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LANSING, Mich - Two unwieldy laws regarding sick leave and the minimum wage are set to go into effect at the end of February. They are written so poorly that the effects on Michigan workers, businesses and consumers could be massive. Together, they should be referred to as the “jobless bills.”

The history of these proposals is unique, but not in a good way. Michigan law allows citizen’s initiatives, in which groups can gather enough signatures to propose a law to the legislature. Lawmakers then have three options. They can vote to accept that and pass it into law, reject it and let citizens vote on the proposal at the ballot, or propose their own changes to the law.

In this case, out-of-state interests in 2018 bankrolled the gathering of enough signatures to present laws regarding mandatory paid sick leave and a higher minimum wage to the Michigan Legislature. Click here to read more.

 

LAFOURCHE PARISH, LA - Two high school girls in Louisiana were charged with lying to police after they attempted to frame a male teacher they claimed was sending inappropriate messages to a student.

The two girls, who have not been named because they are minors, were charged with one count each of false swearing for the purpose of violating public health or safety (a felony), cyberstalking, and online impersonation, according to a press release from Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff Craig Webre.

“Our juvenile detectives are diligent and take claims of inappropriate behavior very seriously,” Webre said in the press release. “They are, however, equally serious about false claims. Someone’s life can be instantly ruined by a false allegation, and I am proud that our investigators were able to get to the bottom of this. Technology has made it very easy for people to try to manipulate the truth, but technology also makes it easy for investigators to ultimately find the truth.” Click here to read more.

 

LOS ANGELES, CALIF – FOX News Bill Melugin is reporting a man identified as Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, is in custody following a viral incident near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources, Sierra-Leyva was subdued by residents and arrested by police while allegedly carrying a blowtorch in the area.

Authorities have confirmed that Sierra-Leyva has not been charged with arson. He is currently being held on a probation violation as multiple agencies continue interviewing him. Click here for video.

 

WASHINGTON D.C. - Chinese officials are mulling a potential option that involves the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations to billionaire Elon Musk if the company fails to fend off a potential ban, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Chinese officials prefer that TikTok remain under the control of parent Bytedance, the report said, adding that the company is contesting the ban with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Under one scenario, Musk's social media platform X would take control of TikTok U.S. and run the business together, the report said, adding that the Chinese officials have yet to reach any firm consensus about how to proceed and their deliberations are still preliminary.

TikTok declined to comment, while Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. X could not immediately be reached for a comment. Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON D.C. - One in every eight Christians around the world faces persecution, ranging from imprisonment and censorship to extra-judicial and government-sanctioned martyrdom, according to a new report.

“Each year, an estimated 300 million Christians around the world are persecuted because of their faith in Jesus. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are beaten, imprisoned, and even killed for their faith,” said the International Christian Concern’s 2025 Global Persecution Index, released last Friday, which documents instances of governments denying rights to a share of the world’s estimated 2.38 billion Christians. “In many countries, it is illegal for them to share the Gospel.”

“The details of persecution you will read in our report are not isolated incidents,” clarified International Christian Concern President Jeff King. These repressive acts represent the reality of “Christians worldwide who face daily threats to their lives and religious freedom.” Click here to read more.

This email is free Monday through Friday! I also produce special investigations and shows on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

I left a high-paying media job to go independent, and I can’t do it without your support.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich - Michigan’s second-largest city wants its residents to drive less, switch to electric vehicles, and use less energy, according to its 95-page draft of a climate action and adaption plan.

The city of Grand Rapids’ climate plan uses the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by municipal operations in 2008 as its benchmark, setting a goal to reduce their emissions by 85% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

The plan will try to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by 62.8% per capita by 2030, with 2019 as the benchmark. The plan has six chapters: energy (more solar use), healthy homes (less electric use; income-based electric rates), commercial buildings (less energy use), transportation (more carpooling and cycling, denser developments), natural systems (more trees and rain gardens), and food systems (more urban agriculture and composting, less food in trash). Click here to read more.

 

The $750,000-a-year LA water czar is responsible for a raft of failures that contributed to the devastating Palisades Fire, fire department insiders told DailyMail.com.

On Mayor Karen Bass's orders, the city maxed out its budget to 'attract private-sector talent', hiring Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones on a $750,000 salary in May – almost double that of her predecessor.

Now, Quiñones is being blamed by LA Fire Department (LAFD) insiders for leaving a nearby reservoir disconnected and fire hydrants broken for months, DailyMail.com can reveal, leading to firefighters running out of water as they battled the devastating Palisades Fire this week.

And, Daily Mail.com has learned, Quiñones past employer is also linked to fire scandals. She was previously a top executive at electricity company PG&E, which went bankrupt over liability for several massive wildfires in California. Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON D.C. - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told podcast host Joe Rogan on Friday that officials in President Joe Biden’s administration would yell and hurl profanities at his company’s employees over content censorship.

The Biden administration pushed Facebook to censor posts about COVID-19 that it deemed misinformation, according to documents published by House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan in July 2023. Zuckerberg, on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” revealed that also Meta faced investigations and backlash after Biden accused Facebook of “killing people” in July 2021 for not censoring so-called COVID-19 misinformation.

“Basically, these people from the Biden Administration would call up our team and like scream at them and curse,” Zuckerberg said. “And it’s like these documents are — it’s all kind of out there.”

Rogan asked if Meta had recorded any of the calls, but Zuckerberg said he did not believe so. Click here to read more.

 

MADISON, WIS - A Wisconsin judge granted an early conditional release Thursday to Morgan Geyser, who was convicted of stabbing her childhood friend more than a decade ago.

Geyser, then 12 years old, along with Anissa Weier, stabbed another girl, Payton Leutner, 19 times to appease the fictional horror character Slender Man back in 2014.

The now-22-year-old was originally committed to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute to a maximum 40 years of state mental health supervision after she was found not guilty by reason of mental disease in 2018.

Geyser was back in court on Thursday, seeking to be released from a state psychiatric hospital after her previous request was denied in April. Geyser's latest petition for release is the fourth time in the past two years she has asked to be let out of the facility, though she withdrew her first two petitions. Click here to read more.

 

An illegal immigrant faces multiple felonies after the Clare County Sheriff’s Office alleges he purchased a vehicle through Facebook Marketplace using fake $100 bills.

Victor Julio Tellaria-Sanchez, 36, purchased the car from a Harrison woman at her residence on New Year’s Day for $3,600, paying in 36 $100 bills, the sheriff’s office alleges in a press release cited by the Clare County Cleaver.

“A short time after the male left with the vehicle, the victim took the bills to a gas station where a counterfeit pen was used on the bills,” the release read. “Several of the bills that were tested showed the bills were fake. Once the victim learned the bills were fake, she attempted to contact the male, however the account of this male had been deactivated.” Click here to read more.

IOSCO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — DTE Electric Company has proposed a conditional rezoning plan to establish utility-scale solar energy systems in Iosco Township, part of a broader push for renewable energy across Michigan. The project aims to cover two districts with approximately 1,283 acres of gross available solar area, taking into account environmental constraints such as wetlands and wooded areas.

While DTE highlights the project’s alignment with the township’s 2021 Master Plan and promises economic benefits, opposition is mounting from residents and critics who argue that solar energy may not be the best solution for Michigan’s energy needs. This proposal follows the controversy surrounding the Gaylord Solar Project in Otsego County, where environmentalists and residents objected to habitat fragmentation and potential harm to wetlands, sparking debates about the state’s approach to renewable energy.

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Solar Energy’s Limitations in Michigan

Critics of large-scale solar developments, including the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, argue that solar power has inherent limitations in Michigan due to its geography and climate. The state averages fewer sunny days per year compared to regions in the Southwest, where solar energy production is more efficient and reliable. Additionally, Michigan’s long winters and cloud cover further reduce the viability of solar as a consistent energy source.

The Mackinac Center has also raised concerns about the economic inefficiency of solar power, noting that utility-scale solar projects often require significant subsidies, taxpayer support, and regulatory mandates to remain viable. According to their research, reliance on solar energy risks creating an unstable energy grid, particularly during peak demand in winter when solar production is at its lowest. This instability, they argue, could lead to increased costs for consumers and potential energy shortages.

Community Concerns and Potential Impact

Residents of Iosco Township have expressed concerns about the visual and environmental impact of the proposed project, particularly the disruption to the area’s rural character. The plan includes a 300-foot buffer from non-participating residences and a 50-foot setback from property lines and roadways, but critics worry that these measures may not sufficiently mitigate the visual intrusion of rows of solar panels.

DTE has pointed to findings from a CohnReznick LLP study, which concluded that similar solar projects in Michigan, such as the Assembly Solar Farm and DeMille Solar Park, had no consistent negative effects on surrounding property values. However, some residents remain skeptical, citing concerns over the long-term effects on their community.

Balancing Renewable Energy and Practicality

Proponents of solar energy highlight the potential economic benefits, including eligibility for Michigan’s Renewable Ready Communities grant, which could bring in more than $500,000 for the township. DTE has also emphasized the job opportunities and increased tax revenues that could result from the project.

However, critics argue that Michigan’s renewable energy policies should prioritize a diverse mix of sources, including nuclear and natural gas, which provide more consistent energy production. The Mackinac Center suggests that policymakers should consider the cost and reliability of energy sources rather than focusing exclusively on solar and wind, which are intermittent and require backup from fossil fuels or batteries.

The Iosco Township Planning Commission is set to review the proposal in the coming months. As the debate continues, the project highlights the challenges of balancing environmental goals with the practical realities of energy production in Michigan.

NOTICE: Dave Bondy works as the digital video manager for ther Mackinac Center