Paul Egan

How much more hunting, fishing would cost under Whitmer's 2027 budget The Whitmer administration says the increases are needed to catch up with inflation and protect natural areas. House Republicans are opposed.

Hunting and fishing licenses and boat registrations would cost more under the proposed 2027 Michigan budget. Here's how much more: www.freep.com/story/news/l... #mibgt #mileg #hunting #fishing #boating #migov

Speaker Hall says state should pay $152M for Selfridge runway upgrades President Donald Trump promised a new fighter mission for Selfridge. The state should pay to speed things up and prevent backtracking, Hall said.

Speaker Matt Hall wants MI to pay for #Selfridge runway improvements to prevent backtracking on promised new fighter mission www.freep.com/story/news/l... #mileg #migov

But the subcommittee members asked Nye zero questions about Gov. Whitmer's recent budget proposal to close two of the seven labs -- those located in Northville and Grayling -- and consolidate their operations at other labs. #mileg #migov #forensics 2 of 2

Today the MI House Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan State Police heard from Jeffrey Nye, director of the MSP forensic science division. Nye testified about the importance of regional labs for quick response times. #mileg 1 of 2

Thread.

Today will be the second #FakeSpring in Michigan of 2026. Please adjust your counters.

Thread.

Michigan prison worker raised red flag over safety issue. More inmate deaths followed The upper galleries at two Michigan prisons have been used for four suicide jumps. But a worker said in 2023 they are also an employee safety hazard.

In fact, a #prison employee had even complained about the unsafe railings in 2023 and got blown off www.freep.com/story/news/l...

Lawmakers approve $10M to improve prison railing safety after 5 fatal inmate jumps, falls The Detroit Free Press has documented five fatal and two nonfatal falls or jumps at two Jackson-area prisons since January 2020.

And Michigan lawmakers were very slow to get interested in a specific type of death in state prisons, even when it kept happening over and over, and I kept reporting on it. www.freep.com/story/news/p...

Michigan prisoners dying behind bars at highest rate in decades A Free Press investigation exposed errors in the way the Corrections Department has tracked and reported the number of annual prison deaths.

I did a deep dive on Michigan #prison deaths in 2019. Among other issues, I found that even the statistics in the annual MDOC report cited above are unreliable www.freep.com/story/news/l...

Recently a state lawmaker got interested in an inmate death in a private MI #prison under federal jurisdiction. That's fine. But this MDOC report shows there were at least 64 inmate deaths and 22 suicides in state prisons in 2026, almost none of which MI lawmakers know anything about. #migov #mileg

Lawmaker says Michigan treats its women prisoners worse than animals As lawmakers push for accountability for longstanding issues, a Michigan Department of Corrections spokeswoman pushed back against the testimony.

Lawmaker says Michigan treats its women prisoners worse than animals www.freep.com/story/news/l... #prison #migov

Cops seized nearly 200 guns from prison officer described as 'hoarder' The prosecutor said Casey Wagner could face additional charges, including one of embezzling from his employer, the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Police seized nearly 200 guns from Michigan #prison officer described as 'hoarder' www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov

MSP bomb squad searches home of prison officer facing drug charge A 2025 investigation by the Detroit Free Press found that Wagner's neighbors complained of frequent explosions on his property but no enforcement.

MSP bomb squad searches home of Michigan #prison officer facing drug and felony firearm charges www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov #explosives

Gravity's Rainbow almost broke my brain but I was very young when I read it and would like to give one of his novels another shot.

Whitmer budget cuts state worker request after 'ghost employee' fight Reducing the number of funded but unfilled state government jobs appears likely to result in smaller budget surpluses at the end of each year.

#Whitmer budget cuts state worker request after 'ghost employee' fight www.freep.com/story/news/p... #migov #mibgt #mileg

Opinion | Blue Cities and States Are in Trouble. Democrats Need to Change How They Run Them.

From a MI perspective, this NYT op-ed calling on blue state govs to get tougher with public sector #unions is interesting because of who wrote it -- #Whitmer's former DHHS director Robert Gordon & former chief legal counsel Nicholas Bagley (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/o...

Report cites 'urgent' wheelchair shortage at Michigan women's prison The department's own numbers show it has fewer wheelchairs than the number of inmates with prescriptions for them, says Disability Rights Michigan.

Report says inmates missing meals, medications at Michigan women's #prison because of too few wheelchairs and aides to push them www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov #disabilities

Offends both my coney dog and my paczki sensibilities

5 things to know about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's final budget proposal The stage is set for a fight over the budget as Whitmer's proposal is built around tax hikes and a reserve fund withdrawal the House speaker opposes.

Five things to know about Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's final budget proposal www.freep.com/story/news/p... #migov #mibgt #mileg #taxes

Whitmer 2027 budget has tax cuts for some; tax hikes for others The budget also proposes a $400 million withdrawal from the state's Rainy Day Fund as the Whitmer administration grapples with changes in federal law.

Whitmer 2027 budget has tax hikes for some; tax cuts for others www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov #mibgt #mileg #taxes

Gov. Whitmer's 2027 budget to call for higher tobacco and gaming taxes Budget Director Jen Flood said the budget will include a variety of measures to close a $1.8B gap, including tax hikes and a withdrawal from reserves.

Whitmer budget to call for higher taxes on tobacco, online gaming www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov #mibgt #mileg #taxes

Trump says Gordie Howe bridge won't open without Canadian concessions Canada has footed the entire cost of the $5.7-billion Gordie Howe bridge construction project, aiming to recover costs through toll collections.

#Trump says new Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Windsor won't open without Canadian concessions www.freep.com/story/news/p...

Whitmer budget to propose $90M property tax break for Michigan seniors The new Whitmer proposal follows 2023 legislation to restore certain tax breaks for pension income that were eliminated under Gov. Rick Snyder.

Whitmer budget to propose $90M property tax break for Michigan seniors www.freep.com/story/news/p... #migov #mibgt #taxes

After more than 2 years of strife, MSP diversity mostly unchanged The number of Black Michigan State Police troopers has shrunk since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took office and since Col. James Grady was named director.

After more than two years of internal strife, Michigan State #Police #diversity mostly unchanged www.freep.com/story/news/l... #migov

Departing head of major state government agency registers as lobbyist House Speaker Matt Hall highlighted Lange's new job at a Feb. 4 news conference and called for legislation to end the Lansing 'revolving door.'

Departing director of major MI state government agency registers as lobbyist www.freep.com/story/news/p... #migov #revolvingdoor #mileg

MI Gov #Whitmer to present her 8th and final budget Feb. 11; State Budget Director points to fiscal challenges www.freep.com/story/news/p... #migov #mibgt

Disability activists settle lawsuit; changes coming to #Detroit buildings www.freep.com/story/news/l... from @danaafana.bsky.social of @freep.com #disabilities

Kent County prosecutor announces embezzlement charges against Nessel associate www.freep.com/story/news/p...

Former US Attorney Mark Totten drops out of Democratic race for Michigan attorney general www.freep.com/story/news/l... #mipolitics