LANSING, Mich. — Children under Michigan's guardianship underwent medical procedures without required consent or documentation, while thousands of others were not being consistently tracked by the state agency responsible for them, according to a new audit.

The Michigan Office of the Auditor General released a 40-page report Oct. 15 identifying significant deficiencies within the Michigan Children's Institute, which operates under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The institute serves as the legal guardian for children whose parental rights have been terminated.

Auditors concluded that the institute's selected guardianship activities were not sufficient, identifying problems with

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Michigan Senate bill targets paid political posts on social media

A Michigan Senate bill seeks to require people and organizations that publish certain paid political social media posts to disclose who funded them. It includes specific requirements for videos, graphics and audio but exempts certain media.

Senate Bill 1199, introduced Oct. 1 by Democrat Sens. Jeremy Moss of Bloomfield, Rosemary Bayer of Keego Harbor, Erika Geiss of Taylor, Sue Shink of Northville, Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak, and Paul Wojno of Warren, would amend Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act. The change would establish disclosure requirements for social media communications that support or oppose candidates or ballot questions. SB 1199 is a narrower version of an upcoming ballot proposal that Michigan voters will see on Nov. 3. Click here to read more.

 

State Health Dept. Sued Over Forced Unionizing of Michigan Home Caregivers

MIDLAND, Mich. — The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s effort to classify home caregivers as state employees for union representation. The lawsuit seeks to enforce the Michigan Constitution’s rules governing state employment and invalidate the election that certified SEIU Healthcare Michigan as the bargaining representative for home caregivers.

The foundation represents James “Jase” Bolger, a former member of the Michigan Civil Service Commission. Bolger brings the lawsuit as a citizen, as the Michigan Constitution allows any citizen to sue to enforce its civil service provisions.

“Michigan’s Constitution puts safeguards around state employment for a reason: to keep politicians from using it to serve special interests,” said Bolger. “Having served on the Civil Service Commission, I understand the importance of those protections. Click here to read more.

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Cops Release Woman Who Plowed Through Soccer Field: No Charges, No Explanation

Police in Wichita, Kansas, released the 34-year-old woman who drove her truck through a crowd at the Stryker Sports Complex, killing two people and leaving another ten injured. No charges have yet been filed, and no explanation was given.

The Wichita Police Department released a lengthy statement via X, giving updates across several aspects of the tragic incident that left Adrian Cole, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, dead.

Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses — including the two children who were in the truck with the driver — before speaking with the driver herself. Click here to read more.

 

Why are people protesting in France? The issues fueling nationwide unrest

What began as student protests over failing public schools has grown into a nationwide movement against rising living costs, with violence and looting reported on the sidelines of some marches.

Demonstrations began in late September, a week after the school year started. Students have cited teacher shortages, run-down classrooms, long school days, and an opaque university admissions system. Some say they have missed months of instruction because staff absences went unfilled.

Other groups joined the marches to protest the cost of living, including high fuel prices. The CGT, one of France’s largest unions, has called for lower prices, higher pensions, and higher wages. Fuel costs have risen amid inflation tied partly to the war in the Middle East; reports also link added pressure to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. bombing. France announced petrol subsidies for some industries in mid-September. Click here to read more.

 

State commission wants parent, teacher input on classroom screen time

A commission tasked with studying the use, risks and benefits of screen-based instruction is asking for feedback from parents, teachers and administrators before finalizing its report for Gov. Kay Ivey.

The survey, co-created by Dr. Cailin Kerch, a commission member and professor of early childhood education at the University of Alabama (UA), will help the commission “understand perceptions about screen use in public schools,” according to the survey summary.

About 2,000 people have completed the survey, said Kerch, and those results are being reviewed and prepared for analysis.

“The statewide survey of parents, educators, and school leaders helps us capture voices from educators in the classroom along with parents’ perspectives. Most educators teach a child for a year, or two, at most. Capturing families’ perceptions of the impacts of screen use in schools on their child’s education matters. Parents may see cumulative impacts of screen use, positive, negative, or null, across time,” said Kerch. Click here to read more.