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Biden makes history with striking UAW

The president told workers they deserve higher pay on Tuesday.

News

Detroit Horse Power has unique land use plans

The nonprofit wants to open a 20-horse equestrian center.

Abortions up in Michigan as Midwest states add restrictions

Researchers say border-hopping patients are leading to more procedures.

Bike share MoGo wants to go all in on e-bikes

The 26 new electric bikes MoGo added to its fleet top out around 20mph.

Detroit Democrat breaks from caucus — again

State Rep. Karen Whitsett is blocking a key abortion rights package.

Politics

One Detroit Democrat is blocking a key abortion rights package that is part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fall agenda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/08/29/gov-whitmer-whats-next-address-paid-leave-clean-energy" data-vars-content-id="86604a0d-b02b-43fb-a358-00b06dd6b05c" data-vars-headline="Detroit Democrat breaks from caucus — again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/08/29/gov-whitmer-whats-next-address-paid-leave-clean-energy" target="_self">fall agenda</a> — and it isn&#x27;t her first time joining Republicans on legislation.Driving the news: State Rep. Karen Whitsett, who represents the 4th House District covering parts of Detroit and Dearborn, voted against the Reproductive Health Act in a House committee last week.

Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) listens while then-President Donald Trump, left, speaks during a meeting in 2020.

Census data: Michigan is getting older

The median age of people living in Michigan rose from 36.9 in 2005 to 40.3 in 2022.

The median age of people living in Michigan rose from 36.9 in 2005 to 40.3 in 2022, data released last week by the Census Bureau&#x27;s American Community Survey <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shows" data-vars-click-url="https://data.census.gov/profile/Michigan?g=040XX00US26#populations-and-people" data-vars-content-id="67b31b14-c0e9-469e-a7c4-99913b99d172" data-vars-headline="Census data: Michigan is getting older" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://data.census.gov/profile/Michigan?g=040XX00US26#populations-and-people" target="_blank">shows</a>.Why it matters: Local researchers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="have been warning lawmakers" data-vars-click-url="https://crcmich.org/publications/prosperous-future" data-vars-content-id="67b31b14-c0e9-469e-a7c4-99913b99d172" data-vars-headline="Census data: Michigan is getting older" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crcmich.org/publications/prosperous-future" target="_blank">have been warning lawmakers</a> that aging populations can have huge implications on the state&#x27;s future tax base and workforce.

Michigan election workers want more protections ahead of 2024

It's one of the priorities Gov. Gretchen Whitmer laid out in her fall agenda.

Clerks and election workers are expecting another drama-filled election in 2024 and are urging lawmakers for help.Why it matters: Election workers and voters have faced threats since former President Trump began <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="falsely telling his supporters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/20/axios-am-deep-dive-voting-democracy" data-vars-content-id="4d357cf4-386a-44bb-8e54-207715aea907" data-vars-headline="Michigan election workers want more protections ahead of 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/20/axios-am-deep-dive-voting-democracy" target="_self">falsely telling his supporters</a> he won the 2020 election.

FOIA Friday: Private business ties raise calls for ethics reforms

"It looks like you're selling access to the Legislature."

Michigan Republicans are calling on House Democrats to move on legislation to bring financial disclosure requirements to lawmakers following an investigation by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Detroit News" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/05/angela-witwer-michigan-legislature-edge-partnerships-business-ties-lobbyists-contracts-ethics/70732210007/" data-vars-content-id="1186360d-f87f-422d-b866-9dffdaa2fabe" data-vars-headline="FOIA Friday: Private business ties raise calls for ethics reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/05/angela-witwer-michigan-legislature-edge-partnerships-business-ties-lobbyists-contracts-ethics/70732210007/" target="_blank">the Detroit News</a>.Driving the news: Rep. Angela Witwer of Delta Township, a moderate Democrat, as a lawmaker has maintained a close relationship with the consulting firm she founded, the News found.

Illustration of a manila folder opening like a door.

Whitmer to propose paid leave, health care reforms

Gov. Whitmer will use her "What's Next" address to outline new priorities.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Democrats are set to flex their legislative muscles this week.Why it matters: Following eight months of implementing liberal reform under an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="entirely Democratic government" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/11/10/michigan-democrats-flip-legislature" data-vars-content-id="8110af2f-3709-4e6e-b64b-d773427fafd8" data-vars-headline="Whitmer to propose paid leave, health care reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/11/10/michigan-democrats-flip-legislature" target="_self">entirely Democratic government</a>, Whitmer will use her &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="What&#x27;s Next" data-vars-click-url="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2023/08/03/whitmer-to-deliver-whats-next-address-in-late-august" data-vars-content-id="8110af2f-3709-4e6e-b64b-d773427fafd8" data-vars-headline="Whitmer to propose paid leave, health care reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2023/08/03/whitmer-to-deliver-whats-next-address-in-late-august" target="_blank">What&#x27;s Next</a>&quot; address Wednesday in Lansing to call on legislative leaders to pass reforms for the second half of the year.

What swing voters say about Whitmer for president

She's popular in Michigan, even among non-Democratic voters.

Michigan swing voters had mostly positive things to say about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — even those who opposed her.State of play: Axios sat in on two online <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Engagious/Sago" data-vars-click-url="https://engagious.com/swingvoters" data-vars-content-id="85a21499-b059-4e1e-a2a0-823ccff048de" data-vars-headline="What swing voters say about Whitmer for president" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://engagious.com/swingvoters" target="_blank">Engagious/Sago</a> focus groups <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tuesday with 13 Michiganders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/10/trump-indictments-charges-michigan-swing-voters-focus-groups" data-vars-content-id="85a21499-b059-4e1e-a2a0-823ccff048de" data-vars-headline="What swing voters say about Whitmer for president" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/10/trump-indictments-charges-michigan-swing-voters-focus-groups" target="_self">Tuesday with 13 Michiganders</a> who voted for President Trump in 2016 and President Biden in 2020. Five identify as independent, five as Republicans and three as Democrats.

Whitmer signing an executive order to create the Grow Michigan Together Council to address the state's stagnant population growth.

Michigan lawmakers, Detroit play major role in charges against Trump

The only state mentioned more than Michigan in the indictment is Georgia.

Former President Trump&#x27;s false claims of voter fraud in Detroit and his allies&#x27; efforts to overturn Michigan&#x27;s election results in 2020 play a major role in the federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="indictment unsealed Tuesday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-2020-election-jack-smith" data-vars-content-id="36d1cfb5-da09-46b5-b4f2-2af1d363e418" data-vars-headline="Michigan lawmakers, Detroit play major role in charges against Trump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-2020-election-jack-smith" target="_self">indictment unsealed Tuesday</a>.Why it matters: The actions of the former president and his allies, particularly in Michigan, were &quot;integral to his criminal plans to defeat the federal government function, obstruct the certification, and interfere with others&#x27; right to vote and have their votes counted,&quot; the indictment alleges.

Detroit voters will shape U.S. Senate primary

Hill Harper's biggest challenge will be getting past Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

If there&#x27;s one Democrat who&#x27;s going to challenge Rep. Elissa Slotkin for Michigan&#x27;s open U.S. Senate seat, it&#x27;s actor Hill Harper.Why it matters: Known for his roles on &quot;CSI: NY&quot; and &quot;The Good Doctor,&quot; the owner of Campus Martius&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roasting Plant" data-vars-click-url="https://roastingplant.com/" data-vars-content-id="3da6426d-f837-4437-8768-1e3ed4e795e0" data-vars-headline="Detroit voters will shape U.S. Senate primary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://roastingplant.com/" target="_blank">Roasting Plant</a> would be the first-ever Black U.S. senator to represent Michigan.

Report: Co-chair of population growth commission lives in Florida part time

Politically, the two states are heading in opposite directions.

John Rakolta Jr., the former U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and current CEO of local construction company Walbridge, lives in Florida at least part time, the Detroit News <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2023/07/07/florida-voter-homeowner-john-rakolta-helping-lead-michigan-population-commission-gretchen-whitmer/70391236007/?csp=chromepush" data-vars-content-id="5b44eee5-1df6-4d9a-ba83-2fb4d2f0d549" data-vars-headline="Report: Co-chair of population growth commission lives in Florida part time" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2023/07/07/florida-voter-homeowner-john-rakolta-helping-lead-michigan-population-commission-gretchen-whitmer/70391236007/?csp=chromepush" target="_blank">reports</a>.Why it matters: The co-chair of Michigan&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" commission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/07/06/whitmer-commission-youth-michigan-olliehowie" data-vars-content-id="5b44eee5-1df6-4d9a-ba83-2fb4d2f0d549" data-vars-headline="Report: Co-chair of population growth commission lives in Florida part time" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/07/06/whitmer-commission-youth-michigan-olliehowie" target="_self"> commission</a> to grow its population is actually registered to vote in Palm Beach County, according to county records.

Democrats pour millions from state budget into Detroit-area projects

Lawmakers approved record investments for education and social services.

Millions of dollars in one-time grants for Detroit projects are included in the $81.7 billion <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state budget" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/05/22/michigan-proposed-state-budget-detroit-belle-isle" data-vars-content-id="116f6e59-1870-44b3-a5f1-afffeea5d7a1" data-vars-headline="Democrats pour millions from state budget into Detroit-area projects" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/05/22/michigan-proposed-state-budget-detroit-belle-isle" target="_self">state budget</a> lawmakers approved last week.Why it matters: With Democrats in control of all branches of government, lawmakers approved record investments for education and social services, such as free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students in Michigan regardless of income.

Politics 🇺🇸