Attorneys, advocates cheer MSC decision demanding new Line 5 permit review

August 5, 2026

LANSING — Following the Michigan Supreme Court’s Friday ruling striking down state energy regulators’ decision to permit the Line 5 tunnel project, pipeline opponents convened to celebrate the decision and talk about the next steps.  The controversial pipeline runs from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ontario, with a 4.5-mile segment of dual pipelines running through the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet.  Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle, Michigan Climate Action Network Executive Director Denise Keele and several attorneys who ...

Michigan Supreme Court vacates key Line 5 permit

August 4, 2026

ST. IGNACE — The Michigan Supreme Court Friday ruled that the Michigan Public Service Commission erred when it granted a key permit for the Line 5 petroleum pipeline tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. Among other findings in its 58-page ruling, the majority found the commission’s ...

Winter storms bring snow, freezing rain and cold as Thanksgiving travelers journey home

December 1, 2025

A major snowstorm in the Midwest and Great Lakes brought winter to some Thanksgiving travelers, and forecasters said the northeast U.S. could get its own early winter storm next week. Winter storm warnings and advisories extended from Montana to Ohio, the National Weather Service said. ...

Michigan Senate passes reforms on collecting petition signatures

November 15, 2025

LANSING — The fight against election disinformation and changes to Michigan’s petition circulation process cleared the upper chamber of the state Legislature on Thursday. Senators moved the legislative package with bipartisan support. Among the bills were Senate Bill 529, Senate Bill 530 ...

Michigan Senate advances stopgap funding for SNAP as federal funding cliff nears

November 1, 2025

LANSING — Members of the Michigan Senate on Thursday voted to advance a supplemental funding bill providing $71 million in state funds to support food assistance with federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP, set to come to a halt on Saturday. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service instructed state officials to pause SNAP benefits in November, citing a lapse in funding due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Senate Bill 182, passed the chamber 27-4, with Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt ...

Michigan House committee considers bills to streamline CPS investigations into abuse, neglect

October 30, 2025

LANSING — The House Committee on Families and Veterans considered two bills Tuesday, put forward by state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) and state Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Alto), HB 4530 and HB 4531. The first would change the required time frame for mental health providers to respond to a Child Protective Services, or CPS, records request from 14 to seven days, and the second would increase the amount of training on child abuse and neglect provided to mandatory reporters. “The goal is to keep children safer by making sure those on the front lines are consistently informed and ...