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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

MI: Criminal Justice

The idea of vital documents being made ready in time for a person's re-entry to society began as a pilot program launched in September 2020 across four state prisons and has expanded across the entire Michigan Department of Corrections. (wolfhound911/Adobe Stock)
Vital document release to prevent Michigan recidivism

Most legally free Michiganders possess their vital records, but some people recently coming back to society after incarceration do not. A package of …

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House Bill 4945 and House Bill 4946, sponsored by state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, were voted out of the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee last week. (Adobe Stock)
MI lawmakers debate tougher gun laws for domestic violence convictions

Michigan state lawmakers are moving closer to restricting gun ownership for more people who have been convicted of domestic violence. The House …

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Data from the Prison Policy Institute shows that of the approximately 1 million inmates in state prisons across the United States, one in eight, or 13%, is older than 55. (Adobe Stock)
Grant Awarded to Study Improving Health Care for Imprisoned Seniors

Longer sentences handed out for major crimes in Michigan and other states over the past few decades mean a larger portion of people in state and feder…

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According to data from the CDC, the rate of gun deaths in Michigan increased 11% from 2010 to 2019, while the rate of gun suicides increased by 18%. (Adobe Stock)
MI Faith Leaders Meet with Lawmakers on Gun Violence Legislation

Michigan faith leaders are meeting with members of the state Legislature to push for action on gun safety. House leaders, including Rep. Joe Tate…

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Statistics show that of the 11 million people incarcerated yearly, about 15% have been homeless. Conversely, around 48,000 people going into homeless shelters each year come from prisons or jails. (Adobe Stock)
Report: Policies Keep People with Criminal Records Out of Public Housing

A new report is calling for public housing authorities to change certain policies to prevent excluding people with criminal records. The Prison …

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Law enforcement officials say Tuesday's deadly incident at Michigan State University is the 67th mass casualty event in the U.S. this year. (Adobe Stock)
MSU Shooting: Deja Vu for Two Survivors of School Gun Violence

The deadly shooting spree at Michigan State University Monday night was another tragic American event involving firearms. But for at least two MSU …

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Only one county in Michigan - Genessee County - offers Election Day opportunities for eligible voters in jail. (WESTOCK/Adobe Stock)
MI Coalition Spotlights Need for Jail-Based Voting Improvements

Voting-rights groups in Michigan are working to increase awareness about and access to voting in jails. In Michigan, anyone not serving a prison …

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Machelle Pearson, a formerly incarcerated Michigander, speaks at a virtual news conference spotlighting a proposed initiative for a system of
Petition: Allow Incarcerated Michiganders to Earn Time Off Sentences

A prospective ballot initiative in Michigan would allow people in prison to earn time off their sentences through work training, earning a college …

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Resources will be available at Equality Michigan fairs this week, including peer-support opportunities. (ASDF/Adobe Stock)
Groups Spotlight Services for LGBTQ+ Victims of Crime in MI

It's National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a time to raise awareness of victims' rights and services. Equality Michigan is holding three community …

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Breonna Taylor, second from left, is pictured with three of her sisters and a cousin. (De'Andrea Taylor)
Incarcerated Father of Breonna Taylor is a Family Man

By Stephen Silha for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Michigan News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

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Breonna Taylor was one of Everette Taylor's six children. He's currently incarcerated in a Michigan prison. (De'Andrea Taylor and Ateonia Taylor)
Call to Release Breonna Taylor's Father from Michigan Prison

By Josh Puckett for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Michigan News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

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More than 60% of people unable to post bail fall in the one-third of society with the lowest incomes, and more than 80% fall in the bottom half, according to a new report. (ivan kmit/Adobe Stock)
Report: Cash Bail Discriminates Against Low-Income, BIPOC Michiganders

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A new report finds stark disparities in the impacts of cash bail in Michigan, which disproportionately keeps low-income residents …

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