Susan J. Demas

2 months ago | michiganadvance.com | Susan J. Demas |Michigan Advance

It’s been 727 days since Michigan State University students Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner were gunned down on campus, while five other people were injured. Thursday will mark two years since the tragedy. In journalism, we tend to write about a lot of terrible anniversaries. This one hits particularly hard for my family and thousands of others who had loved ones on campus the night of Feb. 13, 2023.

2 months ago | heraldpalladium.com | Susan J. Demas

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to reporters after presenting her proposal for the state's Fiscal Year 2025 budget on Feb. 7, 2024. (Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)kAmv@G] vC6E496? (9:E>6C A=2?D E@ AC@A@D6 “C64@C5 9:89” A6C\AFA:= 7F?5:?8 :? 96C FA4@>:?8 3F586E AC@A@D2= 7@C u:D42= *62C Wu*X a_ae[ 96C @77:46 E@=5 E96 |:49:82?

2 months ago | michiganadvance.com | Susan J. Demas |Michigan Advance

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to propose “record high” per-pupil funding in her upcoming budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, her office told the Michigan Advance. The current FY 2025 School Aid budget, which totals $23.4 billion, includes a foundation allowance of $9,608 per pupil — the minimum amount that school districts receive. That caused considerable controversy, as Republicans pounced on the fact that there was no increase from the FY 2024 budget.

2 months ago | michiganadvance.com | Susan J. Demas |Michigan Advance

After President Donald Trump pulled off another win last year, dejected Democrats settled on how they can stage a comeback: They’re gonna be the party of the working man again. This may sound familiar, because it’s basically the same thing they said the first time he won in 2016.

Jan 22, 2025 | michiganadvance.com | Susan J. Demas |Michigan Advance

by Susan J. Demas, Michigan Advance January 22, 2025 Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed two new members — one Democrat and one Republican — to serve on the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers. The Board of State Canvassers consists of four members — two members from each major political party — who are nominated by their state central committee, the Senate majority leader, the Senate minority leader, the speaker of the House of Representatives, or the House minority leader.