Insider Intelligence

During her trade mission to Israel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a technology-based Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Entered into with Start Up-Nation Central, an Israel-based nonprofit, the MOU is based on collaborating on technology solutions with the hope they will improve opportunities and quality of life for Michigan citizens. Together, the State of Michigan and the […]

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission has appointed acting director Mary Engelman to serve as the interim director for the department. Previously, Ms. Engelman served as executive director of the Michigan Women’s Commission, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and since August as acting director of the department. The Michigan Department of Civil […]

A random drawing was held this week to determine the 250,000 registered Michigan voters who will receive an application to serve on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which was created by a ballot initiative in 2018. Representatives from a third-party independent account firm randomly selected the names, while members of the public and media observed. […]

Members of Michigan’s tribal, state, and federal court systems assembled this week at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing for the fall meeting of the Michigan Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum. The meeting, which coincides with the national Native American Heritage Month, was hosted by Justice Megan Cavanagh, who serves as the Michigan Supreme […]

Melissa Smiley has been appointed the new chief of staff for the Michigan Department of State by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson beginning January 6, 2020. Currently, she is the vice president of strategy and operations at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and previously served as the deputy chief of staff for City of […]

In observance of Thanksgiving the MLC offices will be closed on November 26 and 27. The House and Senate are wrapping up their three-week hunting break. The next scheduled session days are December 3 – 5. We anticipate that the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee will hold a hearing to consider House-passed gaming legislation.

Below are some of the articles that the MLC lobby team has been reading this past week. We hope you find them as interesting and useful as we do. How to Generate Real News in Divided Societies – Recently, a group gathered to discuss the shift in journalism from an industry reliant on their reputation […]

In his latest blog post, MLC lobbyist Matt Sowash explored why people choose political-themed costumes for Halloween. Governor Gretchen Whitmer called for a special election to fill the vacant 34th House seat following the resignation of former State Representative Sheldon Neeley after he was elected Flint mayor. The Michigan Department of State released the 2020 […]