Michigan was the third most mentioned state in the almost 850-page investigation report that revealed new information about the Trump campaign’s fight to overturn the election, and the lengths it went to undermine the voters of Michigan.

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News at Local 4+.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led Michigan Legislature have reached a budget deal for the 2023 fiscal year.

A Republican lawmaker detailed what happened when former President Donald Trump Tweeted out his personal cell phone number, and we learned Trump supporters wanted to hide out in the State Capitol to overturn the election results.

Michigan GOP Leader Mike Shirkey’s testimony was featured in a video that aired during the Jan. 6 committee’s hearing on how President Trump pressured state legislators to overturn election results in 2020.

As of Friday (March 18), Michigan drivers pay an average of $4.17 for a gallon of regular gas, meaning a 15-gallon fill-up will cost you $62.55. If you drop the 6% sales tax, that cost is cut by $3.75 to $58.80.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked federal leaders to lift the federal gas tax to lower gas prices for drivers.

Gun reform advocates are urging Michigan lawmakers to pass legislation to require gun owners to lock up weapons to limit access to minors and for all schools to have at least one mental health professional available.

Fresh off a victory with a 7 billion dollar investment from General Motors, Governor Whitmer pitches her plans as she heads into an election year. Because of COVID, Gov. Whitmer did her State of the State remotely. Breaking tradition, Whitmer took her show on the road to Detroit Diesel to give her address.

The only approved treatments for COVID are the antiviral drug Remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies, but the best protection against the virus is -- and always has been -- getting vaccinated.

The commission is asking for records and documents from the National Archives detailing conversations between President Donald Trump’s White House and three Michigan officials.

Republican state senators have approved the repeal of the Michigan law that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to order emergency lockdowns at the beginning of the pandemic, when Michigan was among the states hardest hit by COVID-19.

The 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election is more than a year away, but there are already questions about who will and won’t be running.

The battle over COVID restrictions in Michigan appears to be easing up.

While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may not be getting the surge of vaccines she asked for from Washington D.C., the state will be ramping up a specific antibody treatment for those who are sick.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing backlash for not holding her own staff to standards expected of Michigan residents.

The leaders of three-dozen major Michigan-based companies, including General Motors and Ford, have announced their objection to Republican-sponsored election bills that would make it harder to vote in Michigan and other states.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Wray’s message to lawmakers was clear: The attack on the Capitol was domestic terrorism -- and it’s a growing problem. “We view the events of January 6 as domestic terrorism,” Wray said. “We have not seen evidence of that at this stage.”DURBIN: Do you have any evidence that the Capitol attack was organized by 'fake Trump protesters'? • 270,000+ digital media tips sent from public• 300+ arrested pic.twitter.com/dogXo1W7pJ — NBC News (@NBCNews) March 2, 2021More: FBI chief calls Jan. 6 ‘domestic terrorism,’ defends intel

While the state has swung back to Democrats since Trump's narrow 2016 win, choosing President Joe Biden by more than 150,000 votes, Michigan's Republican Party has taken a hard right turn. Ad“All these things were a catalyst,” said Ken Sikkema, a former Michigan GOP Senate leader whose Grand Rapids district lost 5,000 jobs with three plant closures just before the 2008 crash. “Forces of nature take over at that point, and those forces were definitely tilting right, extreme far-right," said Venable, who was state Republican Party chief of staff in 2010. AdNodding to the emerging right wing, Michigan GOP fundraiser Ron Weiser invited Maddock to share the ticket for his bid to become state party chair. All the while, Michigan's GOP leadership has for the first time in memory bestowed legitimacy on its state's militia, long relegated to the shadows.

LANSING, Mich. – A top aide to embattled Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey is leaving to take a job in Democratic state Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. AdMcCann also served as spokeswoman for the two previous GOP Senate majority leaders. He also told Hillsdale County Republican leaders that GOP lawmakers had “spanked” Democratic Gov. Shirkey had already faced criticism for having met with militia leaders last year, weeks after armed protesters had entered the Capitol. At least one major company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said it was “deeply disappointed” over Shirkey’s remarks.

After a video of Michigan Senator Majority Leader Mike Shirkey with the Hillsdale County Republican Party was posted on YouTube, the senator stands by his comments, but perhaps not his exact choice of words. The hour-long video was posted on Feb. 4. On Tuesday, Shirkey addressed the comments on “AM Jackson with Greg O’Connor” on WKHM. “President Trump could and should have acted sooner and more forcibly even to call off the attack, but he did not cause the attack. “I’ve had first-hand experience over this past week with regular spanking by the media,” Shirkey said.

Captured on video, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said he believed the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead, was a hoax that wasn’t carried out by Donald Trump’s supporters. Shirkey issued a statement five days after the initial video came to light, saying he regretted the words he chose and apologized for his “insensitive comments.” Then, the next day on the Michigan Senate floor, Shirkey told Lt. Gov. WATCH Local 4 News at 11Metro Detroit weather: 2 waves of snowfall to hit by TuesdayThe storm that is bringing snow and ice as far south as southern Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi will become a big snow storm for southern Michigan on Monday. Two waves of snow will arrive, with lighter snow on Sunday and heavier snow late on Monday. ❄️ Tracking snow in Michigan: View the live weather radar4 Fast FactsSaturday, Feb. 13, 2021 --

LANSING, Mich. – Calls for discipline have grown over the weekend after state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey was caught in two controversial hot mic conversations. He said he regretted the words he chose and apologized for his “insensitive comments.”AdThe next day on the Michigan Senate floor, Shirkey told Lt. Gov. READ: How Michigan played a role in Donald Trump’s 2nd impeachmentThe pressure to discipline Shirkey even extended to the U.S. Senate. Ad“It’s outrageous that you have, yet again, another Republican leader engaging in conspiracy theories and lies,” Peters said. Apparently, the leader of the state Senate in Michigan now wants to tell an even bigger lie.”Michigan Republican Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth released a statement of his own, distancing himself from Shirkey.

WASHINGTON – Questions are being raised about the public apology sent out on Tuesday night by Michigan’s highest-ranking Republican, State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. READ: Top Michigan Republican stands by Capitol ‘hoax’ commentsShirkey apologized on Tuesday after a video was released of a Feb. 3 meeting in which he told Republicans that the siege at the Capitol “wasn’t Trump people. He claimed to believe it was a hoax. During Wednesday morning’s Senate session, Shirkey appeared to double down on those beliefs in a side conversation that was caught on a nearby live microphone. READ: Michigan Sen. Mike Shirkey falsely claims US Capitol riot was ‘hoax from day one’ in videoAdIn a private conversation with Democratic Lt. Gov.

Shirkey countered that Republicans had “spanked her hard" and he joked about having contemplated inviting Whitmer to a fist fight on the Capitol lawn. AdEarlier Wednesday, Shirkey told an activist with the liberal group Progress Michigan that he was saying the hoax was “the fact that it was blamed on Trump. “That's up to the Michigan Republican Party to choose if that's the kind of party they want to be.”Trump's second impeachment trial is underway. AdHouse Speaker Jason Wentworth, a Republican, said Shirkey's latest comments “are his own and don't reflect my feelings or beliefs. “We are deeply disappointed and strongly disagree with (his) comments about the riot at the Capitol ... as well as his inappropriate language about the governor,” Andy Hetzel said.

Related: 45 total cases of COVID-19 B117 variant confirmed in 10 different Michigan countiesMichigan high school basketball and ice hockey players will be required to wear masks at all times, even during games. The pandemic has forced changes to school count day in Michigan. New COVID-19 cases have plateaued and deaths are starting to slow. New: 7 takeaways from Whitmer’s COVID briefing: Could Michigan variant spread lead to another lockdown? The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 56,100 on Monday -- near the lowest it’s been since October.

Gretchen Whitmer and questioned him when he told them voter fraud was not a factor in the state’s presidential outcomes. In the video, Shirkey was asked about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in Washington D.C. That was all prearranged.”AdREAD: Man charged in US Capitol riot worked for FBI, lawyer saysThe video was posted Feb. 4 on YouTube by R.O.A.R. When asked about the video, Whitmer said she hadn’t seen it but had been told of comments being made. “That’s what I’m going to continue putting my energy toward.

(AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)DETROIT – Michigan’s top Republican called the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, which resulted in five deaths including a Capitol police officer, a hoax, in a video posted to YouTube last week. Michigan GOP Senate Leader Mike Shirkey appears in a video posted on Feb. 3 by the “R.O.A.R. The video appears to show Shirkey meeting with Hillsdale County Republican Party officials, one day before the county voted to censure Shirkey. The reported video comes right after the New York Times published an article detailing Shirkey’s involvement with Michigan militias, who held armed protests at the Michigan Capitol last year over COVID-19 restrictions. For all these reasons, Mike Shirkey should be out.

(AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)DETROIT – A New York Times article published Tuesday details Michigan GOP leader Mike Shirkey’s involvement with militia groups and his empathy for insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol. Allied Itself With Militants,” offers an inside look at how involved Michigan GOP leaders were in coordinating with militia groups through various protests in 2020, leading up to the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January. Next time tell them not to bring guns,” complained Mike Shirkey, the State Senate majority leader, according to one of the protest organizers. AdThe NYT also reports that Shirkey held a meeting with militia groups in his office to establish a “code of conduct.”“Do you tell your people to make sure that there’s not a live round in a chamber? You can read the full, in-depth New York Times article right here.

Amid calls for unity, a war of words erupted Thursday as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican lawmakers traded verbal blows just one day after the State of the State address. Shirkey said legislators have not had a productive meeting with Whitmer’s office in the last nine months. When asked about what they’d be willing to compromise on, both Whitmer’s office and Republican leaders seemed to be locked in a game of political chicken. The buck stops with me,” Whitmer said after GOP leaders demanded she cede her powers over schools amid the pandemic.

LANSING, Mich. – Concerns at the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing are on the rise amid chatter of widespread protests in the days leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. Under the recommendation of Michigan State Police, a six-foot tall fence around the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing will be completed Friday to guard against the possibility of violence. On Monday, the Michigan State Capitol Commission unanimously voted to ban the open carry of guns from inside the Michigan Capitol. Michigan State Police circled the Capitol Building in Lansing in large numbers -- on foot and on bikes -- ahead of the fence going up Friday. Additionally, Michigan’s State Capitol Commission voted to ban open carry of firearms at the Capitol on Monday.

The Michigan Capitol Building opened for the first time Wednesday. Democratic members of the Senate decried the deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol Building that left five dead. Newly ensconsed House Speaker Jason Wentworth said working to restore trust in politicians starts with adjusting the Lame Duck Sessions. Another House Bill proposed prohibits legislators from voting on a bill that would personally enrich them or their families. Additionally, Michigan’s State Capitol Commission voted to ban open carry of firearms at the Capitol on Monday.

LANSING, Mich. – The riots in Washington, D.C. Wednesday that left five people dead has reignited debates over whether guns should be allowed inside Michigan’s Capitol Building. READ: FBI, Michigan federal prosecutor seek tips in deadly siege on US Capitol BuildingWith the new legislative session starting in days, security of the Capitol will likely take center stage. It’s impossible to come to work when you are under that constant threat,” Lasinski said. Security experts are now viewing that event as a potential practice run for those who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building Wednesday. “There should be no weapons of any kind in our Capitol,” Lasinski said.

Gretchen Whitmer has signed a 20-bill package that aims to shift away from using jail and arrests as punishment for traffic offenses unless someone is a danger to the public. The bipartisan package of criminal justice reform bills resulted from recommendations by the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, according to the state. “I’m extraordinarily proud of our collective work over the last two years to understand and improve the criminal justice system,” Lt. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs a 20-bill package aiming to reshape penalties for traffic offenses on Jan. 4, 2020. The bill package aims to shift people away from jail unless they are a danger to the public.

In the latest filing, the attorney for Wayne County, Robert Davis, called on the federal judge in Michigan’s Eastern District to sanction lawyers for six Michigan Trump supporters suing Gov. Sanctions for Michigan AG, Secretary of StateTuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also said her office along with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will likely file sanctions of their own to get attorneys such as Powell banned from state courtrooms. That attorney, Matthew DePerno, has been a frequent guest of the far-right outlet Newsmax, a recent favorite of President Trump’s. The case is still ongoing in state court. The suit alleges that by allowing a state’s executive branch to certify a presidential election instead of state legislatures, it violates the constitution.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s top Republican says the state’s Senate oversight committee has not found evidence of fraud on a scale that would change the outcome of the 2020 election. Michigan Senate Leader Mike Shirkey said this in a statement Monday as the state’s electors are scheduled to gather to seal the Electoral College win for Joe Biden. More from Shirkey below:“Today Michigan’s electors convene, according to state law, to cast their votes for the next president and vice president of the United States. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris won Michigan’s presidential election. And I intend to.”Related: Michigan Electors to be given police escort to Lansing Capitol Building for vote

WASHINGTON – The Latest on the Electoral College meeting (all times local):9:40 a.m.Michigan legislative offices are closed because of threats of violence as presidential electors prepare to gather in the state Capitol to cast their votes for Democrat Joe Biden. The Capitol building is closed to the public due to coronavirus restrictions except when lawmakers meet for session. Democrat Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election with 306 Electoral College votes, while President Donald Trump finished with 232. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. STATES THAT HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES: None.

Related: AG Barr: No evidence of voter fraud that’d change election outcome“This is how democracies die,” Nessel said Friday. “By virtue of these types of actions, which are unprecedented in American history.”Legal experts don’t believe the high court will hear the case. Despite that, four Michigan GOP congressmen have signed onto the case and 15 GOP state lawmakers. Nessel and the Attorney Generals of the other states have all filed briefs with the high court. Each member who signed their names on their respective briefs also won their own elections in 2020, which they are now asking to be invalidated.

Michigan’s election results faced another round of legal challenges in courts both big and small just four days before the Electoral College is slated to meet and finalize the 2020 election. In the U.S. Supreme Court, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to the state of Texas, which is suing Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia -- three other key states that voted in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. Texas alleged that Michigan broke its own election laws to send absentee ballots to voters during a pandemic, and argued that the court should throw out millions of votes. More: Michigan AG: Texas AG Paxton’s election lawsuit is clear signal request for pardon by TrumpNessel said the claims in the lawsuit are “absurd” and already have been debunked in lower courts. The scheme has been floated and then called for by President Trump, his campaign and his legal team before and after the presidential election in an effort to overturn election results.

This time they’re butting heads over the closure of bars and restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19. Shirkey said he’s concerned about bars and restaurants and released a statement Friday that reads, in part: “We demand Gov. Whitmer provide the metrics by which restaurants in Michigan can reopen in preparation for the expiration of her latest shut down order on December 9th. “Buy gift certificates for people for the holiday if you’re looking for gifts and want to also support your local restaurant. On a day when Michigan reported 7,146 new cases and 175 deaths -- the fifth highest since March -- this is what the senator chooses to talk about.”Related:

Giuliani said the U.S. Constitution empowers legislatures to appoint electors directly, even though the Legislature long ago passed a law allotting them to the popular vote winner. Biden won the state by 2.8 percentage points. “They're the ones who should have the courage to step up,” Giuliani said of lawmakers during a virtual event hosted by the Michigan Republican Party. Giuliani made wild claims of “massive cheating,” particularly by Detroit Democrats, that he said resulted in 500,000 to 700,000 “illegal” votes. Biden won 240,936 votes to Trump's 12,889.

LANSING, Mich. – A day ahead of Michigan lawmakers returning to work in Lansing, mayors and business leaders on Monday called on the federal and state governments for coronavirus pandemic relief as Gov. “I think 2021 and 2022 are going to be some of the toughest times facing municipal governments certainly since the Great Recession, perhaps even worse,” said Michigan State University professor Eric Scorsone during a Monday press conference. Scorsone has done work with Michigan municipalities like Lansing, Flint and Detroit. READ: Michigan governor, state legislature far apart on COVID-19 responseAlso on the table for discussion is the state’s election. There has been no evidence of fraud in Michigan’s election and the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified the 2020 election results last week.

DETROIT – In an interview with Fox News Sunday morning Republican and Michigan House Speaker, Lee Chatfield, talked about the possibility of a “constitutional crisis” ahead of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers scheduled Monday meeting to certify election results. Chatfield debunked circulating rumors that he was asked to intervene in the election process during Friday’s meeting. Currently, Black voters are suing the Trump campaign over its effort to invalidate election results. Since the presidential election Republican leaders have made allegations of voter fraud without substantial evidence. It began the day you and other leaders refused to stand behind our clerks and election process,” said Koleszar in the Tweet.

DETROIT – A group of Detroit voters are now suing the Trump Campaign, claiming it’s trying to disenfranchise Black voters in their attempt to block the certification of votes in Wayne County. The lawsuit Anthony is talking about is 18 pages long. The plaintiffs are several local Detroit voters, along with the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. They are suing Donald Trump and his campaign, claiming they’re trying to disenfranchise Black voters by trying to block the certification of votes in Wayne County. And we hired Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”You can read the entire lawsuit filed against Trump and his campaign by the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and Detroit residents here.

DETROIT – The envoy of Michigan Republican lawmakers who traveled to the White House Friday for a controversial meeting with President Donald Trump returned home Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey refused to answer questions despite releasing a statement the day before. There were also photos of Chatfield and several other Michigan Republicans drinking inside Trump Hotel while seated at a table. The State Board of Canvassers meets Monday to vote on certifying the state election. Since the presidential election Republican leaders have made allegations of voter fraud without substantial evidence.

DETROIT – Three Detroit voters have joined a local organization in suing President Trump and his campaign over their effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Wayne County Board of Canvassers certifies results despite initial deadlockThe lawsuit comes days after two GOP members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially voted not to certify the votes, citing discrepancies in the county’s numbers. The pair changed their minds again, however, after President Trump called them personally on Tuesday evening after the certification process. Still, some argue that their meeting with the president so close to the state’s certification meeting is concerning. We expect the State Board of Canvassers to do its job and count the votes.”The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. on Monday.

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox penned a joint letter dated today to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers asking to delay the certification of election results for two weeks. Since the presidential election Republican leaders have made allegations of voter fraud without substantial evidence. The letter was sent only a day after Michigan Republican leaders met with President Donald Trump. After the meeting both leaders issued a joint letter noting that the meeting with the president was on the state’s fight against COVID-19. @Local4News pic.twitter.com/qUMYjSr35H — Grant Hermes (@GrantHermes) November 21, 2020My joint letter with @GOPChairwoman to the Members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.

The leaders of Michigan’s House and Senate met with President Donald Trump Friday. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 295,177 as of Friday, including 8,377 deaths, state officials report. New COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Michigan. Hospitalizations have increased steadily for the last five weeks, including upticks in critical care and ventilator use. New Today: Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s what to know Nov. 21, 2020Here’s a look at more of the data:

The leaders of Michigan’s House and Senate met with President Donald Trump Friday. We have since sent the same correspondence to congressional leaders.”They made sure to ask for further federal dollars to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Currently, it’s hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money that is back filling the state budget. Both leaders also addressed the vote certification process. Several legal experts and local leaders say the state’s certification of votes is simply the next step in the process and should carry on normally, despite drama over the certification process in Wayne County this week.

DETROIT – The latest outlook at what winter 2020-2021 could look like in Michigan. 4 Fast FactsBe InformedMichigan Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. After meeting with President Donald Trump, the Michigan GOP lawmakers released a statement saying that they’re not aware of any information that would change President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is expected to certify the results of the 2020 election on Monday, Nov. 23. Read MoreThursday, Nov. 19, 2020 --

WASHINGTON – Michigan Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. READ: Michigan GOP lawmakers meet with President Trump at White HouseSenate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield released the following statement:“The President of the United States extended invitations to us on Wednesday evening. We each accepted his invitation as we would accept an invitation from any sitting President if asked to meet at the White House. “We used our time in the White House to deliver a letter to President Trump making clear our support for additional federal funds to help Michigan in the fight against COVID-19. These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections.”I was glad to have met with President Trump this evening.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is expected to certify the results of the 2020 election on Monday, Nov. 23. Several legal experts and local leaders say the state’s certification of votes is simply the next step in the process and should carry on normally, despite drama over the certification process in Wayne County this week. On Wednesday, Palmer and Hartmann filed affidavits saying they believed the county vote “should not be certified” in an attempt to rescind their decision. Michigan officials say that there is no legal mechanism in place for the members to change their vote following certification. “I’m not worried about any attempts for them to cast out Wayne County,” said Detroit NAACP Executive Director Kamilia Landrum.

DETROIT – Michigan Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield met with President Donald Trump at the White House Friday. It’s one of the most controversial White House meetings in recent history and there’s concern the president is going to try get Shirkey and Chatfield to overturn Michigan’s election results. No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it. We each accepted his invitation as we would accept an invitation from any sitting President if asked to meet at the White House. “We used our time in the White House to deliver a letter to President Trump making clear our support for additional federal funds to help Michigan in the fight against COVID-19.

During an interview with CNN Friday morning, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she had not spoken with state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield about their invitation to meet with President Trump in Washington. UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: Chatfield Chatfield tweeted : “No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it. 🇺🇸”However, during the live interview Benson said Chatfield texted her that “he hasn’t confirmed with anyone that he’s going or not.”Reports say Trump will meet with several Republican state legislators from Michigan about the election results today. of State Jocelyn Benson this morning on CNN: "Actually, the speaker *just* texted me and said he hasn't confirmed with anyone that he's going or not." President - Michigan View All CandidatesRepresentatives with the Michigan State House and Senate could not be reached for comment by Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit.

DETROIT – Michigan Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield are expected to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Friday. It’s an extraordinary move as the Trump Campaign continues to attempt to stop Michigan from certifying the election results. Speaker Lee Chatfield confirmed that he was meeting with the president in a tweet just before the meeting Friday, saying he is honored to speak with Trump. No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it. And I look forward to our conversation.”The 4 p.m. meeting comes after a contentious meeting with the Wayne County Board of Canvassers.

DETROIT – Here’s what you missed on Local 4 News at Noon. What we know about President Trump’s meeting with two Michigan GOP lawmakersMichigan Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield are expected to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Friday. It’s an extraordinary move as the Trump Campaign continues to attempt to stop Michigan from certifying the election results.

There has been some suggestion from a few GOP activists that the state legislative leadership could change the state’s electors. Pfizer seeking emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine in USPfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic -- but not until after a long, hard winter. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 285,398 as of Thursday, including 8,324 deaths, state officials report. New COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Michigan. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 130,000 on Wednesday, near its highest mark on record.

President Donald Trump listens during an event in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, on prescription drug prices. Experts on Michigan election law said the Board of State Canvassers' authority was limited in scope. The Michigan Legislature would be called on to select electors if Trump succeeded in persuading the board not to certify the results. In two Democratic-leaning counties in Wisconsin that are recounting votes, Trump’s campaign sought to discard tens of thousands of absentee ballots that it alleged should not have been counted. "It’s an open attempt to intimidate election officials, it’s absolutely appalling.

Their vote will stand.”The big question is what the Michigan Board of State Canvassers does on Monday. In midst of the election certification process, President Donald Trump has asked Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield to meet with him at the White House on Friday. Representatives with the Michigan State House and Senate could not be reached for comment. “There is no legal mechanism for them to rescind their vote. Their job is done and the next step in the process is for the Board of State Canvassers to meet and certify,” said secretary of state spokeswoman Tracy Wimmer, the AP reports.

The press conference came just hours after the Trump campaign filed to dismiss its case to stop the certification of Michigan’s election results. “That case was attempting to get Wayne County board of supervisors to decertify, and they did,” Giuliani said, misidentifying the Board of Canvassers as supervisors. But Giuliani and the campaign’s filing are wrong: The Wayne County Board of Canvassers did certify the election after a 2-2 deadlock earlier this week. Michigan officials said Thursday that there’s no legal basis for them to reverse their decisions. Read the latest here: Michigan: GOP canvassers can’t legally rescind Wayne County election certification vote

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has invited two top Republican Michigan lawmakers to the White House this week. Senate Republican Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield will reportedly attend a meeting a the White House on Friday. It is telling that Michigan GOP legislative leaders Mike Shirkey and Lee Chatfield are jetting off to Washington DC this week to meet with President Trump. Two Republican members of the board -- Monica Palmer and William Hartmann -- refused to certify the election results on Tuesday. Read more: Trump targets Wayne County vote certification in late bid to block Biden

The Michigan Legislature would be called to select electors if Trump succeeds in convincing the state’s board of canvassers not to certify Biden’s victory in the state. Asked at a Lansing news conference about the plan for legislative leaders to visit Trump, Democratic Gov. “Wayne County voters need to have full confidence in this process." Biden crushed Trump in Wayne County by a more than 2-1 margin on his way to winning Michigan by 153,000 votes, according to unofficial results. But Trump and his allies have spent two weeks raising false claims of fraud and refusing to concede to Biden.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials have announced stricter COVID-19 regulations that present large challenges for families and business owners. READ: MDHHS announces stricter COVID-19 rules for Michigan restaurants, high schools, colleges, remote workingWhy take these serious steps? “A leading model shows that if we don’t take aggressive action right now, we could soon see 1,000 deaths per week here in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “Getting this health crisis under control is absolutely essential to getting our economic crisis under control,” Whitmer said. “If our public isn’t healthy, our economy isn’t healthy.”State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey released a statement that reads, in part:“We are disappointed that Gov.

LANSING, Mich. – On the day that Michigan hospital systems banded together to put out the alert on the rise of COVID-19 cases, Gov. ‘No area of the state is spared’: How COVID-19 is trending in all 8 Michigan regionsA spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said “Sen. As state officials announce 6,000 new COVID-19 cases daily in Michigan, hospitalizations are starting to trend in wrong direction. During a virtual discussion with the presidents and CEOS of major Michigan health systems, the most pressing concern isn’t space, but staff availability. COVID-19 cases in Michigan are at an all-time high, and Gov.

DETROIT – With deadlines fast approaching, Michigan state Republicans and President Donald Trump’s campaign are hoping to change the outcome of the election in a few ways. According to Michigan state law, a recount has to be triggered when a candidate wins by less than 2,000 votes, which doesn’t apply to this year. It can also be petitioned by a campaign as long as they have a reasonable chance to win. “I think it’s important to dispel the notion legislative leaders in Michigan can choose different electors,” the statement read. While many of these options could muddy the waters election, experts think they’ll do little, if anything, to impact the election in Michigan.

Gretchen Whitmer is looking for help from the Republican-controlled legislature to back safety measures in place in response to climbing COVID-19 cases. “Fighting this virus needs to be a team sport, one that requires leaders from both sides of the aisle to work together to keep Michiganders safe," Whitmer said. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ mask order in place is considered law in the state. It will send a resounding message that every one of us has our part to do,” Whitmer said. View More: Michigan COVID-19 dataView More: Coronavirus newsView More: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 hospitalization data trendsView More: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

With the battle for a second round of stimulus checks stalled in Washington, there’s help out there for people who need it. The political infighting over a second stimulus in Washington has left many people out of money, and in turn, out of options. But there’s good news for Michigan residents looking for ways to help bridge the gaps. “We have a deal on unemployment benefits and liability reform," Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield tweeted Tuesday. Great news for working families and small businesses.”The bill:Extends the maximum unemployment benefit period from 20 weeks to 26 weeks.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Senate is set to go into session Thursday and take up coronavirus-related orders nearly a week after Michigan Supreme Court ruled to strike down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders. In a split decision, the state Supreme Court overturned a 1945 law that Whitmer had been using to kick out executive orders with no checks and balances from Legislature. The court also said in a unanimous decision that all of Whitmer’s executive orders past April 30 are not valid because there was no input from the state Legislature. However, days of Whitmer issuing executive orders are over unless it’s a deal reached with the Legislature.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said over the weekend that he wouldn’t support any type of mask mandate in the state of Michigan. Days later, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued regulations regarding masks, gatherings and some businesses across the state. “I think that those comments show you a real disdain for science and ignorance of the epidemiology that we are up against,” Whitmer said. She cited public health experts and scientists who support masks as a means to stop the spread of COVID-19. Whitmer’s handling of pandemic :Reopening Michigan :Health questions, advice :Vaccines :Outbreaks :Unemployment :Individual stories :

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan's health department issued a mask requirement and other coronavirus restrictions Monday, just days after the state Supreme Court invalidated a 75-year-old emergency powers law that underpinned Gov. The ruling nullified all virus-related orders issued after April 30. It means Whitmer must negotiate with lawmakers to extend a state of emergency and any new underlying COVID-19 orders she writes. However, the administration can control an epidemic under a 1978 public health law that was not at issue in the case, though its authority is narrower. He said a different state department would soon issue workplace safety rules, like restaurant capacity limits, mirroring ones that were nixed under the court ruling.

Gretchen Whitmer on Friday, stating that she did not have the authority to issue public health orders without legislative approval. Wisconsin virus cases are surgingIt’s been five months since the ruling, but now -- the virus is out of control in Wisconsin. Wisconsin health officials on Saturday said the state set a single-day record for COVID-19 cases with nearly 2,900 positive tests. A county health official in Wisconsin says he’s frustrated with the lack of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and is quitting. The number of people hospitalized in Wisconsin reached a record-high of 737 on Sept. 30, according to state health officials and the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has a budget in place for 2021 that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. The coronavirus originally had the state making dire budget predictions that there would be a more than $1 billion hole to fill. Road funding gets the full $600 million expected and some programs, which were axed in the last budget like Pure Michigan, are being funded again. An item that is being cut at a $12 million saving is the Detroit Re-Entry Center, which does prisoner programming. The Michigan Department of Corrections is also slimming down administration for a $2.5 million saving.

Allowing clerks to begin processing, but not counting, ballots the day before the election would not necessarily be a permanent change, he said. He said he could not predict if or when the Senate would act but said it is “being very seriously considered.”He said some jurisdictions efficiently processed an enormous number of absentee ballots while others “struggled to get it done. About 1.6 million ballots cast were absentee — returned by mail, at drop boxes or inside clerks' offices — topping the record of 1.3 million from November 2016. Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, local clerks and voting-rights groups have urged the Republican-led Legislature to let election workers start processing absentee ballots the day before Election Day. Johnson said cities or townships with more than 25,000 residents should be able to do certain processing of absentee ballots on Monday, Nov. 2.

Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders issued a joint statement after reaching a bipartisan deal regarding the upcoming 2020-21 school year. The agreement comes one day before a rare Saturday session meant to tackle the debate centered around forcing school districts to offer an in-person option. READ: Heres what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemicRead the full statement below:Today, we reached a bipartisan deal that will give students, parents, educators, and support staff much needed support, flexibility, and certainty as we approach the new school year. They deserve peace of mind about what the next few months will hold in store, and this legislation will provide it.The joint statement was released by Whitmer, Sen. Mike Shirkey, Sen. Jim Ananich, Rep. Lee Chatfield, and Rep. Christine Greig. READ: More return to school coverage

LANSING, Mich. State Sen. Tom Barrett announced Sunday evening he tested positive for coronavirus. The Michigan Army National Guard implemented a COVID-19 screening policy for all soldiers one week prior to their departure for training events, Barrett said. Barrett was the sponsor behind Senate Bill 0858 which aimed to limit the powers Gov. We were informed today that a member of the Senate tested positive for COVID-19. More information on coronavirus (COVID-19):

LANSING, Mich. – There are two efforts underway in Michigan to scale back some of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's powers. The governor has maintained she’s using her emergency power to save lives, but some critics say she’s gone too far. Critics of Whitmer are taking a two-pronged approach to curb her powers -- a citizens initiative to repeal the Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 and the other is to recall her from office. These efforts were launched after an Ingham County judge upheld the governor’s emergency powers under the 1945 law in a lawsuit.

Another was Renaissance Global Logistics of Detroit, whose CEO is John James, the Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. The Paycheck Protection Program helps smaller businesses to stay open and keep Americans employed during the pandemic. The company is among the 5% of minority-owned businesses that were able to access funds, she said. Roughly 121,000 loans were made to Michigan businesses or other entities, about 20,000 of them for $150,000 or more, according to the data. The aid totaled nearly $16 billion and covered more than 1.5 million jobs.

Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield released the following statement after reaching a bipartisan budget agreement, which includes adjustments to the fiscal year 2020 budget and allocation of Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars. Read the statement:“COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our state budget. This agreement provides crucial funding for Michigan families, schools, and communities grappling with costs incurred as a result of the virus. Whitmer and legislative leaders for working together to minimize the negative impact on schools, students and public education employees in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This budget agreement prevents education funding cuts for the current fiscal year and, looking ahead, will help finalize plans to safely reopen schools in the fall.

LANSING, Mich. Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature on Tuesday proposed a $1.3 billion plan to help K-12 schools reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, saying districts should have flexibility to start when they want and to offer remote instruction as an alternative if necessary. Gretchen Whitmer is pushing Congress for flexibility to use bailout money to fill the holes and for an additional round of funding. The governor previously issued an order giving schools flexibility to resume before the day after Labor Day without needing a state waiver. The Republican plan calls for redefining attendance to allow for online learning without reducing schools' funding and cutting the number of snow day allowances from six to two so remote instruction occurs instead. If you're in Marquette, that's going to look very different than what school would probably look like in Grand Rapids or Detroit.

LANSING, Mich. Michigan House and Senate lawmakers said they will announce the Return to Learn plan on Tuesday. Related: Michigan schools face budget cuts amid coronavirus pandemicState Rep. Pamela Hornberger and Sen. Lana Theis, chairs of the House and Senate education committees, will deliver an overview of the bicameral plan. School districts were forced to shift to remote learning during the unprecedented school closures, which many werent prepared to do. Whitmer says the Michigans Return to School Roadmap will be released on June 30. Gretchen Whitmer to outline next steps for schools to reopen this fallMeanwhile, Michigan State University has compiled an array of recommendations and guidelines from the CDC and other research, officials said.

Gretchen Whitmer introduced another piece of her plan to reopen the state Monday, but Republican lawmakers say it isn’t enough. MORE: What does the “MI Safe Start Plan” mean for reopening Michigan? Under the “MI Safe Start Plan," businesses will open based on which workplaces pose the least risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission. “And the answer was it put too many people back to work.”Shirkey said he wants to see bolder action as the state moves to reopen. VIEW: Here’s what was reopened under the revised stay-at-home orderWhitmer said he wants to work with the Republican leadership, but Shirkey says he’s not interested in waiting any longer.

LANSING, Mich. – A Michigan lawmaker was stripped of a committee chairmanship and ordered to undergo training Thursday after the state Senate concluded allegations of sexual harassment lodged by several woman, including a legislator, were credible. UPDATE: Lucido after removal from Michigan Senate committee: ‘I have not sexually harassed anyone’Republican Sen. Peter Lucido of Macomb County’s Shelby Township lost his position leading the Senate Advice and Consent Committee. A female senator then accused him of sexually harassing her at a Capitol orientation. “We take accusations of inappropriate behavior in the workplace seriously,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Clarklake Republican. “It is my sincere hope that this experience will serve as motivation for us all to do better and be better in our personal interactions and our public discourse.”Read back: 3rd woman accuses Michigan Sen. Peter Lucido of sexual harassment

LANSING, Mich. – A Michigan lawmaker was stripped of a committee chairmanship and ordered to undergo training Thursday after the state Senate concluded allegations of sexual harassment lodged by several woman, including a legislator, were credible. UPDATE: Lucido after removal from Michigan Senate committee: ‘I have not sexually harassed anyone’Republican Sen. Peter Lucido of Macomb County’s Shelby Township lost his position leading the Senate Advice and Consent Committee. The Senate had opened an investigation in January after a reporter complained that Lucido made a sexist comment to her before a group of high school boys. “We take accusations of inappropriate behavior in the workplace seriously,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Clarklake Republican. “It is my sincere hope that this experience will serve as motivation for us all to do better and be better in our personal interactions and our public discourse.”Read back: 3rd woman accuses Michigan Sen. Peter Lucido of sexual harassment

A Michigan Republican legislative leader is drawing criticism from Democrats for likening abortion to slavery. Gretchen Whitmers support for newly introduced legislation that would undo abortion restrictions. His spokeswoman said he had no regrets and believes there is no middle ground on the abortion issue. One would ban the common second-trimester procedure known as dilation and evacuation, except if it would save the mothers life. No matter how any of us feels about abortion, I think we can all agree that equating a safe, legal medical procedure with slavery is as ludicrous as it is disgusting, said spokeswoman Angela Vasquez-Giroux.

LANSING, Mich. - A ballot group that helped overhaul Michigan's redistricting process has discussed lengthening legislative term limits with Republicans who control the Legislature. Voters Not Politicians, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield confirmed their preliminary talks Tuesday. A proposal to amend Michigan's constitution to change term limits has not been finalized. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has also attended a meeting to discuss easing term limits. Voters Not Politicians spearheaded the 2018 voter-approved ballot initiative to give a commission power to draw congressional and legislative maps instead of the Legislature.

Starting Nov. 1, the asset limit for food assistance, welfare and emergency relief will be $15,000 up from $5,000 for food stamps, $3,000 for cash assistance and $500 for emergency payments. Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon said Michigan is unusual in telling applicants that they must have little income and "almost nothing in the bank" to receive public assistance. Thirty-four states have no asset limit to get food assistance, he said. The $3,000 asset limit for welfare has been in place since at least 1997, said state spokesman Bob Wheaton. Roughly 1.1 million residents qualified for food assistance in August.

LANSING, Mich. - Republicans who control Michigan's Legislature are proposing to reverse some budget vetoes that Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued last week. Supplemental spending bills introduced in the Senate on Tuesday would fund scholarships for students who attend in-state private colleges and a per-student funding increase for charter schools. A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says lawmakers are preparing for potential budget-related action and nothing has been decided pending talks with Whitmer. She vetoed nearly $1 billion in proposed spending after budget discussions broke down.

Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders have agreed to finalize a state budget without including a long-term funding plan to fix the state's poor roads. After negotiations appeared to have been stalling between the two sides due to a disagreement on roads funding, Gov. Whitmer has been calling for a new roads funding package to be part of the new state budget. However, talks over the weekend changed the tone as Whitmer has agreed to separate the roads funding talks from the budget talks. Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield agreed it was time for Whitmer to split roads funding from the budget and negotiate on two different tracks, and that appears to be the case now.

The Michigan governor and Republican lawmakers in Lansing say they're working together on a 2020 state budget and have agreed to split roads funding from the negotiations. After negotiations appeared to have been stalling between the two sides due to a disagreement on roads funding, Gov. Whitmer has been calling for a new roads funding package to be part of the new state budget. However, talks over the weekend changed the tone as Whitmer has agreed to separate the roads funding talks from the budget talks. Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield agreed it was time for Whitmer to split roads funding from the budget and negotiate on two different tracks, and that appears to be the case now.

LANSING, Mich. - There's a war of words in Lansing, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer came out swinging against the Republican-controlled-Legislature Wednesday. Michigan is about one month from the budget deadline and both sides are trying to prevent a shutdown. Whitmer held a news conference Wednesday morning, demanding the Legislature pass a $60 billion budget as soon as possible. Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield agree it's time for Whitmer to split road funding from the budget and negotiate on two different tracks.

LANSING, Mich. - Between the roads and the schools, there's plenty that needs to be fixed across the state of Michigan, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans can't agree on how to do it. There are tours ongoing in Lansing, but the House and Senate are not in session, at least in person. Whitmer said she is the only person who has put a real proposal on the table, though House Republicans dispute that claim. Whitmer also talked about a suggestion from House Republicans to sell the Blue Water Bridge as a way to raise revenue.

Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday criticized the Republican-led Legislature for starting a vacation without a spending deal that includes a major influx of new tax revenue to fix Michigans deteriorating roads and bridges. The Democrat held a budget briefing with reporters as lawmakers began a two-month stretch during which session days are tentative pending any breakthrough in higher-level negotiations. No one in Michigan, no one in any other field is allowed to go on a vacation until they get their work done, Whitmer said. Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich said last week that he did not think lawmakers need to meet for voting sessions while waiting for a deal. Its just been crickets when it comes to an alternative plan to actually fix this problem, Whitmer said.

Gretchen Whitmer proposed a 45-cent increase in the state's gasoline and diesel taxes to fix the roads, phased in later this year and in 2020. Watch the presentation above. Appearing on Flashpoint with Devin Scillian, Whitmer made it clear she thinks the word tax gets a bad rap. Tuesday’s budget address doesn’t deal with infrastructure alone. Expect to hear more detail on how Whitmer expects to fund $507 million more for K-12 education.