Capital News Service

Educators grapple with COVID days as the new snow days 

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COVID DAYS: School districts have returned to pre-pandemic rules that only allow for six missed days, usually used as snow days. With COVID-19 outbreaks, school officials are hoping to use digital learning to keep up with attendance requirements, but that raises other concerns about children’s access and adequate staffing for online learning. Eastpointe, Baldwin, Reed City and Pickford districts have already closed.We interview a school official in Eastpointe as well as the Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Department of Education. By Kyle Davidson. For DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, LAKE COUNTY STAR, LANSING CITY PULSE and ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service
Total value of in-kind contributions in races for sheriff in Michigan’s 10 most populous counties. Numbers include multiple candidates in some counties and covers from Jan. 1, 2018 to the post-primary filing deadline of Sept. 23, 2020. An in-kind contribution is a non-monetary contribution such as goods or services.

Cigars and vacuum among in-kind contributions to sheriff candidates

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POLITICAL VACUUM: Cigars, a vacuum, a crossbow and $1,200 worth of Red Wings tickets are among the in-kind political contributions Michigan sheriff candidates received in the run up to the 2020 election. A Capital News Service study found that candidates for sheriff in Michigan’s 10 most populated counties received over $69,000 in in-kind campaign contributions. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard received the most – $14,398.14. The average among the 13 candidates who raised or spent enough to file reports was $5,326. Campaign finance experts say the contributions are poorly monitored and penalties for violating contribution rules are rare. By Kyle Davidson and Josh Valiquette. FOR ALL POINTS. Editor’s note: This story is part of a CNS series on money in county political races that can be used up to the election and beyond. The rest of the stories with graphics: County Campaign Finance.

Elections & Politics
Matt Grossmann, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, explains the role media plays in elections during his Five Things to Know About the 2020 Primaries event.

Social media have changed political discourse

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Google was created in 1998. Eight years later Facebook was launched. Fast forward to 2006 and Twitter. In 2010, Instagram was created. 

In the past two decades, the number of social media platforms has expanded significantly. All of these and the many other forms of media have allowed news to move across the world in seconds.

Diversity Issues

Female politicians dressed down for dressing up

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During the 2020 State of the State Address, Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed issues of gender in politics.

While her lighthearted statement was directed at some of her co-legislators, it also addressed the issues of gender in politics and the way female politicians are treated based on their appearance.

Capital News Service

Truckers, hotel workers need human trafficking training, bills say

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A Livingston County senator is among those pushing legislation to require training for truckers and hotel industry employees to recognize and report human trafficking. Police use sting operations as part of their effort to prevent trafficking. Story includes references to cases in Genesee County, Lansing and the Warren area. We hear from the State Police and Michigan Trucking Association.