Article Summary – Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota as part of her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, marking the first time a sitting US president or vice president is believed to have visited an abortion provider. The visit is aimed at raising awareness of
Article Summary – James Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter for allegedly failing to safely store a gun that his son used in a 2021 school shooting. The prosecution argued that the tragedy was preventable if Crumbley had made small efforts to secure the weapon, and that parents can
Article Summary – The Biden administration has approved an additional $1.2 billion in student loan forgiveness, providing relief to 153,000 borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This round of forgiveness targets borrowers who have been making payments for at least 10 years on college loans
Article Summary – Brimley Elementary School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has experienced academic success during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering extended learning time and mental health support. The school’s students exceeded statewide scores in key subjects in the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, leading the Education Trust–Midwest to recognize
Article Summary – The FCC has stopped accepting applications for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides subsidized internet access to nearly 23 million Americans, due to its funding only extending to April 2024. The program, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides a monthly discount on internet services
Article Summary – Michigan lawmakers are reintroducing a film incentive program to attract film production companies to the region. The Multimedia Jobs Act will create a tax credit scheme, replacing the former 42% rebate of production costs, to encourage local job creation and boost customer traffic for small businesses. However,
Article Summary – Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has presented her budget for fiscal year 2025, which includes funding for universal prekindergarten and free community college. The proposed budget totals $80.7 billion, with specific funding allocated for education initiatives such as $159 million for free pre-K education, $30 million for
Article Summary – Michigan Republican Rep. Tim Walberg, along with two colleagues, has proposed a bill to exclude home care workers from federal minimum wage and overtime laws. The bill, backed by the Private Care Association, would reverse a 2013 Department of Labor rule that applied these protections to workers
Article Summary – Over 150 House Republicans issued a letter on February 4 urging President Joe Biden to end the recently implemented pause on permitting liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The Biden administration announced its decision on January 26, citing the standards used to evaluate permits, potential energy cost increases,
Article Summary – The newly established Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) aims to improve the state’s educational outcomes from preschool through college. The department is focused on making education from prekindergarten onwards more accessible and affordable, with initiatives such as universal free pre-K for all 4-year-olds
Article Summary – The Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act, or House Bill 4878, was introduced to prohibit landlords from considering an applicant’s criminal history during the tenant screening process. The bill, supported by dozens of criminal justice advocates and formerly incarcerated people, stipulates that if an applicant meets
Article Summary – The Department of Energy will invest up to $1 billion into the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, a consortium comprising Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois among others. The funds will be used to produce hydrogen power with aims to reduce carbon emissions, and the hub is expected to
