Abigail Censky

Every year in Statehouses across the country there are bills that lawmakers call zombies—different versions of a bill they reintroduce year after year that just won’t pass.

This year, one of Michigan’s returning zombies, is a bill to end the so-called ‘Tampon Tax.’

School millages are on ballots Tuesday in Mid Michigan, but voters will also serve another purpose besides casting their votes.

For many local municipalities Tuesday’s elections are a chance for clerks and election workers to practice in advance of the 2020 presidential election.

Marc Lacey has reported for The New York Times as a foreign correspondent from Nairobi and Mexico City and in the U.S. from Washington and Phoenix. Now, he serves as the National Editor managing Times reporters embedded all over the country. WKAR Politics Reporter Abigail Censky spoke to him about how he’s planning to cover Michigan in 2020.

A bipartisan group of Michigan’s congressional delegation announced two bills Tuesday that would require reports of sexual assault involving a university employee be reviewed by the highest levels of college administrators.

Lawmakers said the legislation is a direct response to the Larry Nassar abuse scandal at Michigan State University.

The City of Lansing wants to power city buildings with 100 percent renewable energy by this July, says Lansing Mayor Andy Schor.

Even in a wind storm the Homeless Angels food truck has attracted a crowd of over forty people. Three people buzz around the inside of the food truck in a chaotic ballet heaping beans and taco toppings on top of a bed of Doritos as Tracie Baise takes orders.

Every Sunday the Homeless Angels team heads to a different Lansing park to serve up hot meals for people experiencing homelessness. This week it’s Reuter park and before the day is over they’ll serve 95 people.

U.S. Congressional Democrats passed one of the first big pieces of legislation out of the U.S. House on Friday. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrat who represents Michigan’s eighth congressional district voted for the election and ethics reform bill. 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Friday abolishing the state’s Bureau of Marijuana Regulation and Medical Marihuana Licensing Board.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel held her first public briefing on Thursday. She briefed reporters on three major investigations that were passed to her from her Republican predecessor, former Attorney General Bill Schuette, including the state’s investigation into Michigan State University’s internal handling of the Larry Nassar scandal.  

Friday the Michigan State University Board of Trustees met for the first time since Interim President and former Governor, John Engler was ousted in early January.  Acting President Satish Udpa began his first official MSU board meeting with an apology.

The Michigan Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would make major changes to civil asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture is when police are allowed to take property from people suspected of a crime without charging them.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor delivered his second State of the City Wednesday night to hundreds of people at the Riverwalk Theatre.   He touted economic partnerships and investments made in the city over the past year and ways the mayor’s office is using data to govern smarter. Schor also laid out his tailored vision for the city. He said he wants to play to Lansing’s strengths as part of a new marketing campaign to attract and keep people here.