Today on Stateside, we discuss how the Trump administration could still limit non-citizen participation in the 2020 Census, even after dropping its pursuit of a citizenship question. Plus, how the opioid crisis is putting a strain on the resources of county morgues.
Listen to the full show above or find individual segments below
Is the fight over the census citizenship question truly over? UM prof says probably not.
- The Trump administration announced Thursday that it would give up its pursuit of putting a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. But that doesn't mean it's a settled issue. Barbara Anderson is a University of Michigan demographer and former chair of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee. She discusses how the Trump administration could still disrupt the census count to limit non-citizen participation.
Increasing use of illicit opioids drives up number of veteran overdose deaths
- Between 2010 and 2016, the rate of opioid overdose deaths among veterans increased by 65%. Most of these deaths don’t seem to be from prescription opioids, but from drugs available on the street like heroin and synthetic opioids.
- Addiction psychiatrist Dr. Allison Lin is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. She is also a research investigator at the VA Center for Clinical Management Research. She explains what's behind the rising number of opioid overdose deaths of veterans, and tells us about efforts to make treatment for opioid addiction more accessible.
Opioid crisis prompts Macomb Cty. to look at $2 million expansion of county morgue services
- Macomb County is considering adding $2 million dollars for additional staff and a building expansion for the county morgue. Officials say it's need to handle the increasing number of cases being handled by the morgue. Macomb County medical examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz joins Stateside to explain how the opioid crisis is leaving the morgue short-staffed and and in need of space.
Detroit police commissioner arrested during raucous public meeting
- Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton was arrested for disorderly conduct at a commissioner meeting on Thursday when he continued to speak past his allotted time for comment. The meeting was about the use of controversial facial recognition cameras in Detroit, and was attended by a crowd of protesters. George Hunter is a crime reporter for the Detroit News, and was at the meeting. He joins Stateside to explain what happened.
Political roundup: Gov. Whitmer faces Democratic pushback over auto no-fault, Benton Harbor
- Some of the people who backed Gretchen Whitmer for governor are not happy with some recent controversial actions. Those include her support of Republican changes to the no-fault auto insurance law, and her handling of the possible closure of Benton Harbor High School.
- Vicki Barnett is the former mayor of Farmington Hills and a former Democratic legislator. Ken Sikkema is a Senior Policy Fellow at Public Sector Consultants and a former Republican legislative leader. They discuss how Whitmer’s decisions might affect support among her political base, and her ability to make change while in office.
The first campaign ads hit Michigan airwaves this weekend and aren’t expected to let up until 2020 election
- Political ads for the presidential election in 2020 are starting now, nearly a year and a half before election day. Campaign advertising on television and digital platforms is expected to add up to $6 billion across the country.
- Craig Mauger is the executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a watch dog group that follows politics and money. He talks about where all this money is going, and what advertising is being directed towards Michigan.
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