Michigan lawmakers are frustrated after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected a request for financial aid to fix damages from flooding in the Upper Peninsula between April and May. State Reps. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, and Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River said the flooding caused millions in damages to the UP. The request for a major disaster declaration would have brought public assistance and hazard mitigation to the Upper Peninsula to assist people who were directly impacted by the flo...
Sep 22, 2023•3 min•Ep. 132
United Auto Worker Union President Shawn Fain gave the Big Three Detroit Automakers a noon deadline on Friday to strike a deal or more workers will walk out of factories. It’s the first UAW strike in history hitting Ford, Stellantis and General Motors simultaneously. But this time, the strikes target specific plants, dubbed the “stand-up strike,” in which they’re striking about 12,700 of their workers. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Sep 21, 2023•3 min•Ep. 131
A Michigan lawmaker wants Auditor General Doug Ringler to investigate state prison staffing practices. Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, sent a letter to Ringler requesting a review of staffing shortages and alleged violations of federal and state labor regulations within the Michigan Department of Corrections. The MDOC has more than 13,000-full time positions as of fiscal year 2023. Lightner represents Jackson County, home to several state prisons and a large population of corrections employee...
Sep 16, 2023•4 min•Ep. 130
Some Republicans and Democrats agree Michigan's Freedom of Information Act should be reformed and will propose legislation later this year. Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat, called FOIA reform a “good government” issue. A 2015 report gave Michigan an ‘F’ grade for government transparency and accountability. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support
Sep 15, 2023•3 min•Ep. 129
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sued the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority over alleged PFAS contamination. The lawsuit claims the airport authority is liable for previous releases of PFAS-containing firefighting material known as aqueous film-forming foams, under Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, as well as for violations of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Re...
Sep 14, 2023•4 min•Ep. 128
When Michigan voters passed Proposal 1 in November 2022, they required the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state and each lawmaker to file an annual financial disclosure report with the Department of State. The report must disclose assets, income sources, liabilities, positions held, gifts received, and more, a House Fiscal analysis says. But the Legislature must enact the provisions. If not enacted by Dec. 31, a Michigan resident could sue the Legislatu...
Sep 09, 2023•2 min•Ep. 127
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia by filing an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing Title IX exemptions established by the Trump Administration hurt gay and transgender students. The brief is part of Hunter v. U.S. Department of Education. The case began in response to Trump Administration exemptions to Title IX, Other groups, such as Christian universities, argue the legal exemption is necessary under the ...
Sep 08, 2023•3 min•Ep. 126
A new bill aims to protect public access to government communications under the Freedom of Information Act by preventing the government from speaking in code to thwart records requests. State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, introduced the legislation after a lawsuit claimed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration used encrypted Greek letters to discuss the Benton Harbor water lead crisis to avoid public scrutiny. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michiga...
Sep 07, 2023•3 min•Ep. 125
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed enacting a paid family leave program, a 100% clean energy standard and codifying the Affordable Care Act in her "What's Next" speech that outlined the fall agenda Wednesday. The second-term Democratic governor outlined her priorities as state Democrats control the governor's office, House and Senate in Michigan for the first time in 40 years. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Sep 02, 2023•4 min•Ep. 124
Michigan will spend $5 million to survey replacing the state’s waning gas tax revenue with a miles-traveled tax as more electric vehicles drive on roads but pay less to fix them relative to gas- and diesel-fueled vehicles. The newly signed $82 billion 2024 budget directs state officials to apply for grant funding “under the national motor vehicle per-mile user fee pilot program” under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Upon awarded grant funding, Michigan must establish a pilot program ...
Sep 01, 2023•4 min•Ep. 123
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said it’s too early to determine whether Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new education agency is legal or not.On Aug. 8, the State Department of Education requested an attorney general legal opinion regarding the constitutionality of Whitmer’s executive order creating the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. Nessel responded in a letter, saying: “At this point, the EO is not yet effective and therefore has not been implemented b...
Aug 31, 2023•3 min•Ep. 122
Three different Michigan Department of Transportation projects began this week with funding coming from the Rebuilding Michigan $3.5 billion endowment, as well as the $5 billion Building Michigan Together Plan. Construction will be completed along I-75, M-55 and M-96. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support
Aug 26, 2023•2 min•Ep. 121
Michigan lawmakers and the State Board of Education are questioning if the creation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s second education department is legal. Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, called on Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to block the department's creation. Last week, the board voted unanimously to ask Nessel for her opinion on whether Whitmer's recently unveiled Michigan Department of Lifelong, Education, Advancement and Potential is legal. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotif...
Aug 25, 2023•3 min•Ep. 120
Michigan plans to spend $17 million funding drone aerial infrastructure projects via the 2024 $82 billion budget. About $10 million will fund advanced aerial mobility projects including vertiports, drone hubs and ports and last-mile delivery. Another $7 million will fund a drone park at Battle Creek Unlimited called MICH-AIR, an advanced air mobility park at the Battle Creek Executive Airport that includes about 200 acres of land available for development. Support this podcast: https://podcaster...
Aug 24, 2023•4 min•Ep. 119
The way vehicles look has changed drastically since the early 1900s, but roads haven’t changed as much in regard to safety features. Vehicle technology now includes blind-spot motion-sensors, automatic braking and better airbags, but for the most part, roads don’t include safety features. One company says they can make roads with sensors that give real-time updates to first responders, the Michigan Department of Transportation and other drivers with advanced cars, which would make the state’s hi...
Aug 19, 2023•3 min•Ep. 118
Michigan taxpayers will pay $506,000 to five private boating companies and one university to demonstrate electric boating potential on the Great Lakes, including shore-side charging stations. The funds support six entities: Arc Boat Company, Aqua superPower,Hercules Electric Mobility, Lilypad Labs, Michigan Technological University, and Voltaic Marine, Inc. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Aug 18, 2023•4 min•Ep. 117
Multiple times in 2021, Michigan’s utilities left more than 100,000 people in the dark after powerful storms uprooted trees and left inches of ice coating power lines – more than its Midwest neighbors, according to federal data. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s annual 2021 electric power report says Michiganders faced more than 800 minutes of electric interruptions in 2021 that lasted longer than five minutes – nearly double the national total and more than its Midwest neighbors. Sup...
Aug 17, 2023•4 min•Ep. 116
The city of Flint has repeatedly made media lists for being among the most dangerous cities in America, and its been under a gun violence emergency since June 2021. The federal government and a non-profit have pitched in with millions of dollars to boost funding for the city’s police department. Flint’s police have been one of the most-funded operations in the city, costing almost twice as much as any other department. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-foc...
Aug 11, 2023•4 min•Ep. 115
Michigan's charter school association is citing a national study that showed it was one of 10 states or regions in the country that performed better than its peer students in traditional public schools. The Michigan Association of Public School Academies cited the 2023 CREDO study that stated Michigan had learning gains in reading and math that were statistically larger than traditional public schools. The study used data from 2014 to 2019 as measured by state achievement tests. Support this pod...
Aug 10, 2023•2 min•Ep. 114
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill funding 45 outdoor recreation projects with $23.3 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants. House Bill 4437 approves funding for the 45 development projects and land purchases recommended by the board. The Trust Fund board recommends funding to state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions that it believes will increase the quality and quantity of public outdoor recreation opportunities. Support this podcas...
Aug 05, 2023•4 min•Ep. 113
Plymouth Township trustees have yet to say if Michigan taxpayers will shell out $25 million to move a horse racetrack 4.5 miles. When the Northville Downs horse racetrack closes at this year's end, it might move to Plymouth Township. Established in 1944, Northville Downs is Michigan’s oldest and only nighttime harness racing track. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Aug 04, 2023•4 min•Ep. 112
A Detroit sibling pair along with two others are accused of stealing $3.5 million from taxpayers via an unemployment fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Charged are Kenny Lee Howard III, 30, Keila Lanae Howard, 34, David Christopher Davis, 25, and Stevenvan Eugene Ware, 30. Court records say the Howards and the two other defendants filed over 700 unemployment insurance claims in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, California, New York, Kansas, Maryland, ...
Aug 03, 2023•2 min•Ep. 111
A federal indictment unsealed this week accused seven people of stealing $11 million from 50 victims in West Michigan and nationwide, most of whom were elderly people. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten welcomed the charges targeting an international crime ring. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support
Jul 29, 2023•7 min•Ep. 110
More than a decade after the state of Michigan took over the city of Flint due to financial debt, the city of Flint is facing the same financial problems. The state of Michigan took over the city of Flint's finances in December 2011 when then-Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, appointed an emergency manager . The state took over because Flint was in a financial mess with an underfunded pension system and debt-ridden budgets. Flint experienced a consistent deficit in the general fund as well as othe...
Jul 28, 2023•5 min•Ep. 109
Detroit taxpayers forked over $56 million in police settlement payouts between 2020 and four months of 2023. Those payouts are a record amount in recent history, but public officials won’t explain why. That’s an increase of $38 million compared to the Detroit Police Department’s settlement payouts from 2018-2020, which totaled $18 million, according to documents obtained through records requests. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Jul 22, 2023•5 min•Ep. 108
Despite an injection of millions of federal stimulus money, the city of Flint had a deficit in 2021-22 and is projecting more red ink for its general fund through 2024-25. The city of Flint had a $3.8 million general fund deficit in 2021-22 and estimates it will finish 2022-23 with a $14.4 million deficit, according to budget documents. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Jul 21, 2023•6 min•Ep. 107
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order establishing the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, or MiLEAP. MiLEAP is meant to improve education outcomes from preschool through postsecondary by establishing clear metrics, collaborating with cross-sector leaders at the local, regional, and state level, and developing a shared action plan. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support...
Jul 14, 2023•4 min•Ep. 106
Michigan lawmakers have introduced bills they assert are “totally different” than Michigan’s past film incentive program, which was spiked by former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2015. The recently introduced Multimedia Jobs Act aims to give a 30% tax credit to Michigan companies that hire Michiganders. The bill sets a base 25% tax credit for in-state spending with an extra 5% awarded for including the words "filmed in Michigan," "Pure Michigan," "Michigan Film & Digital Media Office," and ...
Jul 13, 2023•5 min•Ep. 105
Detroit’s Midtown Cultural Center will receive $12 million from Michigan taxpayers if, as anticipated, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the 2024 budget passed last week by legislators. The money will supplement the anticipated $38 million first phase of multiple projects to renovate a number of landmarks, among them the Midtown Cultural Center that includes the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Public Library, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Detroit Science Cent...
Jul 07, 2023•7 min•Ep. 104
A Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency report shows in fiscal year 2017-18, adjusted total appropriations equaled $55.8 billion. From fiscal year 2017-24, spending ballooned to $82 billion – a spending increase of $26 billion, or 47%. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2024 budget alone adds 899 government workers. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michigan-in-focus/support
Jul 06, 2023•7 min•Ep. 103
