’s Line 5 that runs beneath the St. Clair River.

The new line will be in a tunnel beneath the riverbed. The state will also look at doing the same thing with the portion of the line that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac.