INSIDER
McLaren to provide improved resources for deaf, hard-of-hearing patients following investigation
Read full article: McLaren to provide improved resources for deaf, hard-of-hearing patients following investigationMcLaren Health Care has agreed to provide better communication resources for its deaf and hard-of-hearing patients to resolve its investigation under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies
Read full article: California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberiesCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday bringing back tough criminal penalties targeting large-scale stealing schemes and smash-and-grab robberies.
The Supreme Court will hear an appeal to upend Texas' age verification law for porn websites
Read full article: The Supreme Court will hear an appeal to upend Texas' age verification law for porn websitesThe Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the adult entertainment industry seeking to upend a Texas law that requires pornographic websites to verify the age of their users.
Despite Supreme Court ruling, the future of emergency abortions is still unclear for US women
Read full article: Despite Supreme Court ruling, the future of emergency abortions is still unclear for US womenThe U.S. Supreme Court did not settle the debate over whether federal law requires hospitals to stabilize pregnant patients with emergency abortions on Wednesday, despite saying Idaho hospitals can provide abortions in medical emergencies even with the state’s restrictions.
What is the federal law at the center of the Supreme Court's latest abortion case?
Read full article: What is the federal law at the center of the Supreme Court's latest abortion case?The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to release an opinion that will allow doctors in Idaho to perform abortions to stabilize patients at least for now, despite the state's strict abortion ban.
A judge temporarily blocks Iowa law that allows authorities to charge people facing deportation
Read full article: A judge temporarily blocks Iowa law that allows authorities to charge people facing deportationA federal judge has temporarily blocked an Iowa law that allows law enforcement in the state to file criminal charges against people with outstanding deportation orders or who previously had been denied entry to the United States.
A judge has blocked enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media during litigation
Read full article: A judge has blocked enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media during litigationA federal judge has extended his block on enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps while a legal challenge proceeds.
Court upholds block on Texas law requiring school book vendors to provide sexual content ratings
Read full article: Court upholds block on Texas law requiring school book vendors to provide sexual content ratingsA federal appeals court has upheld a block on the enforcement of a Texas law requiring vendors to evaluate and rate the sexual content of books they sell or have sold to schools.
Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional but state says it will appeal ruling
Read full article: Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional but state says it will appeal rulingA judge has called a new law unconstitutional that passed in the GOP-led Texas Legislature that will dictate how elections are run in the state’s most populous county.
'First of its kind' Illinois law will penalize libraries that ban books
Read full article: 'First of its kind' Illinois law will penalize libraries that ban booksA new law signed in Illinois on Monday will require the state's libraries to uphold a pledge not to ban material because of partisan disapproval, starting on Jan. 1, 2024.
Local 4 spoke with 2 Metro Detroit women who have different views on abortion battle
Read full article: Local 4 spoke with 2 Metro Detroit women who have different views on abortion battleIn an exclusive sit-down interview with Local 4 before striking down that law, Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she believes the moment is on the side of reproductive rights, as evidenced by what’s happening around the country.
Here’s what a new gun crime policy in Macomb County will mean moving forward
Read full article: Here’s what a new gun crime policy in Macomb County will mean moving forwardThe Macomb County Prosecutor has set a new gun policy in response to what, he feels, is selective enforcement of the state-level statute.
What the landmark same-sex marriage bill would mean for Michigan if Obergefell is overturned
Read full article: What the landmark same-sex marriage bill would mean for Michigan if Obergefell is overturnedThe Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex marriages, but should it become law, what would that mean for same-sex couples Michigan?
Proposal 3 passes in Michigan: When will it take effect? What’s next?
Read full article: Proposal 3 passes in Michigan: When will it take effect? What’s next?Michigan voters collectively passed Proposal 3 in the general election, effectively codifying abortion rights under the Michigan Constitution -- but when does that take effect?
Metro Detroit expungement fair
Read full article: Metro Detroit expungement fairOn Saturday the Oak Grove A.M.E Church in Detroit will host and Expungement Fair for people who would like to have their criminal records expunged. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. at the Johnson Recreation Center located at 8550 Chippewa Street om Detroit.
US Supreme Court won’t consider Lake Michigan beach case out of Indiana
Read full article: US Supreme Court won’t consider Lake Michigan beach case out of IndianaThe public will keep the right to use Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline for recreation as the U.S. Supreme Court won’t consider arguments from nearby property owners who claimed they also owned the beach.
Crumbleys’ legal team asks court to stop prosecutor from sending email updates to Oxford parents
Read full article: Crumbleys’ legal team asks court to stop prosecutor from sending email updates to Oxford parentsAttorneys for James and Jennifer Crumbley have filed a motion in an effort to stop Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald from sending email updates on their case to Oxford High School parents.
Parents of accused Oxford shooter ask Michigan Supreme Court to dismiss their case
Read full article: Parents of accused Oxford shooter ask Michigan Supreme Court to dismiss their caseThe parents of the accused Oxford High School shooter are once again seeking to get the case against them thrown out, this time appealing to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Michigan appellate court denies GOP legislature’s appeal request in court of claims abortion ruling
Read full article: Michigan appellate court denies GOP legislature’s appeal request in court of claims abortion rulingThe Michigan Court of Appeals has denied a request by intervening defendants to review a court of claims ruling that bars the acting state attorney general from enforcing a 1931 abortion ban.
Key abortion hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Oakland County
Read full article: Key abortion hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Oakland CountyA decision being weighed in Oakland County Wednesday is if the 1931 Michigan law that criminalizes abortion goes into effect. As of right now, there is an injunction in place preventing that law from going into effect.
Following Roe v. Wade decision, this likely will be next controversial ruling by Supreme Court
Read full article: Following Roe v. Wade decision, this likely will be next controversial ruling by Supreme CourtIn a matter of days, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that could have heavy environmental impact, West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency.
Leaked SCOTUS opinion: A look at the future of abortion in Michigan if Roe is overturned
Read full article: Leaked SCOTUS opinion: A look at the future of abortion in Michigan if Roe is overturnedThe right to abortions has been widely debated among Americans and lawmakers alike in recent years -- a debate that has nearly reached a boiling point today, given that the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this summer whether to overturn a landmark 1973 abortion ruling.
Deep dive: What future of abortion in Michigan looks like if Roe is overturned
Read full article: Deep dive: What future of abortion in Michigan looks like if Roe is overturnedThe right to abortions has been widely debated among Americans and lawmakers alike in recent years -- a debate that has nearly reached a boiling point today, given a new Texas law that could potentially impact national abortion regulations.
White House: University of Michigan’s Ford School dean top pick for Fed banking regulator
Read full article: White House: University of Michigan’s Ford School dean top pick for Fed banking regulatorU-M's dean of public policy school is a top nominee for a role at the Federal Reserve, says White House.
Get Caught Up: 2 lawsuits filed to protect abortion rights in Michigan -- what to know
Read full article: Get Caught Up: 2 lawsuits filed to protect abortion rights in Michigan -- what to knowTwo separate lawsuits were filed Thursday in an effort to secure abortion rights in the state of Michigan, should the federal Roe v. Wade ruling be revoked and leave abortion rules up to individual states.
2 lawsuits filed to protect abortion rights in Michigan: What to know
Read full article: 2 lawsuits filed to protect abortion rights in Michigan: What to knowTwo separate lawsuits were filed Thursday in an effort to secure abortion rights in the state of Michigan, should the federal Roe v. Wade ruling be revoked and leave abortion rules up to individual states.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan files lawsuit to maintain right to abortion
Read full article: Planned Parenthood of Michigan files lawsuit to maintain right to abortionWith the future of abortion rights uncertain amid an impending Supreme Court ruling, Planned Parenthood of Michigan and an abortion provider are filing a lawsuit in an effort to protect abortion access in the state.
New bill would require gun owners to safely store weapons away from children
Read full article: New bill would require gun owners to safely store weapons away from childrenNewly proposed legislation would make gun owners liable if children access and use their weapons to commit a crime or hurt themselves or others.
Sidestepping repeal, Gov. Whitmer reinstates prevailing wage for Michigan construction projects
Read full article: Sidestepping repeal, Gov. Whitmer reinstates prevailing wage for Michigan construction projectsMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced the reinstatement of higher “prevailing” wages for workers involved in state construction projects.
House Republicans go after UIA, draft legislation aimed at protecting Michiganders
Read full article: House Republicans go after UIA, draft legislation aimed at protecting MichigandersHouse Republicans say this is just the beginning. They’re currently drafting the wording of legislation they hope to introduce soon aimed at reforming the Unemployment Insurance Agency.
If Roe is overturned, Michigan has abortion ban on the books
Read full article: If Roe is overturned, Michigan has abortion ban on the booksThe Supreme Court’s decision to let a Texas ban on most abortions remain in force — for now — is prompting warnings and cheers from advocates who note Michigan still has a 90-year-old ban on the books if Roe v.
Washtenaw County prosecutor hoping to help residents through expungement program criticized by NAACP official
Read full article: Washtenaw County prosecutor hoping to help residents through expungement program criticized by NAACP officialWith the passing of a state law allowing Michiganders to expunge their records, Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit wants those in the region to know they can have a clean slate if needed.
Live stream: President Biden makes Juneteenth 12th official federal holiday
Read full article: Live stream: President Biden makes Juneteenth 12th official federal holidayPresident Joe Biden will sign legislation into law on Thursday that officially makes Juneteenth a federal holiday -- the first new national holiday since 1983.
Michigan bills push police changes year after Floyd death
Read full article: Michigan bills push police changes year after Floyd deathMichigan lawmakers have unveiled bipartisan bills that would require updated use-of-force policies and make changes designed to hold police accountable for misconduct a year after the slaying of George Floyd.
Bill to stop drunk driving reintroduced 2 years after crash that killed Northville family
Read full article: Bill to stop drunk driving reintroduced 2 years after crash that killed Northville familyWASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of Congress reintroduced legislation to reduce drunk driving deaths across the country. The legislation, Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act, will require the commercialization and standards for advanced drunk driving prevention technology systems in all new cars. Two years ago, Dingell honored their lives on the house floor and pledged action to reduce drunk driving crashes. The HALT Drunk Driving Act will make our roads safer, and will help us bring an end to the trauma of drunk driving deaths and injuries in this country.”MADD National President Alex Otte has spoken out in support if the bill. Read more on the HALT Drunk Driving Act
Mexico to require appeals on social media account blocking
Read full article: Mexico to require appeals on social media account blocking(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)MEXICO CITY – The party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented for public comment a proposed set of regulations on Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies, a move that drew criticism Tuesday. López Obrador was close to Trump and was outraged by the blocking of his accounts. Like Trump, López Obrador thinks traditional media outlets are biased against him, and like Trump, the Mexican president has used the term “fake news,” or Spanish variants of it. López Obrador said in January that his administration is reaching out to other government to form a common front on the issue. “I can tell you that at the first G20 meeting we have, I am going to make a proposal on this issue,” López Obrador said.
New laws look to overhaul Michigan’s parole, probation system
Read full article: New laws look to overhaul Michigan’s parole, probation systemGretchen Whitmer has signed new legislation into law that will overhaul the state’s parole and probation system. “The package of legislation included three very important reforms to supervision, to probation and to parole,” Haney said. Those laws aim to reshape the state’s probation and parole system and help thousands of people. What these reforms do is that they seek to make probation and parole more just and more effective,” Haney said. The new set of laws will reduce adult felony probation sentences in Michigan from five years to three years and prevent endless extensions on misdemeanor and felony probation terms.
What is the 25th Amendment and how does it work?
Read full article: What is the 25th Amendment and how does it work?The 25th Amendment has never been used to remove a president -- but it’s there for a reason. The 25th Amendment, proposed by Congress and ratified by the states in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, provides the procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session.
Michigan governor signs bills to limit incarcerations
Read full article: Michigan governor signs bills to limit incarcerationsLANSING, Mich. – Legislation that allows for alternatives to jail and aims to limit recidivism in Michigan were among the dozens of new laws Gov. Among the measures were 20 based on the recommendations of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration formed in 2019. The task force heard testimony from hundreds of people and reviewed 10 years of statewide arrest and court data after the state’s incarcerated population nearly tripled over four decades. “Despite the challenges 2020 presented, I am proud of the incredible work we have done as a state to reform our criminal justice system,” said Whitmer. “After establishing the bipartisan Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration we were able to make real and meaningful change that will impact the lives of thousands of Michiganders.
Whitmer signs bills aiming to shift away from jail as punishment for traffic offenses in Michigan
Read full article: Whitmer signs bills aiming to shift away from jail as punishment for traffic offenses in MichiganGretchen 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.
Michigan’s top court rejects appeal by Trump campaign
Read full article: Michigan’s top court rejects appeal by Trump campaignLANSING, Mich. – President Donald Trump's campaign was handed a unanimous defeat Friday at the Michigan Supreme Court, which declined to hear an appeal about how absentee ballots were handled in Detroit as well as other issues. The court steered it aside with a three-sentence order, the latest in a string of unsuccessful cases challenging how the Nov. 3 election was handled. Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory in Michigan was certified by the Board of State Canvassers on Nov. 23. The president's campaign claimed the Republican Party wasn't allowed to get an appropriate number of observers inside a Detroit convention center where absentee ballots were counted. A judge and the Michigan appeals court ruled against Trump.
Feb. 2021 Michigan bar exam to be taken online due to pandemic
Read full article: Feb. 2021 Michigan bar exam to be taken online due to pandemicLANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Bar Examination scheduled for February of 2021 will be administered remotely and online due to the coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions. The Michigan Supreme Court announced Dec. 4 that the next Michigan Bar Exam will be administered virtually on Feb. 23 and 24 of 2021 by the Board of Law Examiners (BLE). The BLE administered its first-ever remote, online bar exam in July 2020 due to the pandemic. This exam will allow the test taker’s score to be transferred between nearly 40 different jurisdictions throughout the U.S. Click here to read the order issued by the Michigan Supreme Court on Dec. 4, or read it in the document below.
Michigan governor, state Legislature far apart on COVID-19 response
Read full article: Michigan governor, state Legislature far apart on COVID-19 responseGretchen Whitmer blasted the Legislature for spending more time dealing with members who contract COVID and shutting down sessions than anything else. “I asked them to consider the mask mandate as the best tool that we have, the best weapon against our common enemy. And yet, the Republicans were unwilling to even codify what we know, to be the best tool,” added Whitmer. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:
Supreme Court declines to hear Equal Pay Act case
Read full article: Supreme Court declines to hear Equal Pay Act caseWASHINGTON The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision that employers can't use past salary history to justify a pay disparity between male and female employees. The court on Thursday declined to take up a case from the California-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Judges there said the federal Equal Pay Act, which generally requires men and women to be paid equally for the same work, doesn't allow past salary history to be used as justification for a pay disparity. California law has since changed so that employers can't use a person's salary history in determining their starting salary. The case had been to the Supreme Court once before.
Michigan legislature passes bill requiring implicit bias, de-escalation police training amid national unrest
Read full article: Michigan legislature passes bill requiring implicit bias, de-escalation police training amid national unrestLANSING, Mich. Michigan legislators passed a new bill Thursday that establishes mandatory training for incoming law enforcement officers on implicit bias, de-escalation techniques and mental health screening. Officials say some Michigan police departments already require some form of de-escalation, cultural competency or implicit bias training, but it is not currently required as part of law enforcement officers Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards training. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer showed support for Bill 945 in a Facebook post Wednesday. She also urged law enforcement to prioritize policies requiring officers to intervene if they see a colleague doing something wrong. The passage of Senate Bill 945 is a necessary step in the right direction.
Beaumont, staffing agencies sued for allegedly neglecting to investigate sexual harassment by hospital executive
Read full article: Beaumont, staffing agencies sued for allegedly neglecting to investigate sexual harassment by hospital executiveThe sexual harassment lawsuit claims that Beaumont -- along with Crossfire Managed Services, LLC and Med-National Staffing Solutions, Inc. -- neglected to investigate reports of sexual harassment by the hospital’s Director of Environmental Services Gerald Lynch. Dickey began work on April 5, 2019, and notified her Crossfire/Med-National recruiter about the director’s sexual harassment on the same day. Beaumont and the staffing agencies allegedly told Dickey that she could not return to work under these conditions after notifying her recruiter of Lynch’s behavior. According to the lawsuit the staffing agencies allegedly “attempted to coerce (Dickey) to withdraw her sexual harassment complaint” and refused to allow her to return to work until she did. We take all allegations regarding sexual harassment seriously and are committed to providing a safe, non-discriminatory workplace for all staff.
Michigan Supreme Court announces bar exam will be taken online as remote essay test
Read full article: Michigan Supreme Court announces bar exam will be taken online as remote essay testLANSING, Mich. The Michigan Supreme Court announced Monday that the Board of Law Examiners will administer a one-day bar exam on July 28, 2020, in the form of a remote, online essay-format exam instead of the traditional two-day in-person examination. The public can be confident that those who pass this exam will have requisite knowledge of state law to become a member of the Michigan bar. An essay-only exam will test applicants knowledge of Michigan law, and a passing score will be sufficient to conclude an applicant should be admitted to the Bar. Administering the bar exam in July keeps applicants on the traditional track toward becoming an attorney. The 15-question essay exam covers both state and federal law that would be addressed in the 200 question Multistate Bar Exam, which cannot be administered online this year.
Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to protect drivers and holders of state IDs from expired driving penalties
Read full article: Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to protect drivers and holders of state IDs from expired driving penalties“I am proud to work with Senator Moss and Secretary of State Benson to provide much-needed relief for drivers whose licenses have expired during the State of Emergency. While in-person and mail renewals remain on hold, residents can still renew their licenses, state ID cards and vehicle registrations online at Michigan.gov/SOS. For the current state of emergency, Michigan drivers and holders of state IDs are safe from any expired driving penalties. Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-47 on April 13, which temporarily extends the expiration of driver’s licenses, state ID cards and vehicle registrations — that occur during the state of emergency — until June 30, 2020. Whitmer extends expiration of driver’s licenses, state ID cards
Growing marijuana in Michigan: Here’s what to know about the law
Read full article: Growing marijuana in Michigan: Here’s what to know about the lawDETROIT – As of Dec. 6, 2018 it is legal to grow your own marijuana in the state of Michigan. Legal adults in Michigan are allowed to grow up to 12 marijuana plants inside their residence. If the caregiver is also a patient and has five patients, he or she can grow up to 72 marijuana plants. Michigan adopted its statutory definition of marijuana in the Public Health Code, utilizing the then current federal spelling, marihuana. An act of the Michigan Legislature would be required in order to change the spelling of marijuana in the Michigan statutes, such as the Public Health Code or the newer marijuana laws.