The Amplify team's goal is to connect people living in Michigan with the resources and information they need to thrive. Our reporting, how-to guides, and community events will help you become your own best advocate on basic needs like housing, public safety, health and more.
Recent Stories
North Lake Processing Center courtesy of Alicia Dickham (top) and Dale Dalman (bottom). Screenshot of judge’s order (middle) in Lopez-Campos v. Raycraft. Collage by Adam Yahya Rayes and Kalloli Bhatt | Michigan Public
As the population in the privately-run North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin grew in September 2025, habeas corpus petitions started to show up in Michigan’s federal District Courts. Judges granted most of the hundreds of petitions they’ve ruled on.
Courtesy photo
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Alicia Dickham
Fraser Department of Public Safety
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Outlier Media
Helpful Guides
Get resources on a range of topics from housing needs, due process rights, and more.
Data centers in Michigan: What you need to know
As data centers proliferate across the Great Lakes, driven by AI’s soaring demands, communities face a dual reality: economic growth and environmental challenges.
Michigan schools are asking voters for sinking funds. What are those?
Michigan school districts are putting taxes for sinking funds on ballots this November. Voters, use this guide to understand how these funds work.
Voting on a school bond? Here’s what Michiganders should know
Schools across Michigan are asking voters to approve taxes for bonds this November. Our guide can help you decode the language on your ballot and make the best choice for yourself and your community.
How to get the new COVID shot in Michigan this fall
If you're under 65 and healthy, you're going to have to attest to having an underlying medical condition (like pregnancy, obesity, or a mental health condition) that would qualify you as "high risk."
How to get the best deal on homeowners insurance in Detroit
It’s true that Detroit has some of the highest insurance premiums in the state — far above suburban rates — and that’s unlikely to change without regulatory action. But there are still strategies Detroiters can use to lower coverage costs.
Travel and legal tips for green card and visa holders
What to know about assessing your risk and protecting yourself as the Trump administration ratchets up immigration enforcement.
Todos tenemos derechos. Cómo manejar un encuentro con ICE.
Una semana después de la toma de posesión del presidente Donald Trump, muchos de los peores temores sobre deportaciones masivas aún no se han materializado. Sin embargo, la propagación de rumores deja claro que muchas personas en Michigan se encuentran en máxima alerta.
Everyone has rights. How to handle encounters with immigration enforcement.
A week into Donald Trump's presidency, mass immigration raids have yet to materialize in Michigan, but fears are growing. Here's what to know if you encounter immigration enforcement agents.
Got a school bond, sinking fund, or millage on your November ballot? This guide can help.
Dozens of Michigan communities are voting on school funding. This guide can help you figure out the school bond, sinking fund or millage question on your November ballot.
Can you cuss at cops? Know your rights when interacting with police
It is legal to speak your mind, advocate for yourself or record police activity in most circumstances. Still, attorneys and a former law enforcement officer say there’s no guarantee your rights will be respected in the moment — or that it’s always safe to exercise them.
More from the Amplify Team
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Few Michigan ballots get rejected because of voter signatures. If yours did, there’s still time to fix it. -
Every county can have different groups of challengers. We got a list of challenger organizations for most counties in the state. -
Library funding questions are being posed to voters in many Michigan communities. Sometimes, those voters reject their requests. Here's what you need to know about the library millage on your ballot. -
The typically dull but important process of officially counting ballots became a circus show four years ago in Michigan. Since then, courts and voters have reiterated that the board of canvassers' job is simple – to count votes. Challenges go elsewhere. -
Are you ready to cast your ballot? Whether you’re curious about how candidates for president are speaking about your priorities, need to get up to speed on local and statewide races, or want to check whether you’re registered to vote, Outlier Media is here to help you get informed — before, during and after Election Day, Nov. 5. -
Nearly two dozen people are running for three seats on the Detroit school board during a pivotal time for the school district. Only one of the three incumbents, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, is seeking re-election. That means there will be two new faces on the board, as members Misha Stallworth and Sonya Mays have opted not to seek re-election. -
Virtually 100% of babies in Flint are receiving up to $7,500 in cash aid, no strings attached. Now, that program is trying to expand to more Michigan communities, including the rural eastern Upper Peninsula. But first, they have to raise millions in private funding. -
Thousands of Michiganders can get cold or hot meals at restaurants in 26 counties through a food assistance program called the Restaurant Meal Program. -
Does recycling feel messy and confusing to you? You're not alone. We've made a map and searchable database of Michigan recycling programs to help you navigate the do's and don'ts of recycling in your area. -
We know little about the reasons for Detroit’s voter turnout. So one of our partners, Outlier Media, commissioned the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study to survey 1,100 residents about their priorities and reasons for voting or not voting.
Meet Our Team
