Kyle Davidson

How Black pioneers in Michigan health care influenced the state and nation’s political landscape • Michigan Advance This is the fourth and final in a series of articles by Michigan Advance throughout February celebrating Black History Month.    In 2023, the Association of American Medical Colleges shared a survey w...

As we close out Black History Month, Michigan Advance is highlighting several health care workers who challenged and overcame educational and professional barriers. They gave back to their communities through their work inside and outside of the office.

Story from @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Whitmer’s final State of the State speech to include pitches on medical debt, housing reforms • Michigan Advance Gov. Gretchen Gretchen Whitmer will highlight her record after nearly a decade in office as Michigan’s chief executive Wednesday evening, but don’t expect the governor’s eighth and final State of the ...

Gov. Gretchen Gretchen Whitmer will highlight her record after nearly a decade in office as Michigan’s chief executive Wednesday evening, but don’t expect the governor’s eighth and final State of the State address to be just another greatest hits compilation.

From @bensolis1.bsky.social

Supreme Court justices weigh if Michigan attorney general’s Line 5 case should stay in state court • Michigan Advance On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments on behalf of  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Enbridge Energy on whether the state’s case to shut down the Line 5 pipeline should ...

On Tuesday members of the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether Michigan AG Dana Nessel's case to shut down Line 5 should proceed in state court or be heard in federal court. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/02/24/s...

Lansing-area lawmakers joins with labor unions in proposing guardrails on AI and employee monitoring • Michigan Advance Employee body cams intended to deter theft, docking an employee’s pay if their computer mouse doesn’t move for more than two minutes and tracking employee bathroom breaks are just some examples of how...

Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) joined w/ Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), and members of the AFL-CIO, the Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital and Communication Workers of America to share details on proposed regulations for AI in the workplace.

From @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Our small staff of four reporters has brought distinctive stories about Operation Metro Surge this year, for free and without advertising. Your generous support is what makes that work possible. If you're willing and able, please help us keep it going. minnesotareformer.com/donate/

Demystifying Deep Green's proposed data center near downtown Lansing • Michigan Advance A U.K.-based developer is pitching “a different kind of data center” in the state’s capital city— but residents remain skeptical. Developer Deep Green, in a partnership with Lansing’s publicly owned u...

ICYMI:@kdailey.bsky.social and I took at look at the proposed Lansing data center and the developer's promises on energy and water use, as well as a policy put forth by city council to allocate a portion of utility revenue to housing services. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/02/23/d...

Democratic National Committee files brief supporting Benson in Michigan voting lawsuit • Michigan Advance On Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee is set to file a friend of the court brief backing Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee la...

On Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee is set to file a friend of the court brief backing Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee last November.

Story from @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

FBI won’t provide Minnesota investigators with evidence in Alex Pretti killing, state says • Minnesota Reformer The FBI formally notified Minnesota officials on Friday that it would not grant them access to evidence from the investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapo...

FBI won’t provide Minnesota investigators with evidence in Alex Pretti killing, state says minnesotareformer.com/briefs/fbi-w...

“Not Ready for Prime Time.” A Federal Tool to Check Voter Citizenship Keeps Making Mistakes. The Department of Homeland Security pushed out the revamped tool while it was still adding data. That led to widespread misidentification, particularly for citizens born outside the U.S.

NEW: A federal tool meant to find noncitizens on voter rolls is consistently marking citizens as noncitizens, especially if they were born outside the U.S., causing chaos as election clerks try not to disenfranchise voters, @zachdespart.bsky.social and I found. 🧵 www.propublica.org/article/save...

Whitmer proposes $88.1B budget, as state reckons with federal impacts • Michigan Advance Heading into her final budget season, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed $88.1 billion in funding for the 2027 Fiscal Year, a pitch she says would double down on her administration’s long-ter...

Heading into her final budget season, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed $88.1 billion in funding for the 2027 Fiscal Year, a pitch she says would double down on her administration’s long-term priorities while looking to provide Michiganders with financial relief.

From @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Whitmer signs off on school cell phone ban set for next fall • Michigan Advance Marking off a priority that she first shared in her 2025 State of the State Address, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put her signature to a set of bills to ban cellphones during instruction time in Mic...

Marking off a priority that she first shared in her 2025 State of the State Address, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put her signature to a set of bills to ban cellphones during instruction time in Michigan classrooms.

From @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Federal judge dismisses Trump administration attempt to access Michigan voter rolls • Michigan Advance Judge Hala Jarbou, an appointee of President Donald Trump, has ruled that there is no federal law requiring states to turn over voter registration lists to the federal government, dismissing a case br...

From @kdailey.bsky.social
Judge Hala Jarbou has ruled that there is no federal law requiring states to turn over voter registration lists to the federal government, dismissing a case brought against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
michiganadvance.com/briefs/feder...

Whitmer says she’s in communication as Trump threatens to block the opening of Gordie Howe bridge • Michigan Advance Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told reporters Tuesday that she is in communication with President Donald Trump’s staff and administration following the president’s threat Monday evening to block a lon...

Whitmer weighs in as Trump threatens to block opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/02/10/w...

Trump’s racist ‘Truth Social’ post also included whopper on debunked Michigan election fraud theory • Michigan Advance While President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan backlash over a now-deleted social media post that included a blatantly racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michel...

While President Trump faces bipartisan backlash over a now-deleted post with a blatantly racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, it also contained a widely discredited falsehood about voter fraud in Michigan’s 2020 election.

By @bensolis1.bsky.social

Notably, the EIS does not delve into the tunnel project's impact on Indigenous treaty rights, which has been a key concern in the fight against Line 5.

Army Corps of Engineers releases final report on Line 5 tunnel leading up to permitting decision • Michigan Advance On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the final version of its Environmental Impact Statement on Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel project, starting a 30 day waiting period before makin...

“All eyes are really turning to Governor Whitmer,” Earth Justice Senior Attorney Julie Goodwin told me earlier today, arguing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers final environmental impact statement telegraphs a decision in Enbridge's favor. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/02/06/a...

Oakland County says it has found Legionella in two additional buildings • Michigan Advance After officials detected Legionella bacteria in the water system for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office last month, the county said Wednesday that two additional buildings’ water systems had the pres...

The county said in a news release that routine testing after the first sample was detected in the sheriff’s office led to Legionella being identified in the water systems of North Oakland Health Center and the Resource and Crisis Center.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

Former Michigan Democratic Party official charged with embezzling from vulnerable adult • Michigan Advance The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday charged Traci Kornak, an attorney who once served as the Michigan Democratic Party’s treasurer and is an associate of Attorney General Dana Nessel, wit...

The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday charged Traci Kornak, an attorney who once served as the Michigan Democratic Party’s treasurer and is an associate of AG Dana Nessel, with the embezzlement of money from a vulnerable adult to whom she was a conservator

From @bensolis1.bsky.social

Michigan raw milk bills move for further consideration by House Rules Committee • Michigan Advance A package of bills allowing farmers to sell raw milk directly to customers is one step closer to a vote on the Michigan House floor, after members of the House Government Operations Committee referred...

A package of bills allowing farmers to sell raw milk directly to customers is one step closer to a vote on the Michigan House floor, after members of the House Government Operations Committee referred the packages to the Committee on Rules.

Story from @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Trump unveils his new 'Board of Peace,' but some countries wary WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump promised Thursday his newly established “Board of Peace” will not “be a waste of time,” just after the leaders of several countries signed its charter at the World ...

Trump unveils his new 'Board of Peace,' but some countries wary

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

With Michigan work project funding on hold, Hall says deal to restore funds is possible • Michigan Advance Following a Friday decision to bar the state from spending contested work project funds, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall told reporters he’d be open to restoring funds to some work projects through a...

Following a Friday decision to bar the state from spending contested work project funds, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall told reporters he’d be open to restoring funds to some work projects through a supplemental budget.

Story by @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Mike Rogers made almost $100K advising a company that helped Maduro regime spy on its citizens • Michigan Advance Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers was a member of an advisory board at Telefonica, a cell phone service provider operating largely in Latin America which admitted in 2022 to collaborating w...

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers was a member of an advisory board at a cell phone service provider operating in Latin America which admitted to collaborating with the Venezuelan government — then led by the now-deposed Nicolas Maduro — to spy on its citizens.

From @bensolis1.bsky.social

Nessel investigation seeks truth, accountability for harms at Michigan Native boarding schools • Michigan Advance In an effort to bring truth and accountability into an oft-ignored piece of Michigan’s history, the Department of Attorney General is pursuing a criminal investigation into Native American boarding sc...

Michigan AG Dana Nessel has launched an investigation to seek accountability for harms inflicted on Native American children at boarding schools in Michigan.

As @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social reports, it aims to document abuse, elevate survivor voices, and confront a shameful chapter in our history.

Small farmers push Michigan House committee to back bills legalizing farm-to-consumer raw milk sales • Michigan Advance As distrust in American health institutions and opposition to established health practices like vaccination increase, proponents of raw milk – which has not undergone pasteurization which kills diseas...

Under the current law, Michigan farmers are barred from selling unpasteurized milk, however a set of bills from Republican Rep. Matt Maddock would permit farmers to sell raw milk directly to consumers. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/01/15/s...

Whitmer announces geologic hydrogen investment, emphasizes collaboration at Detroit Auto Show • Michigan Advance In her keynote remarks at the Detroit Auto Show on Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for increased collaboration between the U.S. and Canada in auto manufacturing and trade more broadly, while cr...

In her keynote remarks at the Detroit Auto Show Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for increased trade collaboration between the U.S. and Canada, criticizing the impact of tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump as having “taken a terrible toll.”

Story from @kdailey.bsky.social

Michigan House Republicans kick off 2026 with renewed vote on school cell phone ban • Michigan Advance In a push to start the year off with a potential bipartisan win, the Republican-led Michigan House has revived a piece of legislation aimed at banning cell phones in schools after a failed vote on the...

In a push to start the year off with a potential bipartisan win, the Republican-led Michigan House has revived a piece of legislation aimed at banning cell phones in schools after a failed vote on the bill last July.

Story from @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

A Ford worker called out Trump. The president flipped him off. Now, he's been suspended. • Michigan Advance Updated on 1/14/26 at 7:25 a.m. A union-backed auto worker at Ford Motor Co. was caught on video heckling President Donald Trump as a “pedophile protector” when he visited a Dearborn factory on Tuesda...

ICYMI

A Ford factory worker caught on video heckling President Donald Trump as a “pedophile protector” has been identified as 40-year-old TJ Sabula, a member of UAW Local 600.

Sabula, who has been suspended by Ford, says he has “no regrets”.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

State universities in Michigan yield high return on state investments, according to new report • Michigan Advance On Tuesday, the Michigan Association of State Universities shared a report detailing the financial impact the state’s 15 public universities have across the state’s economy, bringing in nearly $45 bil...

The Michigan Association of State Universities shared a report Tuesday detailing the financial impact the state’s 15 public universities have across the state’s economy, bringing in $45 billion in new economic activity while supporting more than 129,000 jobs statewide.

By @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Nessel and advocates seek rehearing on conditional approval of DTE data center contracts • Michigan Advance Following the Michigan Public Service Commission’s decision to sign off on a set of contracts for DTE Energy to supply 1.4 gigawatts of power to a data center in Saline Township, Michigan’s attorney g...

Following the Michigan Public Service Commission’s conditional decision to allow DTE Energy to supply power to a data center in Saline Township, the attorney general and a coalition of advocacy groups are asking regulators to rehear the case. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/01/09/n...

As Michigan’s August primary draws closer, Benson promises focus on affordable health care • Michigan Advance Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, one of four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to be the next governor, is ringing in the election year with a plan she says will ensure health ca...

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced her plan to reform the state's healthcare system if elected governor Thursday. The centerpiece of that promise? Revamping the Department of Health and Human Services. @michiganadvance.com
michiganadvance.com/2026/01/08/a...