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Harper says canceled US Senate debate was ‘sham,’ slams Slotkin for avoiding him before primary
Calling it a “sham,” Detroit Democrat Hill Harper has pushed back against assertions that a previously planned debate with U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) was canceled because of demands he made. Harper and Slotkin are vying for the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat in the Aug. 6 primary. They had been set […] The post Harper says canceled US Senate debate was ‘sham,’ slams Slotkin for avoiding him before primary appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Officials celebrate as Gordie Howe International Bridge becomes official border crossing
With the bridge deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge connected, officials from the U.S. and Canada marked another milestone Wednesday, as the bridge linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, is now an official border crossing. While the final two edge girders connecting the bridge deck were put in place on June 14, the connection process […] The post Officials celebrate as Gordie Howe International Bridge becomes official border crossing appeared first on Michigan Advance.
In Detroit, Whitmer puts focus on safety and jobs while signing off on $83B budget
Following a roaring introduction from Detroit Fire Department Chief James Harris, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday put her signature to the $82.5 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2025 after touting funds for public safety, economic security and infrastructure. Whitmer gathered with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Senate Majority Leader […] The post In Detroit, Whitmer puts focus on safety and jobs while signing off on $83B budget appeared first on Michigan Advance.
How a region responded to Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ with their own book
As a tenth generation Appalachian, Ivy Brashear sees J.D. Vance’s 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” as a “really one-sided and simple view of the region.” In an effort to help broaden people’s view of Appalachia, she decided to share her own narrative as part of a collection of writings in the 2019 book, “Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly […] The post How a region responded to Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ with their own book appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Harris campaign, civil rights group condemn white supremacist march in Howell
Condemnation continues following a demonstration Saturday in Howell featuring a dozen masked white supremacists chanting “Heil Hitler” and carrying signs with messages like “White Lives Matter.” The incident also included a similar protest at a nearby freeway overpass where the group hung Nazi and KKK flags over the side, while one of the protestors was […] The post Harris campaign, civil rights group condemn white supremacist march in Howell appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Michigan Democratic delegates vote to give Harris their support for president
Democratic delegates across the country have acted quickly to show strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris as she seeks the party’s nomination for president after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race Sunday. On Tuesday evening, Michigan Democratic delegates joined several other states in voting as a delegation to give Harris their overwhelming […] The post Michigan Democratic delegates vote to give Harris their support for president appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Whitmer signs bills ending gay panic defense, driver responsibility fee
While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer fielded questions about speculation that she’ll be joining Kamala Harris as her vice presidential pick on the 2024 ballot, she signed Michigan’s $23.4B education budget into law Tuesday, as well as 39 other bills. “Today, I was proud to sign 39 bills that will make a real difference in people’s lives […] The post Whitmer signs bills ending gay panic defense, driver responsibility fee appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Michigan faces a shortage of local clerk candidates, raising alarms about how elections will be run
They are the administrators of democracy, making sure that elections are free, fair and efficient. They maintain the records of local government and are responsible for public access to those records, including births, deaths and the marriages in between. And yet, nearly 10% of the 1,240 township clerk positions that are up for election this […] The post Michigan faces a shortage of local clerk candidates, raising alarms about how elections will be run appeared first on Michigan Advance.
At MSU book tour event, Whitmer again says she has no plans to seek national office
Updated, 11:45 a.m. 7/24/24 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reiterated Tuesday that she currently has no plans to run for president or vice president. Whitmer was asked the familiar question by former Gov. Jim Blanchard during a book tour stop at her alma mater at Michigan State University in East Lansing. The Democratic former governor told her […] The post At MSU book tour event, Whitmer again says she has no plans to seek national office appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Joe Biden’s decision was courage, not weakness. It should inspire us all.
President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday not to seek reelection was the embodiment of courage and should serve as a source of inspiration. It’s the sort of courage that most of us will never be called upon to exhibit, though his critics will say he simply quit because was too feeble and had lost his […] The post Joe Biden’s decision was courage, not weakness. It should inspire us all. appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Whitmer signs $23.4B school budget in Flint amid criticism over funding for students, programs
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gathered with parents, lawmakers and school and budget officials in Flint on Wednesday and signed off on the $23.4 billion education budget for Fiscal Year 2025. “As you all know, education is the key to growth: economic growth, community growth, personal growth. A good economy is built on great schools that deliver […] The post Whitmer signs $23.4B school budget in Flint amid criticism over funding for students, programs appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Michigan leaders talk funding needs after federal infrastructure law expires in 2026
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) held a Commerce subcommittee field hearing in Lansing to gain insight into how a massive federal infrastructure spending bill is implemented across Michigan. The hearing could aid discussions on renewing transportation infrastructure funding in the future and how the federal government assists state and local agencies, in addition to […] The post Michigan leaders talk funding needs after federal infrastructure law expires in 2026 appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Education budget makes strides on Whitmer’s free pre-K and community college plans
Michigan lawmakers expanded access for free pre-K and community college in the Fiscal Year 2025 education budget, which were centerpiece plans for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who’s planning to sign the bill Tuesday afternoon in Flint. Education advocates said Whitmer’s plan would normalize additional free schooling on both ends of the traditional K-12 track, which could […] The post Education budget makes strides on Whitmer’s free pre-K and community college plans appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Many Michigan Black political and religious leaders throw their support to Harris for president
After President Joe Biden, 81, announced on Sunday that he will not seek reelection following weeks of concern about his age, health and mental acuity, several leading Black Michigan Democrats told the Michigan Advance they believe Vice President Kamala Harris has a viable path to defeat former president and GOP nominee Donald Trump. Biden has […] The post Many Michigan Black political and religious leaders throw their support to Harris for president appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Submarine manufacturing program unveiled by Whitmer and national leaders
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other national leaders on Monday announced two projects in partnership with the U.S. Navy in Lansing and Macomb County, a collaboration supporters said would strengthen both the manufacturing industry in Michigan and federal defense capabilities. “As I talk with those who employ workers in many states, they often observe that Michiganders […] The post Submarine manufacturing program unveiled by Whitmer and national leaders appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Will Michigan Democratic delegates put their support behind Harris?
Members of Michigan’s 138-member delegation to the Democratic National Convention are deciding where to place their support now that President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign, instead announcing his support Sunday for Vice President Kamala Harris. Of the nearly 4,000 delegates who will be casting a vote for their pick for president during the […] The post Will Michigan Democratic delegates put their support behind Harris? appeared first on Michigan Advance.
‘We love Hitler. We love Trump.’: White supremacists march through Howell
About a dozen masked white supremacists marched through downtown Howell on Saturday, chanting “Heil Hitler” and carrying signs with messages like “White Lives Matter” and “End the War on White Children.” Howell, which lies between Lansing and Detroit, has long had a reputation for extremist activity. It became known as a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) […] The post ‘We love Hitler. We love Trump.’: White supremacists march through Howell appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Govs. Whitmer, Pritzker, Walz and Evers endorse Harris for president
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday morning ended any speculation that she might seek to replace Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. While wrapping an event in Lansing to announce that a future expeditionary fast transport ship will be named the “USS Lansing,” Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell political action committee issued a press […] The post Govs. Whitmer, Pritzker, Walz and Evers endorse Harris for president appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Tennessee Valley Authority faces a push to get greener and more transparent
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. — When he heard about the sale, Kerry McCarver was perplexed. In 2020, the mayor of rural Cheatham County discovered that the Tennessee Valley Authority bought about 280 acres of rolling farmland “in the middle of nowhere” in his county, which lies just west of Nashville and is home to about 42,000 […] The post Tennessee Valley Authority faces a push to get greener and more transparent appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Michigan AG Nessel calls Biden a ‘modern-day George Washington’
Within minutes after President Joe Biden unexpectedly issued a letter announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race following weeks of criticism and speculation, Michigan Democrats hurriedly fired off social media posts praising him, while several Republicans demanded that he resign immediately. Attorney General Dana Nessel, who had issued what many interpreted as a subtweet about […] The post Michigan AG Nessel calls Biden a ‘modern-day George Washington’ appeared first on Michigan Advance.
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The Michigan Advance is a hard-hitting, nonprofit news site covering politics and policy across the state. We feature in-depth stories, blog posts and social media updates, as well as top-notch progressive commentary. We wholeheartedly believe that journalists have the biggest impact by reporting close to home, explaining what’s happening in our state and communities — and why. Michigan has hundreds fewer reporters than just a couple decades ago. The result is too many stories falling through the cracks. Our staff of five experienced journalists is based in downtown Lansing, but you’ll rarely find us hanging around the office. We believe in good, old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting and aim to cover communities across the state. The Advance is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Advance retains editorial independence.
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