Capital News Service

Lawmakers advance efforts aiding survivors of sexual misconduct

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SURVIVOR FOIA: Advocates are seeking to give survivors of sexual misconduct greater control over their stories by providing them with stronger privacy protections.The House recently passed a bill preventing Freedom of Information Act requests from revealing the identity of alleged victims of sexual misconduct involved in civil cases. We talk to sexual assault advocates, the Michigan Press Association and a public By Kyle Davidson. FOR DETROIT, MARQUETTE, GRAND RAPIDS, LAKE CITY, LANSING and ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Liquor sellers push to lower alcohol serving age to 17

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TEEN BARTENDERS: As restaurants and bars struggle for staff, the pool of bartenders, servers and liquor sellers could increase with an effort to lower the age requirement to sell and serve alcohol.The proposed change would lower the age for serving or selling alcohol from 18 to 17 while the legal age for drinking would remain 21 That would help areas like Northern Michigan, which had shortages of servers even before by pandemic. We talk to the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, Michigan Retailers Association as well as a policy group opposing the move. For news and business pages. By Kyle Davidson. FOR CORP!, CHEBOYGAN, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, PETOSKY, TRAVERSE CITY and ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

Lawmakers push for state to record meetings 

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RECORDED MEETINGS: Some lawmakers want to require audio recordings at each meeting of a state licensing board, commission panel or rule-making board. A proposed amendment to the Open Meetings Act would require a record of a meeting as audio, video with sound or by a broadcast capable of being recorded. Media groups said such recordings could be an important news gathering tool. But they were proposed after someone lost an appeal of a decision by the Construction Code Commission because a recording was not made. We hear from a Wayland legislator, the Michigan Press and Broadcasters associations, Civil Rights Department and Mackinac Center in Midland. By Kyle Davidson FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, WKTV, CORP!, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Can rescue funds rescue U.P. broadband?  

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U.P. BROADBAND: Could federal rescue funds rescue Upper Peninsula broadband? Poor access has long plagued economic developers, students and health care providers in the region. But local officials are exploring how to pool their federal rescue funds to boost their access to broadband service. By Kyle Davidson. FOR SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, MARQUETTE AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

State legislators push for online shopping protections

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AMAZON FRAUD: As consumers prepare to place their holiday Amazon orders, Michigan lawmakers are considering protections to keep fraudulent online sellers from stealing Christmas.
Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay would have to post information about high-volume third-party sellers, if legislation recently introduced in the House passes. We talk to the Michigan Retailers Association, Amazon and lawmakers from Owosso, Marshall and Farmington Hills. For news and business pages. By KYLE DAVIDSON. For ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment

State encourages counties to convert trash into treasure

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MATERIALS GRANTS: State officials are encouraging countries to think of waste not as a worthless disposal problem but as a valuable resource with a new grant program to help them plan. Some counties are already changing their thinking with plans to consider giving their trash a new life. By Kyle Davidson. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, WKTV, CORP! and ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

Lawmakers seek to keep guns out of abusers’ hands with new restrictions

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GUNS: Survivors of domestic abuse could see additional protections from convicted abusers under newly proposed restrictions on gun ownership. The legislation would prevent people convicted of misdemeanors involving domestic violence from accessing firearms until 8 years after meeting the terms of their sentence. Michigan is one of 18 states without similar restrictions. By Kyle Davidson. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, CADILLAC, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

Allegan County lawmaker proposes mental health crisis line merger

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CRISIS LINES: As the federal government works to roll out a 9-8-8 suicide hotline, one lawmaker is looking to share that same number with Michigan crisis line services. Companion legislation also sponsored by Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, would gather crisis line support from a monthly 55-cent charge to the cell phone bills of all Michigan residents. By Kyle Davidson. FOR HOLLAND, LANSING AND ALL POINTS

Elections & Politics

Amendment to election law would allow prisoner registration

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PRISON VOTING: A group of mostly Detroit-area lawmakers is proposing that prison inmates be allowed to vote. If the amendment is signed into law, Michigan would join Maine, Vermont and Washington, D.C. to allow people to vote while incarcerated, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. By Kyle Davidson. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.