Michigan Advance

28/11/2025

Campaign 2026 announcements and endorsements for the week of Nov. 24, 2025.

State Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) endorsed Chedrick Greene in his bid for the state Senate to represent Michigan’s 35th District. UNITE HERE Local 24 endorsed Alex Hawkins in his bid for the state House to represent Michigan’s 55th District. Meridian Township Trustee Marna Wilson endorsed Mat...

28/11/2025

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and his wife, Callie LaPorta, sent a letter earlier this month to state legislators in support of “Queenie’s Law,” a bill that seeks to ban all experimentation on dogs in Michigan public institutions.

The bill was introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Paul Wojno (D-Warren) and in the House by Rep. Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.) in March. The legislation sits in committee in both chambers, though in late October it moved out of the House Committee on Regulatory Reform to the House Committee on Rules.

“Dogs used in labs are no different than our incredible rescue pup Bonnie,” the letter from the LaPortas states, quoted in a press release circulated by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and his wife, Callie LaPorta, sent a letter earlier this month to state legislators in support of “Queenie’s Law,” a bill that seeks to ban all experimentation on dogs in Michigan public institutions. The bill was introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Paul ...

28/11/2025

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced Friday it has charged the man who allegedly shot two National Guard members earlier this week with first-degree murder after one of the soldiers died as a result of her injuries.

Other charges include three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.

The attack shocked the country and has led to a renewed discussion about immigration policy as well as the war in Afghanistan and how the country withdrew during the Biden administration.

President Donald Trump announced late Thursday night he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries,” though he didn’t specify which countries would be included or exactly how such an order would be implemented.

Trump wrote on social media he plans to “remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced Friday it has charged the man who allegedly shot two National Guard members earlier this week with first-degree murder after one of the soldiers died as a result of her injuries. Other charges include three counts of posses...

28/11/2025

As state leaders continue to debate how best to improve Michigan’s economic landscape, a group of the state’s leading employers is weighing in with its own plan centered on education, talent development and economic development.

“As the pace of change accelerates, we need to build a more adaptive and competitive state – standing still now only widens the gap,” Jeff Donofrio, president and CEO of Business Leaders For Michigan, said in a news release. “[Our plan] focuses on changing what’s within our control – three areas that, when working well, have the greatest power to change our state’s trajectory.”

Specifically, the plan calls for leaders to transform education, make Michigan the easiest place to build and grow and to modernize its approach to economic development to activate the state’s economic potential.

Donofrio argued that Michigan’s challenge in retaining talent and building its economy is not based on ideas or effort, but consistency and follow-through.

As state leaders continue to debate how best to improve Michigan’s economic landscape, a group of the state’s leading employers is weighing in with its own plan centered on education, talent development and economic development. “As the pace of change accelerates, we need to build a more adapt...

27/11/2025

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a lawsuit alongside 21 other state attorneys general against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over guidance issued by the department.

The lawsuit said the new guidance would eliminate eligibility for legal immigrants who had previously been eligible to receive such benefits, including those who had been granted asylum or refugee status.

The guidance, issued at the end of October, was intended to provide instructions on how to implement program changes passed in July as a part of H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which narrowed eligibility for noncitizens.

“The guidance in reality goes beyond the act, arbitrarily excluding from SNAP many lawful permanent residents who remain eligible under the statutory scheme established by Congress,” the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Oregon Eugene Division said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a lawsuit alongside 21 other state attorneys general against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over guidance issued by the department. The lawsuit said the new guidance would eliminate eligibility for legal immigrants who had previously been eligible to....

27/11/2025

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined attorneys general and governors from 20 other states to sue the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over a new policy that they say drastically alters the ability of state and local agencies, as well as non-profit groups, to combat homelessness.

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in federal court in the District of Rhode Island.

“The complaint alleges HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes and violated the law by not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions, many of which are directly contrary to congressionally passed statutes and HUD’s own regulations,” a statement released by Nessel’s office said.

The policy would significantly cut the amount of money that, through the Continuum of Care program, can be used to go towards permanent housing solutions. Only 30% of a grant could be used for permanent housing, while for previous grants, that limit was nearly 90%.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined attorneys general and governors from 20 other states to sue the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over a new policy that they say drastically alters the ability of state and local agencies, as well as non-profit groups, to combat homelessne...

27/11/2025

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice acknowledged in a court filing that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the call to continue removals of Venezuelans to a brutal Salvadoran prison, despite a federal judge’s order to stop the deportations.

The Tuesday filing noted that Noem was advised by top officials at the Justice Department she did not need to comply with the March 15 judicial order to halt the deportations because it had been issued after the flights took off. The Venezuelan nationals were deported under an obscure wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act.

“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador,” according to the DOJ filing. “That decision was lawful and was consistent with a reasonable interpretation of the Court’s order.”

Noem’s decision sent 137 Venezuelan men to a mega-prison for months until the Venezuelan government could broker a prison swap with El Salvador and the United States to have the men returned.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice acknowledged in a court filing that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the call to continue removals of Venezuelans to a brutal Salvadoran prison, despite a federal judge’s order to stop the deportations. The Tuesday filing noted that Noem was adv...

27/11/2025

Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court, judges and the members of two new Eaton County families all found themselves teary-eyed watching their adoptions finalized this week.

Adoptions for three young Michigan children were celebrated on Tuesday morning at this year’s Michigan Adoption Day Ceremony, held in the Michigan Supreme Court chambers.

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Boxes of tissues were placed throughout the room for that very reason.

“I think I can declare that this is definitely the best day here in our court,” Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh said at the start of the event. “Too often, what happens in a courtroom, including this one, involves sadness and tears as well as life changing decisions. But today, we replace sadness with joy, but we keep those tears and the life changing decisions for the families this morning.”

Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court, judges and the members of two new Eaton County families all found themselves teary-eyed watching their adoptions finalized this week. Adoptions for three young Michigan children were celebrated on Tuesday morning at this year’s Michigan Adoption Day Ceremony...

26/11/2025

Reports that the Big Ten Conference could sell a stake of its media rights to a private equity group have led Michigan U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) to send a letter to the conference’s commissioner stating her opposition to the deal and requesting additional information.

Publicly reported details show the Big Ten would sell 10% of its media rights to UC Investments, a group affiliated with the University of California system pension fund, for $2.4 billion.

The conference roster includes the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Illinois, Indiana University, The University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, The Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, University of Oregon, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin.

Reports that the Big Ten Conference could sell a stake of its media rights to a private equity group have led Michigan U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) to send a letter to the conference’s commissioner stating her opposition to the deal and requesting additional information. Publicly reporte...

26/11/2025

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was briefed Wednesday afternoon on the shooting of two National Guard members in downtown Washington, D.C., and is “actively monitoring this tragic situation,” according to a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The Metropolitan Police Department reported around 2:45 p.m. Eastern that it was on the scene of a shooting near the intersection of 17th and I streets NW, just about two blocks from the White House.

STORY: https://michiganadvance.com/2025/11/26/repub/breaking-two-national-guard-members-shot-in-washington-d-c-officials-confirm/

26/11/2025

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights has filed a formal charge of discrimination against McLaren Regional Medical Center Auxiliary for alleged disability discrimination.

A release from the Department of Civil Rights said the charge came in connection to a case involving a volunteer applicant, a person with quadriplegia, who was allegedly denied an accommodation for the position. The health system also allegedly asked during the interview if the person’s disability would interfere with their ability to take on the volunteer position.

“Michigan’s Persons With Disabilities Civil Rights Act protects residents and visitors from the automatic denial of accommodations for a disability,” Department Executive Director John E. Johnson, Jr. said in a statement. “The law requires organizations to engage in an interactive process to determine if appropriate tools or changes in policy would allow the full use and enjoyment of public resources.”

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights has filed a formal charge of discrimination against McLaren Regional Medical Center Auxiliary for alleged disability discrimination. A release from the Department of Civil Rights said the charge came in connection to a case involving a volunteer applicant, a p...

26/11/2025

TOPEKA — Collin Tuthill, president of one of the country’s largest canned and frozen food importers and distributors, said the current state of the U.S. food industry is “like we live in some kind of alternate universe.”

The most efficient industry is being hit the hardest by tariff policies and rising costs, he said Tuesday during a video call with reporters.

“The folks that are taking the punches are the ones that can’t really afford to take the punches,” said Tuthill, president of Royal Food Import, a North Carolina-based company that distributes food to hospitals, food banks, schools and prisons.

Tuthill was part of a group brought together by Tariffs Cost US, a campaign highlighting the detrimental effects of Trump administration tariff policies.

Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union, said costs were already rising — for consumers and farmers — before President Donald Trump implemented tariffs.

“With tariffs, they are going up more,” he said.

Story from our colleagues at the Kansas Reflector

Collin Tuthill, president of one of the country’s largest canned and frozen food importers and distributors, said the current state of the U.S. food industry is “like we live in some kind of alternate universe.”