Michigan | Spark of Genius

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs bill banning “gay or trans panic” defense

By Peter Schulte / July 24, 2024

Gov. Whitmer signed a slate of 39 bills into law, including H.B. 4718. The legislation, sponsored by bisexual state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, states that in criminal trials, “evidence of the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of an individual’s actual or perceived sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation is not admissible” for the purposes of demonstrating “reasonable provocation.”

Person holding "I'm sticking with my union" sign

Michigan’s historic “right-to-work” repeal goes into effect

By Peter Schulte / February 13, 2024

Last March, the Michigan legislature passed the bill to toss the law aimed at hurting labor unions by allowing workers to opt out of union dues while still reaping benefits of unionization, costing unions resources and money. Pro-labor groups have celebrated the law’s repeal, saying that it was a victory “decades in the making” as unions and labor advocates have fought against the law.

Detroit becomes first city in the U.S. to install wireless-charging roadway

By Peter Schulte / November 30, 2023

Initially, a Ford E-Transit fitted with a receiver will be used to gather data as part of a five-year pilot to perfect the technology in real-world settings and study potential public transport applications – though there are plans to open the electric road system to the public within the next few years.

Woman with breast cancer pin holding hands with another

Cancer checks have given Americans 12 million more years of life over last 25 years

By Peter Schulte / August 19, 2023

If everyone who qualified for current screening for four key forms of cancer received it, at least another 3.3 million life-years could be saved and another $1.7 trillion in economic impact added, the researchers from University of Chicago and University of Michigan find.