Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/elections-politics/michigan/page/2/)
LIVINGSTON COUNTY PROFILE: Political differences are deeper than they appear in GOP-leaning Livingston County, especially as the demographics of its residents change. We hear a variety of views on the liberal-conservative spectrum. By Ruth Thornton and Victor Woodell. FOR FOWLERVILLE, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
CORN VOTE: Corn growers have again rejected a bid to double their per-bushel assessment to support commodity-related research, promotion and lobbying. Lenawee, Saginaw and Sanilac are the biggest corn-growing counties. Allegan and Hillsdale are among the top 10. We talk to the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and farmers from Greenville and Sherwood. By Alex Walters. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, BLISSFIELD, ADRIAN, COLDWATER, HOLLAND, HILLSDALE, GREENVILLE, IONIA, MONROE AND ALL POINTS.
TOBACCO LEGISLATION: Pending legislation would toughen restrictions on flavored tobacco products and vapes, including allowing counties to adopt restrictions that are tougher than the state’s. We talk to a sponsor from Northville Township and the Michigan Municipal League. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
TRIBAL LIAISON OFFICE: A new proposal would create an Office of the Tribal Legislative Liaison to improve communication between the House and Senate and Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes. We talk to the president of the United Tribes of Michigan, who is a citizen of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Department of Health and Human Services and sponsors from Ann Arbor and Clare. References the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Other sponsors include lawmakers from Marquette, Lansing, Traverse City and St. Joseph. By Liz Nass. FOR CLARE AY MILLS, MIDLAND, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LEELANAU, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE, MARIE, ST. IGNACE, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE, LEELANAU AND ALL POINTS.
PRISON VISITS: A Corrections Department policy that cancels visitation rights for disciplinary violations such as substance abuse and inappropriate touching can be overly harsh and punishes inmates’ families as well as the inmates, critics say. A report says 1,312 prisoners received visit restrictions in 2023. We talk to a mother from Oakland County, the Corrections Department, a former prisoner and Citizens for Prison Reform. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, MARQUETTE, IONIA, GREENVILLE, COLDWATER, FOWLERVILLE,, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.
EARLY VOTING: Michigan’s new law allowing early in-person voting may smooth Election Day for the local clerks who run elections. The clerks of Ottawa and Kent counties and a national expert explain. By Theo Scheer. FOR ALL POINTS.
ELECTIONS: State election officials say their goal is to strike a balance between easy voter access and election security this year. The county clerks in Kent and Ottawa counties, the former state Elections director and the deputy secretary of state explain. By Owen McCarthy. FOR ALL POINTS.
RESTORING CIVICS: There’s a need for more civics education for youth and for more public trust in the election system, according to conference panelists at Wayne State University and Secretary of State Jocylen Benson. By Sophia Ceru, Anish Topiwala and Elijah Taub. FOR ALL POINTS.
BENSON DEMOCRACY: Secretary of State Joceyln Benson talks about protecting the integrity of Michigan’s election system. That includes combating misinformation, taking measures to avert the dangers that artificial intelligence may pose and creating Voter Confidence Councils. By Alex Walters. FOR ALL POINTS.
RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH. Public health agencies and their employee in rural areas have been facing lower public trust in their work since the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk to the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, the district director whose agency covers Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola and Roscommon counties, and the former health officer for Ingham and Kalamazoo counties. Public health departments in the UP and Northern Lower Peninsula are funding TV and social media campaigns that portray their staff as everyday members of the community. Includes Ottawa County reference. By Alex Walters. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, BIG RAPIDS, MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, LANSING CITY PULSE PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GREENVILLE, CHEBOYGAN, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, WKTV, MONTMORENCY, ALCONA, ALPENA AND ALL POINTS.