Arts & Entertainment
Rep. Matthew Bierlein R-Vassar.

Proposal would restrict deepfake images depicting sexual content

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DEEPFAKES: A Vassar lawmaker wants to crack down on deepfakes, which are photos or videos with digitally altered faces or bodies to appear to be someone else, usually used maliciously or to spread false information. The legislation raises First Amendment free speech questions. Cosponsors include representatives from Metro Detroit. An expert at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School discusses. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Pedestrians walk along a street in downtown East Lansing. The area boasts many restaurants and is intersected by bus lines serving Michigan State University and Lansing’s capital area.

Many Ingham County Democrats lukewarm on Biden

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INGHAM COUNTY PROFILE: Ingham County leans heavily Democratic and supported Biden over Trump 65% to 33% in 2020. But it’s also a mix of rural, urban and college communities, cutting through a unique cross-section of voters in a state expected to play a pivotal role in this year’s elections. By Viet Anh Phan, Donte Smith, Jada Vasser and Campbell Berg. FOR ALL POINTS.

Elections & Politics
Dingell talks environmental priorities in election year

Dingell talks environmental priorities in election year

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DINGELL: U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, discusses priority environmental issues facing Congress this election year, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, clean-up of contaminated waterways such as the St. Clair River and electric vehicles. Energy Secretary (ex-Gov.) Granholm was recently in Michigan promoting training standards for battery industry workers. Includes references to the St. Clair River, Deer Lake, Manistique River, Lower Menominee River, St. Marys River, Clinton River, Detroit River, Kalamazoo River, Muskegon Lake, Saginaw Bay, Torch Lake, White Lake, Rouge River and River Raisin. By Eric Freedman. FOR DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, BAY MILLS, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, MIDLAND, MONROE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture
The 10 largest corn-growing counties

Corn farmers again reject assessment bump amid “bad timing” for industry

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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.

Business & Economy
Sen. Sue Shink is a Northville Township Democrat.

Push underway to restrict tobacco sales

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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.

Diversity Issues
Jamie Stuck is the president of the United Tribes of Michigan and tribal chair of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi.

Liaison office would be first to connect tribes and Legislature

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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.

Elections & Politics

Advocates push prisons to stop using visitor restrictions to punish prisoners

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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.