Sarah Cwiek

While the ordinance would apply to any health care facility in the city, supporters say it’s most needed at clinics providing abortion services. Abortion rights opponents call it a violation of their First Amendment rights.

The Michigan House and Senate approved the legislation this week that signals the start of a major shift in how the state’s public schools approach reading instruction.

The Great Lakes Water Authority provides drinking water and wastewater services to most of southeast Michigan. According to a statement from the utility, the change will involve gradually doubling the amount of orthophosphates used in the water treatment process, starting next month. That chemical additive acts to coat pipes, preventing lead or copper from seeping into the water.

The sheriff’s office is now tasked with determining who may be in the country illegally and reporting that, regardless of whether it involves a larger criminal matter.

Currently Michigan districts must pay 20.96% of their payroll costs to the public school retirement system. A bill passed by the state Senate would lower that to 15.21%.

The United Auto Workers union is accusing Stellantis of backing out of promises the automaker made in its 2023 collective bargaining contract.

The largest grant — $25 million — will help Kalamazoo County add safety features to 130 miles of roadway throughout the county. Detroit is also getting $10 million to improve safety along the Gratiot corridor, which according to state officials is among the most dangerous roadways in the state and the country when it comes to traffic crashes.

Researchers with the Democracy Power and Innovation Fund, along with other groups, surveyed voting-age people in a handful of states, including Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Education is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit that claims it didn’t provide special education students with appropriate services during COVID school shutdowns.

A federal judge in Detroit says he plans to sign a settlement in a case involving the detention and attempted deportation of around 1400 Iraqi nationals. The Trump Administration arrested the Iraqis with old criminal convictions or immigration violations in 2017.