Michael Kransz

1 week ago | mlive.com | Michael Kransz

A bipartisan group of Michigan Senators is once again trying to pass police reform laws that include limiting no-knock warrants, classifying chokeholds as deadly force and requiring de-escalation training for officers. Lawmakers say the 10-bill package introduced May 22 would improve police practices and strengthen community trust and safety. “Improving police and community trust is crucial for public safety,” said state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, lead sponsor of the bill package.

2 weeks ago | mlive.com | Michael Kransz

The Michigan Senate has passed a bill to allow people who committed serious offenses like murder and armed robbery as a minor to be eligible to have those crimes erased from their record. The bill would expand expungement eligibility to the most serious crimes but only for those who committed the act as a minor and meet a very narrow set of conditions, like having no criminal convictions as an adult.

2 weeks ago | mlive.com | Michael Kransz

House Republicans have approved a ban on transgender girls from female K-12 sports. The bills approved Thursday, May 22, would also allow students to sue school districts if they were “harmed due to a violation of the policy.”Transgender girls would still be able to compete in co-ed and boys’ divisions and transgender boys would be allowed to compete in boys’ divisions.The bill defines sex as the designation listed on a person’s original birth certificate.

2 weeks ago | mlive.com | Michael Kransz

After House Republicans moved toward litigation against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, she told reporters Thursday she won’t be bullied into providing sensitive election information that she’s sworn to protect. “You cannot bully me or abuse your authority to get access to information that, if it ends up in the wrong hands, could be used to interfere with the chain of custody of ballots, tamper with election equipment, or impersonate a clerk on Election Day,” Benson said.

2 weeks ago | mlive.com | Michael Kransz

Michigan House Republicans are holding Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in contempt of the legislature for refusing to fully comply with their subpoena request for election training materials. The resolution directs the House’s legal counsel to take any necessary steps, including legal action, to ensure Benson releases the remaining materials without redaction or exemption. It was adopted Thursday, May 22, along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.