News & Commentary

Right to Life of Michigan says it has cleared a significant hurdle in its attempt to outlaw an abortion procedure known as “dilation and evacuation,” which is the medically preferred method for abortion care at or about 14 or 15 weeks.  

Aimee Stephens was not prepared for the outpouring of affection that greeted her when she emerged from the U.S. Supreme Court after witnessing history in the making. The Court’s nine justices, for the first time ever, had just heard oral arguments in a case involving a transgender person.

Administrators at Genesee County’s jail estimate that at least 40 percent of the pretrial population has been incarcerated for over a year. And the record there—the longest time they’ve ever had someone awaiting trial at that jail—is 7.5 years.

The Michigan House of Representatives voted last week to pass a package of bills that gives new hope to people with criminal records. The proposed legislation, if enacted, would expand expungement eligibility for thousands of Michiganders, who would have a better chance at rebuilding their lives after serving time in prison. Specifically, this package of bill will automatically expunge up to two felony or four misdemeanor records for certain crimes if a person also has no additional records in a 10 year period.

Detroit resident Kamal Lukata Anderson has been looking for an opportunity to tell his story. Last Friday, he found the ideal audience: a task force Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed to find ways to reduce Michigan’s booming jail population.

While Justices Roberts and Alito to me did not seem favorably disposed toward the employees and Justice Thomas presumably feels the same, we only need five votes.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear three cases that will have significant impact on the rights of LGBTQ people, specifically whether it is legal to fire workers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Growing concerns over technology with well-known flaws will only further damage police-community relations.

Our state’s addiction to mass incarceration has torn families apart, damaged communities of color and wasted hundreds of millions of tax dollars, with nearly $2 billion a year spent on our prison system.