Today on Stateside, the details of lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections. A woman is suing the agency over allegations that officers at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility used their body cams to record her without consent while she was giving birth and during her postpartum care. According to her attorney, the experience has left her traumatized.
Then, another installment of What The Vote?, a series highlighting Gen Z voters, their priorities, and their concerns leading up to the 2026 Midterms. This week, a Muskegon city commissioner and resident talked about the qualities she hopes to see in a candidate.
Also, a window into the operations at Froehlich's, a beloved bakery in Three Oaks, Michigan. Founder Colleen Froehlich joined us to talk about her new cookbook,The Froehlich's Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from the Beloved Restaurant and Bakery.
Plus, an off-Broadway play about the Flint Water Crisis makes its way to theatres in Michigan this week. We spoke with the writer and director behind The Poisoner. After the show in Detroit, there will be a talkback with the audience with Michigan Public’s Lindsey Smith and Vince Duffy, who were in Michigan Public's newsroom and closely followed the Flint Water Crisis in 2014.
GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:
Zena Issa, criminal justice reporter for Michigan Public
Kiley Jackson, Muskegon city commissioner at-large
On a recent sunny fall morning, a couple dozen people paddled in bright-colored kayaks past factories, a docked freighter and miniature mountains of industrial materials on southeast Michigan’s Lower Rouge River.
“This is really exciting to have this many people out here kayaking the Rouge because, when I was a kid, the Rouge was so dirty they told you, ‘Don’t touch it,’” said Sally Petrella, watershed ecologist with Friends of the Rouge, which organized the paddling event.
The river was once so polluted it famously caught on fire. Petrella told attendees it has “a long way to go,” but restoration efforts have made it “safe enough for you to be out here paddling.”
Communities across the state are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into rivers like the Rouge, hoping for both environmental and economic returns.
Battle Creek has pitched a project to renaturalize part of the Kalamazoo River that runs over concrete. Grand Rapids is working to restore rapids to the Grand River downtown. A state park is being built around Flint’s riverfront. The state announced earlier this month it’s investing $89 million to clean up the Detroit, Kalamazoo and other rivers.
Backers envision more riverside development bringing tourists to kayak, fish and otherwise enjoy cleaner waterways that are more hospitable to native plants and animals.
Economic impact studies aren’t always completed for such projects, but many point to a 2007 Brookings Institution study that predicted a $3 return for every $1 invested in waterway restoration. A study on the Huron River in 2017 found the river produced $53.5 million in economic activity annually, while a 2023 White River study pegged its economic impact at $20 million.
“We’ve actually done studies in Muskegon that have showed a 6-to-1 return on investment,” said Alan Steinman, a professor at Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute and a co-author of the Michigan Blue Economy report. “The number is less important than the concept that, ’Oh my God, these properties really do have inherent value, cultural value and economic value that had none associated with (them) prior to the restoration effort.”
Kris Martin, an urban planner with Battle Creek Unlimited, the firm helping to look into whether part of the Kalamazoo river should be renaturalized, said removing the aging concrete channel would make the river “a greater amenity to the downtown.”
“Right now, it’s not accessible for the public at all,” he said. “And it’s quite dangerous.”
Martin said costs for the project will depend on the path forward but are expected to be “in the millions.” An economic cost-benefit analysis is expected to be a component in the next report released by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
For the Flint state park project, an economic analysis is not currently planned, because it would cost money, but project spending includes $30.2 million plus a $41 million endowment for future operations and maintenance.
As for Grand Rapids, the project is estimated to cost at least $19 million. Economic impact for the project as it stands today has not been publicized.
Even when the economic impact is not calculated, administrators say river restoration projects can be a worthwhile investment.
Starting in the mid-2000s, the Traverse City area began what has been deemed the largest dam removal project in Michigan’s history. Three dams along the Boardman River were taken out to reconnect coldwater streams and restore fish habitat. The project cost more than $27 million.
Conservation Resource Alliance — which served as the project manager and financial administrator for the effort — said it doesn’t actually know what the economic benefits have been.
“It’s something that’s really hard to quantify and would take a lot of time and investment from the partner collective that removed those dams to do so,” said Gavin MacDonald, communications manager for Conservation Resource Alliance.
But MacDonald said that, anecdotally, the payoff is that the dam removals restored a more free-flowing river that benefits fish and people.
“The river is now navigable, so you can paddle large stretches of the Boardman River,” MacDonald said. “It’s made it more accessible for the people that live in the region and the people that visit to explore and be more connected with nature.”
Sometimes the payoff is known.
For decades, prime downtown waterfront property in Detroit included vacant buildings and abandoned lots. The area has now been transformed to a nationally recognized waterfront that includes greenways and parks, more than eight miles of trails, places to get a drink and go sledding. About $2 billion in public and private dollars have been invested into the project so far and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy says visitors spend $82 million a year.
The Huron River’s water trail was designated a part of the National Water Trail System in 2015. Elizabeth Riggs, deputy director at the Huron River Watershed Council at the time, had a hunch that the water trail and other restoration work benefitted the river, but she wanted proof.
“I and others working on the campaign were keen on trying to tell that story of (the river) in dollar terms — which is, as we know, a good way to tell a story — to try to reach as many people as possible, and to help convince decision-makers to invest in rivers and protecting them and restoring them,” she said.
The watershed council commissioned a study, published in 2017 by Grand Valley State University, to evaluate the economic impact of the Huron River. Researchers found that the river and its water trail were estimated to generate $53.5 million in economic output annually and that the river provided $150 million a year in economic value services through recreation, flood reduction, harboring rare organisms and more.
The study found that nearly 70,000 visitors came to the White River in a year and that the river’s total economic impact was valued at $20 million.
“It’s a good number to know,” said John Stivers, secretary of the White River Watershed Partnership.
But he said that, when it comes to the White River, it’s a little complicated.
The river was designated as a Country-Scenic River by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in 1975. Development on certain stretches need to go through a Natural Rivers Zoning Review Board, he said, and the river is further protected because it runs through national forest land.
Stivers said some people see the White River as a secret and they want to keep it that way.
“There are a lot of people that love it the way it is and aren’t really too interested in turning it into a high economic engine,” he said. “It’s a balance.”
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This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Twenty-four-year old Muskegon resident Kylie Jackson wants older generations of politicians to take her generation more seriously. (Michelle Jokisch Polo / Michigan Public )
In 2024, Michigan saw a record increase in the number of young voters showing up to the polls.
So what are young voters in the state focused on this year? And what do they want from the people asking for their vote?
Our team of summer interns went to find out. We'll be bringing you their stories through November for our What the Vote?! project.
Twenty-four-year-old Muskegon City Commissioner Kiley Jackson is wary about the state of American democracy, but she plans to vote in the general election, hoping to set an example for her generation by staying engaged.
On political accountability:
“You can't just assume that they're [politicians] going to uphold all the values that they said that they were going to when they were running. You can't do that for anybody now.”
The at-large city commissioner identifies as a liberal leaning Democrat, but doesn’t want politicians to assume the values young people like her stand for. She’s frustrated by seeing young people’s voices get overlooked by older generations.
Jackson said she’s planning to back candidates this November whose campaigns aren't funded by corporations, and who demonstrate transparency and authenticity.
On challenges facing voters today:
Affordable housing for low-income Michiganders and expanded access to meaningful employment are two issues top of mind for Jackson.
“Here in Muskegon, we’re hitting the mark for middle income, and we’re getting there for the low, but the extremely low, that’s something that we can start looking at advancing more on.”
Since graduating college, Jackson said she’s witnessed so many college graduates struggle to find jobs locally.
On the current political landscape:
When asked whether she feels current politicians are doing enough to bridge divisions and enact changes that improve people’s lives, Jackson expressed uncertainty about the country’s direction.
“I wish I could say I feel more optimistic about the direction of our country.”
During her undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University, Jackson said she focused on learning about the forces that undermine democracies and drawing parallels to the current political environment in the United States.
“We have somebody in leadership who is pretty authoritarian leaning, and I don’t think Americans like being told what to do. I am intrigued to see how the general population will take that into account when it comes to voting in 2028.”
Jackson sees her generation as free-thinkers and that gives her hope for the future.
Aerial shot of the Victoria Falls on the Zimbawe Zambia Border.
South Africa & Victoria Falls Adventure Featuring Cape Town, Dinokeng Game Reserve, Johannesburg, Chobe National Park, and more!
October 21 - November 2, 2027
Join Michigan Public for an unforgettable African adventure! Discover the magnificent sights of Cape Town, South Africa, witness the breathtaking beauty of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and adventure through three African countries. Plus, experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of an African Game Drive.
Register here to learn more about this trip and its itinerary at our free information session.
Here are some exciting details about this trip:
Begin your trip in Cape Town, South Africa, with a free day to relax, meet your Michigan Public host, and spend an evening with your fellow travelers.
Spend three days exploring Cape Town. Take a cable car ride up Table Mountain, explore Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve. See native African penguins at the Boulders Bay Penguin Colony, and explore the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to witness unique South African botanical species. Visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years as a political prisoner. Finally, spend an afternoon at Cape Winelands for a wine tasting and cellar tour.
Depart from Cape Town and head to Johannesburg, where you’ll make your way north to the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Spend two nights in a lodge on the reserve, and experience two days of Game Drives. The varied habitats in the reserve provide ideal conditions to see a wide selection of native animals, including lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and buffalo (the “Big Five”), plus hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and warthogs.
From Johannesburg, take a short flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Witness the majestic Victoria Falls, and see the Zambezi River from a Zambezi Explorer Sunset Cruise.
After adventuring around Victoria Falls, travel to the second game reserve of the trip. Arrive at Chobe National Park in Botswana for a two-night stay. Chobe has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa. Take two Game Drives during your stay, and get the chance to see elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, antelope, and hippopotamuses.
Close out your trip with a Chobe River Cruise and farewell dinner, before transferring back to Victoria Falls to begin your trip home.
This adventure is suitable for travelers who live an active lifestyle, have good health & mobility, are comfortable riding in off-highway vehicles, and enjoy comfortable lodges/camps with limited amenities.
Pace: Active - 4.
Terrain: City streets, uneven roads & bumpy terrain during game viewing with often dusty conditions. Uneven paths & terrain at lodges/camps.
Vehicles: Safari Mini Vans and/or Jeeps.
Special Factors: passenger responsibility to review recommended immunizations.
This adventure is not appropriate for wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
Trip at a glance
Highlights:
South Africa, Zimbabwe, & Botswana
4 nights in Cape Town, South Africa
2-night stays in Victoria Falls, Dinokeng Game Reserve, & Chobe National Park
5 Game Drives/Safaris
Table Mountain Gondola Ride
Cape Town City Tour
Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point)
Lunch at Seaforth Restaurant
Boulders Penguin Colony
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Wine Tasting & Cellar Tour
Zambezi Explorer Sunset Cruise
Victoria Falls Walking Tour
Chobe National Park
Chobe River Cruise
This trip includes:
Roundtrip Airfare
International Air Departure Taxes & Fuel
3 Inner Tour Flights
20 meals: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, & 5 dinners
Professional Tour Director/Safari Guide
Motorcoach & Safari Transportation
Hotel Transfers
Admissions per Itinerary
Baggage Handling at Hotels
Trip facts:
Activity Level: 4 - Active
4 Nights - ANEW Hotel Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa
2 Nights - Monega Game Lodge, Dinokeng Game Reserve, South Africa
2 Nights - Wild Horizons Waterfalls Lodge, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
2 Nights - Chobe Safari Lodge or Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, Chobe National Park, Botswana
$9,369 per person, double occupancy
$1,475 single supplement
$725 Travel Protection
Save up to $200!
Make your final payment by check prior to the Final Payment Due Date & receive $400 per couple/$200 per person Booking Discount.
When you travel with Michigan Public, you’ll enjoy a personalized experience led by a carefully selected guide that offers a unique perspective on the places you’ll visit. You’ll also join a fun group of travelers who are full of curiosity, are interested in life-long learning and share a love of public radio.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers speaks at an event on October 29, 2024.(Steve Carmody / Michigan Public)
A progressive backed group is working to organize Black voters against Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Rogers.
Members from the American Federation of Teachers, Detroit Action, and some Detroit elected officials held a press conference in the city Tuesday morning. Speakers accused Rogers of having a shaky relationship with the Black community, going back to his time in the state legislature.
American Federation of Teachers Michigan President Terrence Martin Sr. blamed Rogers for a 1999 law that created state management of Detroit’s majority Black school district. Rogers was majority floor leader in the Michigan Senate when the law passed.
“PA 10 helps to set in motion years of financial crisis, instability that harms students and made it harder for schools to provide the resources and reliable learning environments they deserve,” Martin Sr. said.
According to analysis from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, the district spent much of its two decades under state control facing continued financial crises.
Outside of education, the teachers' group tried to tie Rogers to President Donald Trump and his signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Supporters of the federal law say it cuts taxes and adds necessary guardrails to social safety net programs. Opponents fear it could lead to millions of people across the country losing healthcare or food assistance benefits.
State Representative Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit) said Rogers and Trump stand for the same things.
“Black people, we are not supporting Donald Trump. We are not. You might be able to find a few. But, for the most part, voters in the city of Detroit right here, our community has been devastated by Donald Trump’s policies — not only in the city of Detroit, no, the state of Michigan,” Myers Phillips said.
Rogers is running against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The Rogers camp has been trying to build inroads after El-Sayed struggled in Detroit during his primary race.
Black voters have been a key Democratic voting bloc. But Rogers has been focusing on improving reading scores and making home ownership more accessible as part of his pitch -- priorities that his campaign hopes peel away some support from El-Sayed.
In a statement, Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet accused El-Sayed’s supporters of getting desperate and blamed recent Democratic state leaders for Michigan's education slump, referring to a recent U.S. News and World Report ranking that put the state near the bottom of the country for education.
“Abdul’s 4th quarter theatrics don’t change the fact that he has a base problem. Detroiters are tired of Democrats taking them for granted. And while Abdul gives them slogans, Mike Rogers is showing up in Detroit with real solutions," Brouillet said.
"He will put phonics and shop class back in schools to set students up for success — after Democrat failures dropped us to 45th in the nation for education. He released a four-point plan for housing affordability so that you don’t have to wait until age 40 to buy your first house. And he will bring back good-paying manufacturing jobs. Mike Rogers has always and will always put Michigan first,” the statement read.
Underlying tensions between Black and Arab Americans in southeast Michigan could be a factor as both camps court the Black vote.
Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, said Black voters shouldn’t take out frustrations on El-Sayed.
“We do not want to generalize that relationship, that poor relationship, and heap that onto Abdul El-Sayed. As Black folks, we hate to be generalized, stereotyped, discriminated against, and facing tropes,” Wilson-Lumpkins said.
A recently-debuted Rogers ad features Black voters saying they felt El-Sayed cared more about issues in Palestine than in Detroit, a claim El-Sayed has countered.
Michigan's household, main street, and industrial economy, affected by inflation and unemployment, will lag for the rest of the year, but is expected to pick up in 2025 and '26.(Lester Graham / Michigan Public)
Economic growth for small businesses in Michigan has stagnated, Brian Calley, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, said Tuesday.
Calley said with regulations, tariffs, and high energy costs, business owners are in a tough spot.
“So there's pressure for them to keep their prices down because their customers can't afford to pay more, but there's pressure with all their costs rising,” he said.
Many small businesses would like to grow because doing so is a way to outpace rising costs, but Calley said it’s not worth it right now.
“A lot of the time, the small business owners are at a point where they have to wait and see what happens or pass up opportunities to grow, because the cost of growth exceeds the amount of cash flow or income available with that growth,” Calley said.
That uncertainty is largely self-inflicted in the U.S.
The cost of diesel fuel has gone up considerably after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Plus, the ongoing trade war with Canada has driven up prices on a host of goods and raw materials, especially in Michigan, where cross-border trade is critical to key industries. Calley said small businesses just can’t keep up.
“Entrepreneurs are innovators just by nature, and they'll adjust and they'll do what they have to do to operate in that new environment. But … there have been so many new policies at the state and local, state and federal levels, that small businesses have a very, very difficult time navigating them.”
Calley said the state Legislature needs to act. He says one way is to allow small businesses to band together to share the burden of providing health insurance to employees.
“They could allow small businesses to organize their health insurance the same way that big businesses do,” Calley said. “Let them self-insure together with one another, that would be a big advantage that small businesses don't have today.”
He also recommends the Legislature give exemptions to the state’s paid sick time law to the state’s smallest businesses.
Today on Stateside, how Lansing's unhoused community is processing the violent deaths of five unhoused individuals on a trail along the Grand River. Lansing's Police Department is investigating their deaths. We spoke with a reporter covering the story.
Then, a project coordinated by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) aimed to improve math instruction in elementary schools with below average math scores on standardized tests. Educators and researchers with the Early Mathematics project say the sustained approach had a meaningful impact, but funding for the project dried up this year.
A Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency office in Grand Rapids.(Brett Dahlberg / Michigan Public )
Michigan and 13 other states are suing the U.S. Department of Labor for clawing back several million dollars in funding for improvements to state unemployment insurance systems.
The grants were created as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, a stimulus package passed by Congress in 2021 to aid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants were meant to help modernize the technology used to administer states’ unemployment programs to better prevent fraud, pay out benefits, and promote equitable access.
In total, the DOL awarded more than $780 million to the various states to address these issues. According to the lawsuit, in the first year of the Trump administration, the department sent letters to each state canceling the agreements, which it said “no longer effectuate (the DOL’s) priorities for its grant funding.” More than $45 million has been clawed back in the 14 plaintiff states.
“The Biden administration was given a historic opportunity by Congress to fix (unemployment), but instead squandered it on bureaucratic and wasteful projects that focused on equitable access rather than advancing access for all Americans in need,” DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella said.
The coalition of states argues that the DOL has committed a breach of contract. The grant agreements, which are enforceable as contracts between the federal government and the states, did not allow the DOL to terminate funding simply due to a change in priorities at the federal level, the lawsuit says.
Michigan was awarded $6.78 million in Equity grants, which were meant to help eliminate barriers to access, improve timeliness of payments, and ensure equity in fraud prevention. Of this, $2.83 million was clawed back by the DOL. It was also awarded $4.47 million in Tiger Team grants to implement recommendations from multi-disciplinary experts in those areas. Of this, $1.41 million was clawed back.
“Our Unemployment Insurance Agency plays a vital role in supporting Michiganders when they need it most,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “The Trump administration’s attempt to unilaterally cancel these grants midcycle strips crucial funding meant to modernize technology, block fraud, and protect our state’s system. Cutting off these resources only serves to harm our workforce and disrupt the essential services Michigan residents rely on every day.”
Nessel was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Ann Arbor's Mothfire Brewing Co. won a gold medal for Panda in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale category, while Plymouth-based Bearded Lamb Brewing Co. won gold for its Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category.
Founders Brewing Co. won gold in the Hop Water category for its Hoppy Mood. This was the first year the Great American Beer Festival offered that category as hop waters become more prevalent among breweries as a nonalcoholic, low-calorie option.
Three Michigan breweries also won silver medals: Ferndale's Urbanrest Brewing Co. for its Perpetual Fog in the Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale category; Flint's Redwood Brewing Co. for its Stable Genius in the Saison category; and Short's Brewing Co. Production Facility in Elk Rapids for Summer Heat in the Specialty Beer category.
The Great American Beer Festival, which takes place every fall in Denver, is considered the premier craft beer competition in the United States. A total of 243 breweries and cideries took home 336 medals in 2026, the festival said. More than 200 judges evaluated 7,267 beer and cider entries across 49 states.
Michigan also won three gold medals in 2025, the most gold medals the state's breweries won in the competition in 15 years.
Mothfire Brewing Co.'s Panda, a 8% alcohol-by-volume hazy double IPA, also won silver in the World Beer Cup this past spring.
A federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) officers and officials alleges that guards used active body cameras to record a formerly incarcerated woman during childbirth and postpartum care.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Natalie Forrest, her infant son J.F., and her mother Jessica Larson, names five corrections officers alongside MDOC Director Heidi Washington, Deputy Director Jeremy Bush, and Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility Warden Jeremy Howard.
According to the complaint, the incident began on March 6, 2025, when Forrest was transported to Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital to have labor induced.
The lawsuit alleges that despite being in a medical room surrounded by hospital staff, two corrections officers, including a male guard, remained inside the delivery room wearing active, chest-mounted body cameras throughout cervical exams, active labor, and the delivery.
In a grievance form written by Forrest just days after giving birth, she wrote, "I felt so uncomfortable and degraded" when describing her experience being recorded during childbirth.
Maura Battersby, an attorney with Flood Law, PLLC representing the plaintiffs, said her client is left with lasting emotional trauma.
"To have people literally recording that and knowing it's being recorded the whole time made that for a much worse experience as far as the emotional trauma that that left her with," Battersby said.
She added that an event meant to be a private medical procedure and bonding moment between mother and child was turned into "a reality television show for the corrections officers."
The lawsuit also alleges that one of the corrections officers threatened Forrest's mother that if she took a photo of her newborn grandson, Forrest's sentence would be extended by two years.
On February 17, 2025, advocates notified corrections officials in writing that officers who record undressed women with body cameras would violate Michigan's felony voyeurism statute (MCL 750.539j) and that corrections officers do not fall under the statute's peace-officer exemption.
MDOC officials defended the practice, arguing that footage was allowable because it was not automatically saved unless the raw data was extracted by approved staff.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for constitutional privacy violations, First Amendment retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.
Congressman John James, Michigan's Republican gubernatorial nominee, speaks at an event on October 12, 2026, at which he called for the governor to have more control over the state's education system.(Colin Jackson / Michigan Public Radio Network)
The Republican nominee for governor pushed for stronger parental rights during a press conference in metro Detroit Monday afternoon.
Gary Pruitt, the father, said James supported him in his fight against the school district.
“I want the guy who’s going to be accountable when nobody’s watching,” Pruitt said.
Supporters flanked James while holding signs that read “our kids deserve better,” “protect parental rights,” and “save women’s sports.” James said those issues matter, but they're distractions from Michigan’s poor reading scores and school performances.
When asked why highlight them and spend time discussing them at the rally, James argued they're still important.
“We need people who are willing to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, and that includes protecting parental rights, protecting the innocence of children, and making sure that we’re focusing on academics, not activism,” he said.
The campaign of James’ Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, accused James of trying to shift the conversation. Alyssa Bradley is deputy campaign manager.
“John James is holding a press conference advocating for politicians in classrooms and sports instead of explaining how he plans to make life more affordable for Michigan families,” Bradley said in a written statement. “[James] voted six times on measures supporting the war with Iran as gas prices climbed toward $5 a gallon. ... Now he wants to change the subject. Michiganders deserve answers about their bills, not this weird political stunt.”
James told reporters the core of his educational platform still focused on getting results in the classroom.
He wants to opt Michigan into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. The program provides tax breaks in exchange for donations to scholarships that some low-income families could use for things like private school tuition.
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has so far resisted, saying she’s still waiting on information from the federal government about some of the program’s finer details. Opponents of it say it’s a roundabout way of putting public funds toward private education.
In addition to adding Michigan to the controversial federal tax program, James said as governor, he’d want more say in overseeing education.
“I would love to stand here and say hold me accountable for our kids being able to read, when the kindergarteners who started this year go into the 4th grade when I’m running for reelection. But I can’t say that because right now our state board of education and our superintendents are not accountable to the governor,” James said.
The Michigan Constitution puts the state board of education independently in charge of public learning and hiring a state superintendent.
Both James and Benson say they want more resources going toward supporting teachers and students.
The press conference came as Michigan enters the final stretch before the November 3 midterm elections. James said he is adapting his strategy to news that he appears to be getting less outside help.
The political arm of the Republican Governor’s Association has reportedly cut back on spending in support of the James campaign.
James said rather than relying on flooding the airwaves with political ads, he’s focusing on meeting voters face-to-face.
“I’m confident that this is going to work, meeting people where they are. Because frankly, the negative ads are ruining my Lions football games and I want to get back to a time when we can watch a football game again,” James said.
According to the advertisement tracking firm AdImpact, Democratic spending on the Michigan governor’s race has dwarfed Republican advertising.
An aerial view of the Ridge Fire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.(Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
Firefighters are working to contain two wildfires in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, one of which has forced evacuations.
The Ridge Fire was estimated at about 256 acres as of Sunday afternoon, burning about 10 miles northwest of Marquette between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive, according to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources.
Three residences on County Road 510 have been evacuated due to the fire. The Marquette County Sheriff's Office established Negaunee Township Hall on M-35 as an evacuation center.
The Craig Lake fire is estimated at about 30 acres, according to the Michigan DNR, and is burning north of Craig Lake State Park. That fire is in "a very remote area that is also rugged terrains that is very difficult to access," the Michigan DNR said.
An aerial view of the Craig Lake Fire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula as of 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.(Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
A temporary flight restriction is in place over both fires. Drones are not permitted in the area.
Fire danger is at "very high" levels in the Upper Peninsula today due to drought conditions, warm temperatures and strong winds, the Michigan DNR said.
Officials initiated the "Ready, Set, Go!" protocol for residents along North Basin Drive due to the Ridge Fire. The current status is "Set," meaning residents are encouraged to:
Monitor local media and emergency alerts.
Load vehicles with emergency bags and valuables.
Be ready to leave.
The Michigan DNR said Monday that heavy smoke may be present in Negaunee, Ishpeming, Marquette, Michigamme and surrounding areas this morning due to a shift in wind direction overnight and not as a result of significant increases in fire activity. The agency urged people in the area with certain underlying medical conditions to limit their time outdoors.
FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)(Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein / AP)
Last year, Vandermeer's premonition came true in a very personal way. The 62-year-old lost his job as a product designer at Howard Miller, a clockmaker that relied on parts produced overseas. After a century in business, the company in Zeeland, Michigan, closed its factory, sold off its inventory and brand name and laid off nearly 200 workers.
“So much for bringing jobs back,” Vandermeer said. Next month, he plans to vote straight Democrat in the midterms.
As if an unpopular war with Iran and persistent inflation were not enough trouble for Republicans, they are confronting a backlash over the tariffs that Trump made a cornerstone of his economic agenda. He promised that charging higher taxes on imports would spur a factory renaissance in the United States, but that has not come to pass. Although the country has added manufacturing jobs so far this year, the sector has fewer employees than when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers insisted that a factory boom is underway, citing increases in manufacturing output and more work in certain nonresidential construction trades. “Factory construction jobs of today mean more manufacturing jobs down the road once those factories come online,” she said.
Even before the tariffs, Howard Miller struggled as Americans lost their taste for fancy timepieces such as its signature grandfather and mantel clocks. So the company broadened its offerings years ago to include bar carts, cabinets and consoles.
But those products also depended on glass and other parts from abroad, and diversification did not ensure survival.
“I could still have a job, but now I don’t because of tariffs,” Vandermeer said. “It was like taking a knife to the back.”
Job losses pile up in battleground states
Vandermeer lives in Michigan's 4th Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Bill Huizenga, who is running for a ninth term in the November 3 election.
Before Trump implemented his broadest set of tariffs last year, on what the president called “Liberation Day,” Huizenga was supportive.
“Is it going to be easy? Not necessarily. Is it the right thing to do? Absolutely it is,” he told reporters at the time.
A spokesperson for Huizenga said last week that the congressman “sees a potential role for tariffs” for boosting domestic manufacturing "while recognizing the need to address their broader economic effects.” His Democratic opponent, state Senator Sean McCann, has criticized the incumbent for opposing legislation that would rein in tariffs that Trump imposed unilaterally.
There are similar issues in competitive races in Kansas, Iowa and Ohio, where Republican acquiescence could hurt the party on Election Day as their constituents face factory layoffs, farm foreclosures and higher prices.
Tracy Chew, 55, voted for Trump in 2016, then for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 and Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024.
She used to work for Case, a backhoe manufacturer, but the company announced before the tariffs that it would close its plant in Burlington, Iowa. She lost her job in April, as did her daughter, followed by husband and son-in-law over the next few weeks.
Chew is leaning toward voting for Democrats again this year, feeling that Trump let them down.
“I’m furious he isn’t doing enough," she said. “Tariffs are not targeting the right companies, the right amount."
Layoffs in Iowa have piled up elsewhere.
Winnebago Industries, which produces recreational vehicles like campers, cut 200 jobs last year after the cost of importing aluminum, steel and electronics increased by tens of millions of dollars.
“It’s a day to day battle,” said Michael Happe, the company's chief executive.
In the tight race for an open U.S. Senate seat in Iowa, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson faces Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. There is a close contest, too, in Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton, the pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the U.S., is trying to unseat Republican Roger Marshall.
Cole Hoppock, chief executive of appliance maker Vornado Air in Wichita, Kansas, said Trump's tariffs “impacted virtually everything.” The company known for its retro household fans laid off more than 70 factory workers in February, blaming higher prices for imported parts.
Trump's trade policy could force cutbacks soon at another Kansas employer, Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier. Trump has threatened to ban the company's sales in the U.S. if Bombardier does not start making all its planes in the U.S. Bombardier said it buys parts from 2,800 companies in 47 states, including in Kansas, where it employs more than 1,000 people
Trump's approach to trade is unpopular
Trump has spent years complaining that other countries are ripping off the U.S. when it comes to trade. Most economists say he is wrong and that his remedy — broad universal tariffs — would cause more pain than help.
Now most Americans disagree with Trump's approach, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A September poll showed only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of trade negotiations, compared with 4 in 10 in March.
Some of Trump's tariffs have been haphazard.
He targeted Brazil because of political differences and he jacked up tariffs on China to levels so extreme that they risked a recession and forced the president to retreat. The Supreme Court in February ruled against Trump's declaration of an emergency to roll out his “Liberation Day” tariffs last year, leaving foreign trade unsettled as the administration continues to adjust with new levies and threats.
Tariffs are far from the only reason for the lost of manufacturing jobs, and factories have cut workers for decades with or without them. Even some Republicans who dislike Trump's approach will not split with the party.
Bicycle Corp. of America, which closed its factory in South Carolina last year, blamed rising prices for imported parts. Koby Bird, who retired after working in quality control, likes tariffs but was frustrated by Trump's habit of raising and lowering them seemingly at whim.
“It was all over the place,” Bird said. “Businesses couldn't plan.”
Next month, Bird is likely to stick with Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, because tariffs are only one issue and he believes Democrats would spend too much money on the wrong things.
Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University in Nebraska, said manufacturing woes may not convert to Democratic victories. He said some people may “think the tariffs in the long run will work.”
Some workers may be turning on Trump
Wendell Young, a union leader in Pennsylvania, where several factories have had layoffs, said he senses a backlash among workers.
Last summer, Young said he got a firestorm of angry responses to his email blaming tariffs for a decision by Post Holdings to cut 160 jobs at a local pet food factory.
“Keep politics out of this," wrote one of workers at the plant in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. "President Trump isn’t the reason.”
“People used to beat me up for not supporting Trump. I haven’t heard that in a year," said Young, president of Local 1776 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. “Some of these people are red Republicans and they are shocked. They expected more jobs."
Post Holdings ultimately agreed to reduce the head count by offering severance for people to leave, but lower production had a ripple effect.
Local can manufacturer Trivium Packaging decided to cut several jobs because they were getting less orders from Post and other companies, according to Young's union.
“I understand the mindset behind tariffs, but I just don't know if it's working," said former Trivium worker Heather Kingston. She left for another company before the layoffs, and her husband is still working at Trivium. “There doesn’t seem to be many manufacturing jobs moving into the area,” she said.
Kingston said she voted for Republican Dan Meuser in the 9th District last time but is having doubts this year. Meuser's seat is considered safe, but other races in the state are up for grabs, including in the 7th and 8th districts, which are near the Post and Trivium factories.
FILE - Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks during a campaign rally at a coffee shop, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP)
PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — Abdul El-Sayed, holding a handheld mic and wearing his signature V-neck black shirt, slowly shook his head as a woman at his town hall described how she burned through her savings after undergoing emergency brain surgery.
“I’m really sorry for your experience, and I hope that you’re on the mend,” said El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, after outlining proposals for guaranteed health care and paid leave.
Later that night, while talking to reporters in the basement below the theatre, his tone was far different. El-Sayed called his Republican opponent Mike Rogers a “coward,” said President Donald Trump was “afraid” to visit the state and dismissed as “dumb” a question about whether Iran or Israel posed a greater threat to the United States.
The exchanges captured two sides of a candidate who is the central figure in one of the nation’s most consequential Senate races. El-Sayed would be the country's first Muslim senator, and he's crisscrossing the state to counter a Republican effort, fueled by tens of millions of dollars, to portray him as a dangerous radical. But he has also embraced his confrontational side by mocking and taunting Trump and Rogers.
“If they want to make me the main character in the midterms, I’m not shying away from it,” El-Sayed said in an interview. “Run against me. See how well that works out for you.”
El-Sayed’s brash, swaggering confidence rubbed some Democrats the wrong way during a divisive primary against Rep. Haley Stevens. The former public health official has shown little interest in toning it down, remaining unapologetic about his progressive agenda and adversarial approach, emboldening supporters who believe he's the right candidate for an angry electorate that has lost faith in the political establishment.
“If you want their votes, you have to make nice with those people, and he’s not really doing that,” said Michigan political strategist Adrian Hemond, who supported Stevens. “Maybe he doesn’t have to. The entire theory of this candidacy has been he can remake what the electorate looks like.”
Republicans target El-Sayed
Even though Michigan backed Trump twice in his three presidential campaigns, no Republican has won a Senate race in the state since 1994.
The political landscape is no friendlier this year. Trump started an unpopular war with Iran, leading to higher gas prices. Rogers has opted for a low-key campaign with fewer public events than El-Sayed as he tries to make the race all about his Democratic opponent.
As of Oct. 10, Republicans had outspent Democrats by $78 million to $63 million in the Michigan Senate race, according to AdImpact, which tracks political advertising. Around $40 million in Republican spending has gone toward negative advertisements, compared to only around $20 million from Democrats.
The ads portray El-Sayed as “dangerously radical” and “too extreme,” highlighting his past calls to defund the police and relax immigration enforcement. Others tie him to Hasan Piker, a popular online streamer with whom El-Sayed has appeared and who has drawn criticism for past comments, including saying that “America deserved 9/11.”
On Friday, Rogers appeared alongside Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, who told reporters that El-Sayed “sleeps in a Bin Laden jersey.” Rogers laughed.
Vice President JD Vance has called him “evil.” In one social media post, Trump shared a photo of himself with first lady Melania Trump alongside a photo of El-Sayed and his wife, who wears a hijab, with the caption: “Two VERY DIFFERENT America’s.”
Late Wednesday, Trump referred to El-Sayed as “Mohammed” and said he “goes back to the days of the Jihad.”
El-Sayed has hardly backed down. At the campaign stop in Port Huron, he taunted Trump to visit Michigan, suggesting Rogers and other Republicans were afraid the president would hurt their chances.
“Donald, if you’re watching, don’t wuss out, man,” El-Sayed said.
And he responded to Kennedy’s attack by suggesting the Republican is in the KKK.
“That’s rich coming from someone who wears his bed sheets out at night,” El-Sayed posted on social media.
El-Sayed uses a personal touch with voters
Before the Port Huron town hall, El-Sayed worked his way down a line of people who couldn’t fit inside the theater, shaking hands, taking photos and stopping for conversations.
Jeff Petrucella and his wife Alice traveled from Macomb County to see El-Sayed. They described themselves as politically “middle of the road” and said they had voted Republican in the past.
“I’m pretty done with the Republicans right now,” Jeff said.
Alice said she was “looking for a change that is better for my granddaughters,” pointing to El-Sayed’s support for Medicare for All. Nor was she put off by his more confrontational appearances on Fox News.
“I think he expresses himself well. You can tell he’s a well-spoken, educated man,” she said.
Pat Kreiner was among those who waited nearly an hour to see El-Sayed. Her children had persuaded her to support him in the Democratic primary.
“My son said to me, ‘I have been living with this trickle-down economy since the day I was born,’” Kreiner said. “‘It doesn’t work for me.’”
Kreiner also expressed anger about Trump's trade war with Canada, just across the river from Port Huron.
“We are heartsick about our neighbors,” she said. “They used to come over a lot. We don’t see them now.”
Visiting smaller towns such as Port Huron has become central to El-Sayed’s campaign, with his team recently saying he's held more than 500 events in over 100 cities across the state.
“Go everywhere. Talk to everyone. That’s what we do,” El-Sayed said in an interview.
The personal approach has not erased all the skepticism surrounding El-Sayed, including within his own party.
His criticism of Israel and association with Piker have raised concerns among some Jewish Democrats. El-Sayed has held a series of private gatherings with undecided Jewish voters as he works to win their support.
He has also sought to strengthen his standing with Black voters. In the Democratic primary, Stevens drew more support in Wayne County, home to Detroit and its large Black population.
Ahead of Thursday’s debate, El-Sayed attended two events with Black leaders before stopping at a Black barbershop, where he moved from chair to chair talking with customers. He stopped at one point to speak with a pregnant woman, congratulating her and asking when her baby was due.
“November 8th?” El-Sayed joked. “Make sure you vote early, huh?”
The race has become about more than just Michigan
While El-Sayed has spent much of his campaign trying to win over Michigan voters, his candidacy has taken on significance far beyond the state. Republicans have made him a symbol of what they warn is an increasingly radical Democratic Party, while progressives see his campaign as a chance to prove their politics can win in a closely divided state.
At a New York City fundraiser on Oct. 5, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cast his campaign as a test for progressives nationwide.
“If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere,” said the New York Democrat, a potential presidential candidate.
The national stakes have also drawn renewed opposition. United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, disclosed an initial $94,000 expenditure against El-Sayed on Friday, after spending nearly $30 million to oppose him in the Democratic primary.
And El-Sayed, despite insisting the election should focus on Michigan voters and their economic struggles, has embraced the larger implications of his candidacy.
“I am grateful for your support,” he told the audience at the New York fundraiser, according to remarks obtained by The Associated Press. He said he had two goals — “pick up a U.S. Senate seat” and “change the nature of our politics for the better.”
Macomb County to install two inflatable bladders into pipe to help reduce combined sewer overflows into Lake St. Clair( Macomb County)
The state of Michigan wants to know what you want to know about the state's infrastructure.
That includes roads, gas and electricity, drinking water, internet, and other essential services.
The Michigan Infrastructure Council is collecting questions in a survey, which will be used to create a Statewide Infrastructure Guide.
Palencia Mobley is head of the council. She says it's quite common for residents to have questions about the complex systems that support their daily lives, including who maintains them, and how they're paid for.
Mobley said there's been a serious lack of investment in many of these essential things for decades.
"There are multiple things that have led us to where we are now, and we just really believe that an engaged and an informed citizenry are our best advocates and our best allies for ensuring that we can meet the infrastructure challenges that do exist," she said.
The survey will be used to create a Citizens' Guide to help residents become better educated and more involved in the issues. The survey runs through October 30.
Walter Usakowski, from left, a retired worker from the Ford Motor Co.'s Sterling Axe Plant who plans to vote for the union's slate of Democratic candidates in the midterms, talks with United Auto Workers union canvassers LaShawn Barnett, Kim Avouris and JJ Jewell in Shelby Township, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacqueline GaNun)(Jacqueline GaNun/AP Photo/Jacqueline GaNun / AP)
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Walter Usakowski was mowing his lawn in a northern suburb of Detroit when three canvassers from the United Auto Workers approached.
“I don’t even need to talk to you,” Usakowski said. As a retired member, he was already supporting the union’s slate of Democratic candidates in the Nov. 3 midterms.
But he is not sure how many of the other “guys in the shop” will vote for Democrats. He worked at Ford Motor Co.’s Sterling Axle Plant for more than 45 years, and he knows many members who backed Republican President Donald Trump.
The election-year canvassing was one part of the UAW’s efforts to reassert its political power in Michigan, a premier political battleground. Although the union generally backs Democrats, its membership is more divided over which party best represents working-class interests. It also is reckoning with past corruption scandals, a drop in membership and a lack of transparency that has eroded trust within its ranks.
“It’s not going to be an overnight thing,” said JJ Jewell, who is part of the UAW’s Community Action Program executive committee. “Even if this election goes fantastically, that’s not mission accomplished. That means we’re 1% of the way done.”
Internal divisions and distrust pose challenges
Jewell and others made the rounds on a recent sunny Saturday in Macomb County, where Trump won by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024. Many of the union members they met in a neighborhood of well-kept suburban houses were retirees, and while most said the cost of living was their top concern, they did not agree on whether Democrats or Republicans would better address it.
One resident, who said she blamed billionaires for the country’s problems, planned to vote for Democrats. Another street over, a couple said they both supported Trump and declined to take a flyer of the UAW-endorsed candidates.
In a microcosm of broader political rifts, union voters remain politically divided. Union voters have traditionally been seen as a Democratic-leaning constituency, but Trump made direct appeals to them with his anti-elite rhetoric and promises to overhaul international trade agreements that sapped factory jobs. In 2024, voters who were union members or were in a household with a union member split between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, with more than half voting for the then-vice president and 44% for Trump.
Betty Anderson, a UAW member, thinks the organization is on the right track, but she is not confident about bridging internal political divisions. She said she is angry with members who voted for Trump, whom she sees as selling out the working class.
“I don’t think those people are ever going to be on our side,” Anderson said. “They think they have an opportunity to be in an elite class.”
Leaders hope to rebuild trust with transparency
Since 2017, more than 10 UAW officials have pleaded guilty in a corruption investigation that found millions of dollars of union dues were stolen. Members also faulted leaders for closed-door contract negotiations that they said destroyed trust in the UAW.
Shawn Fain was elected UAW president in 2023 on a platform of transparency, and victories in labor disputes with Detroit's three major automakers bolstered member support. Leaders hope this will translate into votes for its candidates.
“I think the UAW members now are starting to fall a little more in line,” said Usakowski, the retired axle plant worker.
On Friday, Fain said he won reelection to lead the union for four more years. The results have not yet been certified.
Mark DePaoli, director for one of the UAW’s southeast Michigan regions, said the union hosted forums with candidates where any member could ask questions. The UAW endorsed progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the U.S. Senate primary even though rival Haley Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, worked as chief of staff on an auto bailout task force during the Great Recession, a position she frequently cited while campaigning.
“I don’t think anybody expected us to endorse him,” DePaoli said. In its announcement, the union referenced El-Sayed’s support for universal healthcare and criticism of corporate money in politics. El-Sayed wore a UAW pin during the first Senate debate with his Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.
“The UAW’s backing of Abdul was critical in winning a historic primary despite being outspent by tens of millions of dollars, and will be just as critical in winning" next month, El-Sayed spokesperson Cole Wozniak said in a statement.
Rogers is emphasizing his opposition to controversial federal regulations under Democratic President Joe Biden that would have required automakers to ramp up production of electric vehicles, which some feared would lead to factory closures.
“Mike knows the challenges our autoworkers face, and he’ll be their champion in the U.S. Senate,” Rogers spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet said in a statement. “The same can’t be said for Abdul and UAW national leadership.”
The union needs to turn out the vote to be politically relevant
Robert Bruno, a professor in the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said the UAW's strength relies on its ability to mobilize voters.
“You don’t win campaigns off of your endorsements,” Bruno said. “You win campaigns at the door, or at the bar, or at the union hall.”
In the 1980s, there were more than 600,000 active and retired UAW members in Michigan, according to the union. Today, that number hovers around 350,000. The UAW is still the largest union in the state.
UAW leaders are optimistic after a primary election campaign drive and what they see as better, more transparent leadership. The union said about 113,000 of its members voted early during Michigan’s August primary, and it has volunteers canvassing and calling voters before Election Day.
In September, the UAW hosted a conference of its Michigan political arm for the first time since 2018. Fain told reporters at the Lansing event that the organization wants members to drive the direction of the union, focusing on issues like affordability.
“We are as active as we can be right now,” he said.
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GaNun is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
More intense storms fueled by climate change are knocking down more limbs and trees which takes a toll on power lines, sometimes knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the state.(Lester Graham / Michigan Public)
Utility bill credits for power outages would be significantly higher under legislation introduced by state Senate Democrats.
The credits would start out at $5 an hour, in the first hour a customer loses power, and ratchet up to $25 an hour after 72 hours without electricity.
Frequent outages would also result in credits: $100 for four service interruptions in a period of 12 months, and $200 for more than four service interruptions.
Renters whose landlords pay the electric bill would be eligible for a $50 credit for spoiled food, lodging, or other costs after four hours without electricity (more if the actual loss is greater) and a $200 credit after 24 hours (also more if the actual loss is greater).
The proposed credits are much more extensive than current credits required by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which mandates a credit of $44 a day during a widespread outage, and that only begins accruing four days after a customer has lost power. Six or more power outages in a 12-month period also merits an additional $44.
Democratic State Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) is one of the bills' sponsors. She said the legislation is intended to encourage utilities to reduce outages and speed restoration, and it would also better reflect the true costs to customers of losing power.
"We are really trying to incentivize our electric utilities to do a better job of restoring power quicker," Chang said. "We have heard time and again from residents that losing power, losing food, it could be really devastating. Food is really expensive. Replacing it is expensive."
Chang said the MPSC has been working to address reliability, and the legislation reflects the state Legislature working in partnership with the regulatory agency to that end.
Other bills in the package would require regulated utilities to submit reports to the MPSC delineating the cause of service interruptions, tree trimming projections, grid hardening and reliability projects, and a list of the top 20% worst-performing circuits in the utility's service territory.
Consumers Energy said in a statement that it is reviewing the legislation.
“Michigan and New York are currently the only states that require electric utilities to issue automatic bill credits or compensation to customers," the statement continued, "and Consumers Energy complies with the outage credit requirements established by the Michigan Public Service Commission. On the topic of outages, investing in reliability improvements and restoring power safely and quickly will remain our top priorities.”
DTE Energy said in a statement that it shares Michiganders' expectation that DTE keep the lights on and keep bills as low as possible.
The statement continued, "which is why we're making historic investments in infrastructure upgrades, tree trimming and grid modernization to build a stronger, more resilient electric system."
"Across Michigan, utilities are facing increasingly severe weather that can damage electric infrastructure and disrupt service. That's why we're focused on strengthening the grid, hardening critical equipment, and deploying new technologies that help reduce outages and speed restoration when storms occur."
"We're already seeing progress, and we remain committed to continuing the investments that improve reliability while keeping energy affordable for customers. Our goal is simple: fewer outages, shorter outages, and better service for the communities we serve," DTE said.
Editor's note: Consumers Energy is among Michigan Public's corporate sponsors.
In an unusual quirk of electoral politics, voters in Michigan are able to choose the governing boards of major public universities in statewide elections. Several are on the ballot this November.
Members of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, Michigan State University Board of Trustees, and the Wayne State University Board of Governors serve uncompensated for eight-year terms, and are elected two at a time in staggered, two-year cycles.
As part of a series of candidate profiles for the state’s three publicly elected university boards, Michigan Public sat down with the Democratic and Republican candidates for U of M’s Board of Regents to discuss their campaigns, platforms, and hopes for the future of the university.
The Republican Party’s nominees for regent are Lena Epstein and Michael Schostak. Epstein is the co-owner of Vesco Oil Corporation, and unsuccessfully ran for regent in 2022. Schostak is the treasurer of Bloomfield Township and a former finance lecturer at Wayne State University. Epstein is generally considered to be running to the right of Schostak, who has worked to portray himself as a moderate during his campaign.
Makled, a civil rights attorney from Dearborn, defeated incumbent regent Jordan Acker through an insurgent campaign that criticized U of M’s surveillance of student protesters and compliance with several of the Trump administration’s policies. Brown, an incumbent regent who is generally considered to be one of the board’s more liberal members, was renominated with comparative ease.
The candidates from each party are not running as a ticket in the traditional sense. Voters can select up to two candidates for regent, but may also vote for fewer, and are able to vote for two candidates from different political parties if they wish.
This year’s board race has proven unusually contentious, producing some unconventional cross-party endorsements. Acker refuses to vote for his replacement, and has instead endorsed Brown and Schostak. The editorial board of the Michigan Daily, U of M’s student newspaper, endorsed Makled and Schostak, opposing any candidates affiliated with the current board.
Like many elections across the country, the regents race is heavily centered around affordability. U of M is the most expensive public institution in the state, but has become cheaper over time for many students due to the Go Blue Guarantee — a financial aid policy which covers the tuition of in-state undergraduate students from families with yearly incomes and assets less than $125,000.
The Democratic candidates are campaigning on the success of the program, which was greatly expanded during Brown’s time on the board. Both support U of M’s current plans to expand the program to select graduate degrees; Makled also supports a broad tuition freeze. The pair also want to reduce the cost of attendance students experience outside of tuition.
“You have to look at the entire totality of what the experience is of attending an institution like U of M,” Makled said. “What are our students paying for when it comes to housing, what are they paying for food and transportation and books and childcare?”
The Republican candidates are also campaigning on affordability, though their focus is slightly different. Epstein, like Makled, has called for tuition to either be frozen or cut entirely. Schostak wants to expand the Go Blue Guarantee by removing home equity from its assets calculation, which would allow homeowners under the income threshold to qualify.
“That home equity is worthless to them,” Schostak said. “They can't do anything with it unless they were to sell their house. And I don't think we want to be a school that tells people that to pay for an education, they’ve got to sell their house.”
Like many colleges, U of M has felt significant pressure from the Trump administration since 2024, and in many cases it has chosen to comply rather than fight. The university ended its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs to avoid cuts to federal funding, and stopped providing gender-affirming care to patients under the age of 19 in response to a federal subpoena.
Makled has consistently campaigned on a stronger response to the Trump administration, and wants U of M to work with other universities facing similar federal disputes. Brown’s record is more mixed; he has previously defended U of M’s conciliatory actions, but has also called for the university to do more. He is now working to emphasize his anti-Trump credentials.
“I am now the named plaintiff, as a board member, in 11 suits against the Trump administration, suing them from everything from his attacks on trans rights to cancer and climate change research to immigration and visas for our scholars,” Brown said. “The university, as the premier public institution in the country, I think, must take a leadership role in that national debate.”
The two Republicans do not want U of M to be on bad terms with the Trump administration, and believe their party affiliation could help smooth over existing tensions. “We want good workings with government entities, seeing that this is a public university,” Epstein said.
However, Schostak is not pleased with many of Trump’s actions, and believes U of M must protect its own interests when threatened.
“I understand that when the federal government came in and threatened to cut a billion dollars in research grants, that the university had to respond to that in the near term,” Schostak said. “You need to protect the financial well-being of the institution.”
Given the statewide nature of the race, the candidates have focused on the ways in which they would benefit communities across Michigan. The Republican candidates want to significantly increase the percentage of in-state students, who currently constitute a slim majority at U of M's Ann Arbor campus.
The two Democrats want to increase funding to the university’s satellite campuses in Flint and Dearborn — the latter of which Makled graduated from — and expand Michigan Medicine’s services into rural areas with limited access to healthcare.
One of the most controversial aspects of the university’s statewide presence is its plans to build a data center in Ypsilanti Township with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The project is opposed by locals worried about its effect on their community and planned role in nuclear weapons research. The issue has followed the candidates throughout their campaigns.
Brown initially voted to approve the purchase of land for the data center’s planned site near Ypsilanti, along with the rest of the board. He has since changed course, calling the project “an example of environmental racism.” Makled has consistently called for U of M to heed local opposition, saying that he thinks “folks in Ypsilanti Township have been very clear.”
The two Republicans do not share a message on U of M’s data center plans. Epstein does not oppose the project, describing herself as “a free market capitalist” that “would love to grow the relationship between the university and the business community.” Schostak, himself a public official in a different township, sympathizes more with the locals, describing U of M’s conduct as “just atrocious.”
The candidates were unanimous on some issues; all thought free speech on campus needed protecting, and all agreed on a need for greater transparency within U of M’s administration, though they proposed slightly different solutions to get there. Epstein proposed making more of the university’s financial documents publicly available. Makled proposed making public comments more accessible at the regents’ monthly meetings. Schostak promised to hold office hours for interested constituents, and Brown bragged of handing out his personal cell phone to anyone who asked.
The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public’s broadcast license.
A Michigan Supreme Court case heard this week is testing the limits of state civil rights law.
It involves a former social work professor at Calvin University whose contract wasn’t renewed after he officiated a same-sex wedding for a colleague. His lawyers argued that amounted to sex-based discrimination by association.
The question before the court is whether the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act applies in that case. The law bans discrimination “based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, familial status, marital status, or source of income.”
It follows a similar sentence structure as the federal Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination “because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
Plaintiff Joseph Kuilema’s lawyers argue, by getting rid of the word “individual’s” in the Michigan law, state lawmakers meant for the law to apply in a broader context.
“Although ELCRA doesn't use the word ‘associational,’ it doesn't need to because it's broadly written, intended to apply to associational retaliation,” attorney Charissa Huang said to the justices Thursday.
Lawyer Steve van Stempvoort, representing Calvin University, disagreed.
“The most natural reading of the statute is these possessives are redundant and ... ELCRA just kind of made it more efficient. It didn't drastically expand the scope,” van Stempvoort said.
The school’s argued, even in cases where the law could apply to association, this matter would be different.
One key argument van Stempvoort made was that the colleague in the wedding didn’t also claim university discrimination. He said Kuilema’s complaint was moot without a member of the protected class making that case themselves.
“What his argument really boils down to is well, he still has to show that he himself, his employment discrimination, was because of sex,” van Stempvoort said.
The appellate court agreed with the university.
“Kuilema’s sex is irrelevant to Calvin University’s decision to terminate his employment. The university’s decision to terminate his employment was based upon his decision to officiate a same-sex wedding. That decision would not have been different if Kuilema were a female instead of a male,” the Court of Appeals majority opinion read.
In her closing remarks before the state Supreme Court, Huang claimed that reasoning would set a dangerous precedent.
“Allowing this Court of Appeals holding to stand that it must be because of the plaintiff's own sex, that would have a chilling effect upon people of different races and cultures, and sexes and sexual orientations. They could be fired for associating with one another with no recourse,” Huang said.
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