Danielle James

Scenes from yesterday’s “No Kings” rally in Grand Rapids.

Thousands gathered for a rally at Rosa Parks Circle before marching through downtown.

Just over 1/5 of Michigan voters say they’ve been impacted directly by tariffs, according to new polling released May 27.

But thoughts about tariffs, and whether or not voters have felt their impact, seem to be influenced by political affiliation.

A relatively new corporation earned a mention by Trump this week for pledging to invest $5.8 billion in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

That includes $500 million for a new Detroit facility that will manufacture intravenous (IV) fluids, according to the company's chairman.

The Lyoya family didn’t speak outside the courthouse today. Patrick Lyoya’s mother, Dorcas Lyoya, hugged supporters & wiped away tears as she was escorted out. Inside, his father Peter Lyoya said he felt they were finally close to getting justice for their son, only to be left without a verdict.

Last week, President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at reforming higher education.

One of them would overhaul the system colleges/universities now use to unlock more than $120 billion in student aid.

Michigan ACLU calls for police reform amid former officer’s murder trial The current push comes amid the murder trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Black motorist Patrick Lyoya.

The ACLU of Michigan is calling for police reform in Grand Rapids and across the state amidst the trial of a former police officer charged with second-degree murder.

An ACLU attorney told me this includes “no chase” policies in cases w/ nonviolent offenders.

www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

Trump threat to withhold K-12 funds over DEI leads Michigan, other states to file suit The latest lawsuit Dana Nessel made Michigan party to stems from Trump threats to withhold funding from state and local education agencies not agreeing to abandon DEI efforts.

www.mlive.com/politics/202...

How many federal workers did Michigan have before Trump cuts? See how many federal employees typically work in Michigan and a map breaking down the data for each county.

www.mlive.com/politics/202...

Dropping in this afternoon w/ a small journalist announcement. You’ll still see me covering West MI education for @mlive.com, but starting now I’ll also be reporting on how federal Trump administration decisions impact Michigan.

As always, I love hearing tips, tidbits & hot takes.

University leaders only learned the students’ visas had been revoked when media reports about similar occurrences at other universities prompted a review of GVSU’s own records maintained by DHS.

“GVSU has not been contacted by DHS about the reasons for the visa revocations.”

Schools shuttered 5 years ago. Students say the classroom culture went with it. High school seniors and teachers who experienced remote learning during middle school describe continued effects on school spirit, social connections and career aspirations.

I interviewed quite a few students about the 5-year anniversary of Gov. Whitmer shutting down schools (which was yesterday). All of them said that while they struggled academically during the pandemic, the biggest long-term change has been to engagement & school spirit.
www.mlive.com/news/2025/04...

Holland teacher collecting $68K salary after resigning for alleged racial slur A Holland Public Schools middle school teacher who was placed on administrative leave last October after allegedly using a racial slur has since resigned, but is still receiving the majority of her $7...

www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

A Michigan college president commuted from Virginia. The college - and taxpayers - paid the bill. In 2022 and 2023, Mott Community College paid more than $78,000 for its president, Beverly Walker-Griffea, to travel back and forth from Virginia, stay in Michigan hotels and rent cars while she was i...

For much of her final years as Mott Community College's president, Beverly Walker-Griffea lived in Virginia and commuted to Flint. The college paid for her flights, hotels, rentals cars and meals while she was in Michigan.

www.mlive.com/public-inter...

Detroit Lions have 'full confidence' Aidan Hutchinson will return to dominant form in 2025 Aidan Hutchinson injury update: Detroit Lions DE led the Lions with 7.5 sacks last season despite breaking his leg in a Week 5.

Detroit Lions have 'full confidence' Aidan Hutchinson will return to dominant form in 2025 www.freep.com/story/sports...

Did some digging, and both Kent County and the city of Grand Rapids have law enforcement policies mirroring those that House Republicans said would disqualify municipalities from receiving earmarks.

Read more about why and what this means below:

www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

I always enjoy talking to @danijames21.bsky.social , but especially yesterday. And I’m a big fan of the photo @mlive.com used.

One more for good measure

Part two

Some film from a day at Grand Canyon National Park

Federal complaint against GVSU alleges racial discrimination in scholarships A Rhode Island group has filed a federal civil-rights complaint against Grand Valley State University (GVSU), alleging the school has engaged in “illegal race discrimination” by using race, color and/...

www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

MSU professor’s research in helping cancer survivors conceive earns national award Former MSU interim president Teresa Woodruff, who helped pioneer an entirely new field of science - oncofertility - that combines the study of cancer (oncology) with reproductive health, was awarded t...

Last week, I was able to do a deep dive into the research that won Michigan State University’s Teresa Woodruff a National Medal of Science. Her life’s work has centered around helping cancer patients/survivors preserve their fertility.
www.mlive.com/news/2025/01...