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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

MSU professor finds mental health services reduce jail populations, U.S. counties lack effective practices

An MSU College of Human Medicine professor’s study, "Recommended Mental Health Practices for Individuals Interacting With U.S. Police, Court, Jail, Probation, and Parole Systems," found there is a severe lack of services in all counties across the U.S. Of 59 recommended practices, no practices were used in more than 43% of counties, the study found.

MICHIGAN

MDHHS announces new firearm storage safety law in Michigan to go in effect

MDHHS announced a new firearm safety law that will go into effect Feb. 13. The law, Public Act 17 of 2023, requires safe storage of firearms to prevent access to minors. According to the MDHHS, the act requires Michigan residents to “keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.”

MICHIGAN

FAFSA recipients must wait until April for financial aid following delay

The U.S. Department of Education announced that Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FASFA, packages will be delayed until April. The delay is to fix a $1.8 billion mistake that could potentially have harmed low-income students' packages. The department's mathematic formula incorrectly overestimated the annual income of low-income students' households, meaning they would earn less than what they need in financial aid as a result of this error. 

MICHIGAN

The Equality Act: The bill that seeks protections for LGBTQ+ community stems from Michigan support

The Equality Act seeks to amend current longstanding legislation in order to fill that gap by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections against discrimination when it comes to employment, housing, education, the jury system, federally funded programs, credit and public accommodations and facilities. Michigan representatives are some of the sponsors of this amendment. 

MICHIGAN

Lansing poll finds higher need for public safety

This past October, the city of Lansing conducted one of their semi-annual city council election polls to get a pulse on local issues and what constituents want to see from elected officials. Public safety was polled as the largest issue for residents.