Detroit Free Press LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke of unity and common ground and looked past conflicts with the Legislature in Wednesday, but she hit back at recent actions by GOP lawmakers in a Thursday morning news conference.Whitmer called Republican threats to withhold school funding over disagreements about her response to the coronavirus pandemic "cruel and reckless," and said the Legislature continues to complain about her exercise of powers that were in fact granted to the executive branch by the Legislature."The executive has to be nimble and quick when lives are on the...…Detroit Free Press LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke of unity and common ground and looked past conflicts with the Legislature in Wednesday, but she hit back at recent actions by GOP lawmakers in a Thursday morning news conference.Whitmer called Republican threats to withhold school funding over disagreements about her response to the coronavirus pandemic "cruel and reckless," and said the Legislature continues to complain about her exercise of powers that were in fact granted to the executive branch by the Legislature."The executive has to be nimble and quick when lives are on the...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — A judge issued a preliminary order Friday requiring Antrim County to preserve its election records and allow forensic photos to be taken from 22 county precinct tabulators used in the Nov. 3 election, but the case is not related to the disputed presidential contest.Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, claimed on Twitter Friday night that the ruling is a big win for the president in his fight against the election results.But according to the order, released Saturday by the State Court Administrative Office, the case relates to a...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — A judge issued a preliminary order Friday requiring Antrim County to preserve its election records and allow forensic photos to be taken from 22 county precinct tabulators used in the Nov. 3 election, but the case is not related to the disputed presidential contest.Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, claimed on Twitter Friday night that the ruling is a big win for the president in his fight against the election results.But according to the order, released Saturday by the State Court Administrative Office, the case relates to a...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called President Donald Trump's on Tuesday "a recipe for disaster" among and urged the public not to attend the event.Whitmer, speaking live Sunday on two Detroit television stations, also urged parents to pull their children out of high school winter sports such as hockey, basketball and wrestling if some of the other students involved in those activities are not wearing masks.Whitmer made her comments after the state on Saturday. That is a record high since the pandemic began in March, though hospitalization rates and fatalities are still...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called President Donald Trump's on Tuesday "a recipe for disaster" among and urged the public not to attend the event.Whitmer, speaking live Sunday on two Detroit television stations, also urged parents to pull their children out of high school winter sports such as hockey, basketball and wrestling if some of the other students involved in those activities are not wearing masks.Whitmer made her comments after the state on Saturday. That is a record high since the pandemic began in March, though hospitalization rates and fatalities are still...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING – Emergency orders Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued under the Emergency Powers of Governor Act are struck down, effective immediately, the Michigan Supreme Court said Monday in a 4-3 order that added an exclamation mark to an Oct. 2 ruling.But new emergency orders that the Whitmer administration has issued through the state health department director — which replicate mask requirements, restrictions on gathering sizes and restaurant capacity, among other features — are not affected by the court's ruling.Monday's Supreme Court ruling is in...…Detroit Free Press LANSING – Emergency orders Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued under the Emergency Powers of Governor Act are struck down, effective immediately, the Michigan Supreme Court said Monday in a 4-3 order that added an exclamation mark to an Oct. 2 ruling.But new emergency orders that the Whitmer administration has issued through the state health department director — which replicate mask requirements, restrictions on gathering sizes and restaurant capacity, among other features — are not affected by the court's ruling.Monday's Supreme Court ruling is in...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that Michigan movie theaters, closed since March, can reopen Oct. 9.Also reopening on that date: other indoor theaters, performance venues, ice rinks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities, trampoline parks, and more. The new order also eases capacity restrictions for indoor gatherings, allowing for more weddings and large banquets as temperatures cool. And it will allow larger funeral gatherings.Depending on the size of the venue, the order allows gatherings of up to 500 people...…Detroit Free Press LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that Michigan movie theaters, closed since March, can reopen Oct. 9.Also reopening on that date: other indoor theaters, performance venues, ice rinks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities, trampoline parks, and more. The new order also eases capacity restrictions for indoor gatherings, allowing for more weddings and large banquets as temperatures cool. And it will allow larger funeral gatherings.Depending on the size of the venue, the order allows gatherings of up to 500 people...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — A Republican state senator who sponsored a bill to limit the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used to address the pandemic has tested positive for COVID-19.State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, issued a statement Sunday that said he does not have "any significant symptoms," and "will be self-isolating according to medical guidelines."Barrett has been a vocal critic of Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sponsored a bill to repeal the 1945 law Whitmer has used to maintain a state of emergency related to the coronavirus. The state...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — A Republican state senator who sponsored a bill to limit the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used to address the pandemic has tested positive for COVID-19.State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, issued a statement Sunday that said he does not have "any significant symptoms," and "will be self-isolating according to medical guidelines."Barrett has been a vocal critic of Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sponsored a bill to repeal the 1945 law Whitmer has used to maintain a state of emergency related to the coronavirus. The state...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — A Republican state senator who sponsored a bill to limit the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used to address the pandemic has tested positive for COVID-19.State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, issued a statement Sunday that said he does not have "any significant symptoms," and "will be self-isolating according to medical guidelines."Barrett has been a vocal critic of Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sponsored a bill to repeal the 1945 law Whitmer has used to maintain a state of emergency related to the coronavirus. The state...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — A Republican state senator who sponsored a bill to limit the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has used to address the pandemic has tested positive for COVID-19.State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, issued a statement Sunday that said he does not have "any significant symptoms," and "will be self-isolating according to medical guidelines."Barrett has been a vocal critic of Whitmer's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sponsored a bill to repeal the 1945 law Whitmer has used to maintain a state of emergency related to the coronavirus. The state...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — Local clerks are preparing for a rush of absentee ballots dropped off at their offices over the next few days, as many said close to half of the ballots they issued were not returned as of Thursday afternoon.Tuesday's primary election, which follows voter approval in 2018 of no-reason absentee voting and comes amid a pandemic that will discourage many from showing up to the polls in person on Election Day, already features record numbers of absentee ballots requested and sent out to voters.Though in some cities it will depend on how many of those...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — Local clerks are preparing for a rush of absentee ballots dropped off at their offices over the next few days, as many said close to half of the ballots they issued were not returned as of Thursday afternoon.Tuesday's primary election, which follows voter approval in 2018 of no-reason absentee voting and comes amid a pandemic that will discourage many from showing up to the polls in person on Election Day, already features record numbers of absentee ballots requested and sent out to voters.Though in some cities it will depend on how many of those...WW…

Share This Story!Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutNo Michigan lawmaker has sponsored more bills to help pawn shops — or received more campaign cash from the industry.A link has been sent to your friend's email address.A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the ConversationTo find out more about Facebook commenting please read theWelcome to our new and improved comments.This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.You will need to register before adding a comment.Typed...…Share This Story!Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutNo Michigan lawmaker has sponsored more bills to help pawn shops — or received more campaign cash from the industry.A link has been sent to your friend's email address.A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the ConversationTo find out more about Facebook commenting please read theWelcome to our new and improved comments.This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.You will need to register before adding a comment.Typed...WW…

Detroit Free Press LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday she hopes for some relaxing of the state's "stay home" order on May 1, when it is set to expire.At a Friday afternoon news conference, Whitmer said the state's economy will reopen in phases, with low-risk sectors returning to work first. Some of the easing of restrictions could also happen on a regional basis, "depending on what the data tells us," she said.In assessing whether a sector is low-risk, factors that will be examined include whether workers interact with the public, whether they work indoors or outdoors, whether they...…Detroit Free Press LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday she hopes for some relaxing of the state's "stay home" order on May 1, when it is set to expire.At a Friday afternoon news conference, Whitmer said the state's economy will reopen in phases, with low-risk sectors returning to work first. Some of the easing of restrictions could also happen on a regional basis, "depending on what the data tells us," she said.In assessing whether a sector is low-risk, factors that will be examined include whether workers interact with the public, whether they work indoors or outdoors, whether they...WW…