Today on Stateside, Michigan’s House Minority Leader shares her reaction to the agreement between Governor Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders to remove the issue of road funding from state budget negotiations. Plus, we talk to Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman involved in an employment discrimination case that is scheduled to go before the United States Supreme Court in October.
Listen to the full show above or find individual segments below.
House Democratic leader calls for bipartisan task force to find long-term road funding solution
- Over the weekend, Governor Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders agreed to pursue a state budget for the coming fiscal year separate from a long-term plan to increase road funding. State leaders must agree on a budget by October 1 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
- Democratic State Representative Christine Greig is Minority Leader in the Michigan House. She shares her reaction to that decision, and comments on how likely new revenue for roads is without the pressure of state budget negotiations.
Detroit City Council president proposes mandatory spay and neuter for large dogs after fatal attack
- After a nine-year-old girl was killed by dogs when she biked in an alley in Southwest Detroit, there were many calls for city officials to take action in order to prevent another tragedy. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones wants to see mandatory neutering and spaying for large dogs as part of that solution. She tells us why she thinks that move would help prevent another vicious dog attack, and tells us about other planned changes to the city's animal control operations.
PBS Frontline investigation explores possible unreported Legionnaires’ deaths in Flint
- A new Frontline investigation into the Flint water crisis titled Flint’s Deadly Water airs Tuesday night on PBS. The documentary found that the crisis likely claimed more lives than previously known. Director Abby Ellis joined Stateside to talk about the investigation, and what she hopes viewers take away from watching it.
Cheers! book brings popular cocktails from the air to the page
- On Stateside’s regular Cheers! segment, Friday host Lester Graham and mixologist Tammy Coxen explore Michigan’s cocktail culture. Now, Lester and Tammy are publishing a new book of cocktail recipes and history called Cheers to Michigan: A Celebration of Cocktail Culture and Craft Distillers.
- A book release party will be held at Ann Arbor’s The Last Word cocktail bar on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 PM.
U.S. Supreme Court will decide Michigan transgender woman’s employment discrimination case
- Aimee Stephens worked for six years as a funeral director for R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes in Garden City, Michigan. But in 2013, she was fired by her employer after she came out as transgender and requested that she be allowed to wear women's business attire at work. On October 8, Stephens’ case will be heard by the United States Supreme Court. Jay Kaplan is an attorney with for the ACLU of Michigan, which is representing Stephens in the case. Kaplan and Stephens joined Stateside to talk about Stephens’ story, and share what they hope to hear from the U.S. Supreme Court.
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