Michigan Politics & News
Michigan news from The Daily Signal, tracking state politics, union influence, election integrity battles, and policy debates shaping the Great Lakes State and Midwest region.
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Michigan Activists Lose Fight to Remove Display of 3 Wise Men From Public School Roof
A Michigan school board decided on Monday to keep Christmas decorations on top of the elementary school’s roof despite activists claiming the display is too religious. The three wise men, a biblical reference to Jesus Christ’s birth, are displayed on Newaygo Elementary School’s roof. The Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists argued the Christmas display went against the separation of church…Neetu Chandak -
Michigan Lawmakers Urge Fast-Food Chains to Stop Offering ‘Gender-Classified’ Toys
More than a dozen Michigan lawmakers support a resolution in the state’s House of Representatives pressuring fast-food chains like McDonald’s to eliminate “gender-classified” toys from their children’s meals. State Rep. Leslie Love, D-Detroit, who introduced House Resolution No. 49 on Wednesday, told The Daily Signal in a phone interview that the purpose of her resolution…Troy Worden -
Michigan Professor Refuses to Write Letter of Recommendation for Student Who Wants to Study in Israel
A professor at the University of Michigan has come in for criticism after initially supporting a student’s application to study abroad and then rescinding that support after discovering the student’s intended destination was Israel. The Washington Post reported that John Cheney-Lippold, an associate professor of American culture, received a student’s request for a letter of…Troy Worden -
An Obama Judge Said Michigan’s Voting Law Was Racially Motivated. A Higher Court Disagrees.
Sanity has prevailed in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel of that court, in very strong language, has stayed the absurd decision of an Obama-appointed judge, Gershwin A. Drain, who threw out the Michigan Legislature’s decision to eliminate straight-ticket voting for supposedly violating the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Michigan…Hans von Spakovsky -
Michigan State Football Star’s Next Uniform Will Be USAF’s, Not NFL’s
Many college football players dream of achieving fame and fortune in the NFL, but Jalen Watts-Jackson, a star defensive back who made the Michigan State University record books, has a different set of goal posts in mind. Watts-Jackson told an MSU athletics blog, Spartan Nation—on the Fourth of July, no less—that he intends instead to…Katherine Rohloff -
Justice Department Lays Down the Law on ‘Unconstitutional’ University of Michigan Speech Policies
The Justice Department has filed court papers against the University of Michigan in a lawsuit alleging the school’s speech policies violate students’ free speech rights. Following through on a priority of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department statement of interest filed Monday alleges that the University of Michigan has an “unconstitutional” statement of student rights and responsibilities….Rob Shimshock -
Michigan Approves $360 in Weekly Unemployment to a German Shepherd
A Michigan dog owner was surprised to find out that the state approved his German shepherd for weekly unemployment benefits. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency sent a letter to lawyer Michael Haddock saying that a Michael Ryder was approved to receive $360 a week in unemployment, reports ABC News. The only problem is that Ryder is Haddock’s…Amber Randall -
In Wake of Nassar Assault Scandal, Michigan State Students Choose Wrong Target
Everywhere I go, I carry a Spartans water bottle. I used to hope that someone on the street would yell to me, “Go, Green!” It would be a friendly Spartans cheer reminding me of my home campus, Michigan State University. But now news reports refer to my school every day, emphasizing the horrific sexual assaults…Chrissy Clark -
Watch What Happened at University of Michigan When Charles Murray Spoke
When libertarian speaker Charles Murray came to speak at the University of Michigan Wednesday, not everyone was pleased. Prior to his arrival, serious threats were issued to College Republicans to intimidate them. An alumnus wrote in the Michigan Daily that Murray was “an ‘alt-right’ bigot who is emboldened by President Donald Trump,” and added that…Joshua Israel -
Michigan Farmer Fights Back Against City Banning Traditional Marriage Supporters From Farmers Market
A small-town farmer in St. Johns, Michigan, got creative in his fight against East Lansing city officials, who banned another farmer’s family from selling produce at the city’s farmers market because they refuse to host same-sex weddings on their farm. Watch the video to learn how one farmer, Kyle Barnhart, is countering officials who he claims…Kelsey Bolar -
Lone Wolf Terror Attack in Michigan is 96th US Plot Since 9/11
Earlier this week, Amor M. Ftouhi, a Canadian-Tunisian dual citizen attacked a police officer at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. This is the 96th Islamist terror plot or attack against the U.S. homeland since 9/11. Ftouhi, who has lived in Montreal for the past 10 years with his wife and three children, reportedly entered…David Inserra -
Michigan Recount Could Cost Taxpayers $4 Million
Green Party candidate Jill Stein filed a request for recount Wednesday in the state of Michigan, following through on her promise to pursue recounts in three states that delivered the election to President-elect Donald Trump. Stein requested a hand recount of the state’s presidential election ballots, a process that will take a tremendous amount of resources…Ted Goodman -
Here Are 7 Ways Free Trade Has Helped Michigan
In 2010, the Michigan economy was on the rocks—715,000 people were out of work, and the Great Lakes State’s gross domestic product had contracted by 7.6 percent by the time the recession ended. Today, Michigan is the comeback state, and international trade plays a vital role in its growth. Here are seven facts about the…Tori K. Smith -
Don’t Bring Empty Bottles Into Michigan, You Might Go to Jail
Founding Father James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers that “It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” The phenomenon of overcriminalization puts all…John-Michael Seibler -
Michigan Lawmaker: Parents Have a Right to Know What Bathroom Their Child Is Using at School
A Michigan state lawmaker introduced legislation to help protect parental rights, especially when it comes to knowing if their child is using the boys’ or girls’ restroom at school and who has access to that restroom. The departments of Education and Justice issued a joint transgender student directive to schools across the country in May,…Leah Jessen -
University of Michigan Students Call for Police to Censor Classmates’ Political Messages
The University of Michigan is one of our nation’s premier institutions of higher learning. Young people from all over the country move to Ann Arbor every year to obtain an education and to have their ideas challenged by exposure to fellow students from many walks of life. Or maybe not. Last Thursday afternoon, a number of…Andrew Kloster -
How Michigan and Ohio Made It Harder to Accidentally Break the Law
The Criminal Justice Committee was always an odd fit for Rep. Ed McBroom, a state lawmaker and dairy farmer representing a rural area of Michigan. During his last term on the committee, McBroom, a Republican, was schooled on a criminal justice topic he had never heard of before, but on this one, few could blame…Josh Siegel -
How Michigan’s Welfare Population Declined by 70% in 4 Years
Since Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder assumed office, the number of welfare recipients in the state has declined by a staggering 70 percent, according to a news report. A total of 64,492 individuals received cash assistance from the state this past August, down from 227,490 in 2011. Snyder, a Republican, took office in January 2011 and was re-elected in November…Sara Jones -
Report Shows Michigan Police Seized Over 23 Million In Property and Cash Last Year
Last month, as the Michigan Senate debated a host of reforms to the state’s civil asset forfeiture laws, the Michigan State Police released its Asset Forfeiture Report, the annual publication required by state law that details Michigan’s drug-related forfeiture activities. The report aggregates data from 629 local police departments, sheriff’s departments, and multijurisdictional task forces,…Jason Snead -
Why Michigan’s Attorney General Has Backed Forfeiture Reform
Civil forfeiture reformers in Michigan just gained an unlikely but welcome ally: Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. To date, the forfeiture debate in virtually every state has been characterized by a stiff divide between reformers demanding change and a law enforcement establishment implacably opposed to it. Schuette’s endorsement of reform legislation seems to be breaking…Jason Snead