Business & Economy
Attorney Susan Reed is the director of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

Lack of access to driver’s licenses for some immigrants hurts Michigan’s economy, advocates say

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IMMIGRANT LICENSES: Legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and state ID cards has been stalled in committees for a year. Sponsors include lawmakers from Hamtramck and Taylor. Advocates like the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which has offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, say that would be a major benefit to Michigan’s economy. The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police opposes the proposal on the grounds of public safety. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND 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.

Diversity Issues
Rep. Samantha Strekloff, D-Farmington Hills.

Proposal would protect right of college students to wear religious attire

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RELIGIOUS CLOTHING: New legislation would prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students based on their religious clothing and other items they wear, such as hijabs, yarmulkes, Stars of David and crosses. It would also protect Indigenous students who wear culturally significant clothing and objects. We talk to the sponsor, from Farmington Hill, and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Cosponsors include lawmakers from Marquette, Detroit, East Grand River and Livonia. By Elijah Taub. FOR DETROIT, MARQUETTE, GREENVILLE, WKTV, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU 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.

Elections & Politics
Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.

‘Parental rights’ advocates pushing schools on race, gender, sexuality

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PARENTAL RIGHTS: Members of the conservative “parental rights” movement have their eye on the November election for two seats on the state Board of Education and local school boards. References to Moms for Liberty chapters in Midland and Walled Lake. We hear from a White Lake senator who supports the movement, the Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan Education Association. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, MIDLAND, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Elections & Politics
Groves of bark-stripped cedars have been discovered in the St. Ignace district of the Hiawatha National Forest. Those responsible could be charged with a felony and spend up to a year in jail, according to state law.

Desecrated cedars lead to protections under Sault tribal code

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DESECRATED CEDARS: Less than 2 miles past the Mackinac Bridge are dozens of cedars stripped of bark and left to die in the Hiawatha National Forest. An elder of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians explains the cultural significance to the Anishinaabe of cedar, or giizhik, which also has important wetlands benefits.The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has written in protection for cedars in its tribal code. By Daniel Schoenherr. FOR BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY AND ALL POINTS.