House GOP Campaign Fund Faces Questions Over Missing Money
Jake Neher/WDET A campaign committee controlled by Republican leaders is facing fines and questions over how it lost track of...
Rick Pluta has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
Rick was one of the first Michigan political reporters to write about “pay-to-play” fundraising, and the controversies surrounding recognition of same-sex relationships. He broke the news that Gov. John Engler was planning a huge juvenile justice overhaul that included adult-time-for-adult-crime sentencing, and has continued to report since then on the effects of that policy decision.
He co-hosts the weekly segment “It’s Just Politics” on Michigan Radio with Zoe Clark.
Rick is fascinated by the game of politics, and the grand plans and human foibles that go into policy-making. You will never find him ice-fishing.
Justice Young to Retire, Snyder Will Have Fourth Appointment to MI Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court State Supreme Court Justice Robert Young plans to retire at the end of next month, if not...
Johnson Shows Up for Work a Day After Raid on Home and Office
Jerome Vaughn State Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) showed up for work a day after his metro Detroit home and...
State Lawmakers Get Preview of New Lead Rule
Amber Neher Some state lawmakers got an early peek at Gov. Rick Snyder’s new lead rules that are supposed to...
Snyder Wants to Create Permanent Lead Commission
Amber Neher Gov. Rick Snyder will create a commission this week that has the mission of tackling the problem of...
Michigan Is Running Out of Environmental Cleanup Money
Sandra Svoboda The state is close to running out of money to clean thousands of abandoned, polluted properties all across...
Lawsuit Claims Guards Joked, Bet on Inmate’s Suicidal Tendencies
Michigan Legislature A federal lawsuit claims state prison guards joked and made a bet on whether an inmate would try...
Appeals Court Says Jackson Commissioners Violated Constitution with Prayer
Jake Neher/WDET A federal appeals court says the Jackson County Commission regularly violated the U.S. Constitution by opening its meetings...
Democrats Call for Restitution for Victims of Unemployment Agency Botch-Up
http://housedems.com/ There’s a fight brewing in the Legislature over compensation for people wrongly accused of ripping off the state’s unemployment...
Bill Would Restrict Public’s Access to Information About Bids for State Business
Jake Neher/WDET There could soon be tighter restrictions on the public’s access to information in bids for state business. A...
Lawmaker Representing Detroit, Harper Woods Quits to Avoid Felony Charges as Part of Plea Deal
Michigan House Democrats A state lawmaker has quit his job and agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor as part...
Michigan Senate Adopts Criminal Justice Overhaul
Office of state Sen. John Proos The state Senate has adopted a criminal justice overhaul that aims to improve public...