Lucy Valeski

Columbia Missourian •

Police cameras are coming to Columbia. Do they really reduce crime?

By mid-2025, a Columbia motorist will drive down a road, pass a camera and — snap! — a camera will capture a photo of that driver’s license plate, its location and details about the car.The motorist keeps driving, but that photo is entered into a database. If the information matches a suspected vehicle from a list created by the Columbia Police Department, local law enforcement will be alerted in seconds.
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Michigan Advance •

Michigan lawmakers look to quash non-consensual ‘deepfake’ pornography • Michigan Advance

As Michigan lawmakers attempt to tackle “deepfake” pornography, an emerging form of sexual violence typically aimed at women, academics examine long-term policy solutions that could place more legal responsibility on technology companies, rather than those impacted by fake AI images. 
The Michigan House cleared two bills last month banning non-consensual explicit images generated by AI systems. HB 5569, sponsored by state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing), and HB 5570, sponsored by Rep....
Michigan Advance •

In Detroit, Biden vows to stay in the race and lays out plans for his 1st days of a 2nd term • Michigan Advance

President Joe Biden rallied a lively crowd waving “Motown is Joetown” and “We Heart Joe” signs in Detroit Friday evening, emphasizing that he will not leave the presidential race.
“You made me the nominee,” Biden said at Renaissance High School. “No one else. Not the press; not the pundits; not the insiders; not the donors. You the voters, you decided. No one else, and I’m not going anywhere.”
During the event, Biden outlined his plan for his first 100 days if he’s reelected, disparaging his opp...
Michigan Advance •

Palisades nuclear plant along Lake Michigan plans for a 2025 comeback, a 1st in the U.S.  • Michigan Advance

On the shores of Lake Michigan at the Palisades nuclear plant, Paul Schultz pushes a button to artificially trip the reactor in a training version of an operation room. 
The simulation triggers lights blinking on the walls and machinery, and Schultz works to shut down the reactor with Paul Rhodes, an assistant operations manager of training. 
Schultz is in training and hopes to become a licensed operator by the time the Palisades nuclear reactor in Southwest Michigan reopens, which is expected t...
Columbia Missourian •

Columbia police switch to in-house training with Lincoln University police academy

As the city evaluates the best way to prepare law enforcement for tense situations on the job, Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said her department’s training will move in-house and be directed by Lincoln University’s Law Enforcement Training Academy.It’s a change aimed at giving the department more oversight in the training process and improving responses to 911 calls and traffic stops that disproportionately affects motorists of color, which the department has faced criticism about in recent...
Michigan Advance •

Slotkin flexes support from national reproductive rights organizations in US Senate bid • Michigan Advance

Cheers, woos, boos and hisses erupted Thursday from a crowd of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) supporters as she joined three leaders from national organizations in Grand Rapids to talk about an issue prominently on the minds of Democratic leaders in the 2024 election: reproductive rights. 
“We were not used to talking about it, but they came for us,” Slotkin said. “They came for our rights. They came for our daughters and our granddaughters.” 
Slotkin is running for a U.S. Senate seat left w...
Michigan Advance •

Slotkin says US Senate Democratic primary is a battle between ‘rhetoric and substance’ • Michigan Advance

In a final campaign push before Tuesday’s primary election, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) on Saturday addressed a couple dozen volunteers at a small bar patio in Grand Rapids. 
She spoke with the West Michigan volunteers individually before explaining her platform and answering questions. Strengthening the middle class, keeping manufacturing and farming in the U.S. and fighting the “real” dangers to children, like gun violence, topped her list of priorities. 
Slotkin also emphasized the imp...
Columbia Missourian •

Two years later, Boone County is still clearing marijuana-related criminal records

It’s 5 p.m., and people are streaming out of the Boone County Courthouse into the dark November evening. But some employees from the Boone County circuit clerk’s office stick behind, just as they have for almost two years.Missourians passed a constitutional amendment legalizing adult use of recreational marijuana during the midterm elections in November 2022. The amendment mandated that local courts expunge nonviolent marijuana charges, and the constitutional amendment went into effect Dec. 8, 2...
Michigan Advance •

‘It feels very personal’: Michigan’s Divine Nine chapters plan to turn out the vote this election • Michigan Advance

While a newfound excitement about U.S. politics has arrived for many in recent weeks, the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), sometimes referred to as the Divine Nine, is gearing up for an “unprecedented” voter turnout effort this election cycle. 
The NPHC is made up of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities. Divine Nine organizations engage in “social action” movements, which includes voter mobilization efforts. But a statement from the organization described their intended plans...
Michigan Advance •

Vance makes Macomb Co. police station campaign stop to slam Harris’ immigration record • Michigan Advance

Flanked by local police and a prosecutor, former President Donald Trump running mate U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) knocked Vice President Kamala Harris’s record on immigration and law enforcement at a small event in Macomb County Wednesday morning.
His appearance before a small crowd in a key county that Trump has won twice came ahead of a scheduled Harris rally in Detroit, where the Democratic presidential nominee will be joined by her newly minted vice president pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz....
Missouri Business Alert •

Missouri utility companies are moving to time-of-use rates. Here’s why

Missouri’s Evergy, Ameren and Liberty residential customers may soon see their utility bills change based on when they use electricity instead of only how much they use it.All three of Missouri’s investor-owned utility companies should have a majority of their customers on a time-of-use rate structure by the end of 2025. The push for time-of-use rates comes as advocates hope to put less pressure on the power grid and give consumers more choices.Power grid capacity has become a growing concern as...
Missouri Business Alert •

Extreme weather, financial hurdles add to farmer mental health challenges

The drought sweeping through the Midwest has forced many farmers to make tough operational decisions against their wishes. For Macey Hurst, a cattle farmer outside of Jefferson City, that meant cutting a third of her herd because of dry pastures and a lack of hay. These difficult decisions that often are out of farmers’ control can lead to mental health concerns.On the day Hurst brought her cattle to the market, she ended up taking the afternoon off of work to prioritize her mental health. “We h...
Michigan Advance •

Stabenow says GOP farm bill is ‘not balanced’ and won’t pass through the US Senate • Michigan Advance

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s version of the farm bill will not get support from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), who chairs the Senate committee responsible for handling the appropriations bill.
Stabenow told the Advance after an event in Lansing Wednesday morning that this farm bill process has been the “most frustrating” of her career. 
“I’ve actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time,” said Stabenow, who chair...
Columbia Missourian •

Boone County property tax freeze may not be limited to low-income seniors

Senior citizens will most likely not have to pass a “means test” to qualify for a freeze on their property taxes, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick said Thursday.Earlier this month, county voters overwhelmingly passed an initiative to shield seniors from tax rate hikes on their primary residence. After approval, the Boone County Commission started drafting its version of the policy.
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Michigan Advance •

Education budget makes strides on Whitmer’s free pre-K and community college plans • Michigan Advance

Michigan lawmakers expanded access for free pre-K and community college in the Fiscal Year 2025 education budget, which were centerpiece plans for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who’s planning to sign the bill Tuesday afternoon in Flint. 
Education advocates said Whitmer’s plan would normalize additional free schooling on both ends of the traditional K-12 track, which could help improve Michigan’s workforce. 
“No one questions that kindergarten is available to their child,” said Michelle Richard, the de...
Michigan Advance •

Michigan’s abortion protections aren’t safe under a 2nd Trump presidency, Emhoff says • Michigan Advance

President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign held a rally Monday in Southeast Michigan, attempting to draw a sharp contrast between abortion policy under Democrats vs. former President Donald Trump. 
Michiganders may face federal abortion bans with Trump in the White House, even with statewide protections, according to abortion rights advocates and Democratic leaders.
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed Monday’s Biden campaign rally in Clawson in Oakland County.
“We’...
Michigan Advance •

Car wreck survivors and loved ones demand House lawmakers take up no-fault auto insurance reform • Michigan Advance

Updated on Thursday, June 13 at 12:30 p.m.
 
Auto crash survivors were joined by their friends, families and auto insurance reform advocates on Wednesday on the Michigan State Capitol lawn. They laid in the grass with lilies, sang “Yesterday” by The Beatles, chanted, raised signs and ate lunch together. 
“Tate, Tate, we can’t wait,” protestors chanted in unison, referring to Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit).
The protesters want Michigan House lawmakers to vote on a bill that would ma...
Columbia Missourian •

Cost of long-awaited water treatment plant project grows by $10 million

The estimated cost for a long-awaited update to the McBaine Water Treatment Plant has ballooned to $35.3 million, a $10 million increase over previous estimates.City officials blamed the water treatment cost increases on higher than expected bids from the initial project balance, according to a council memo. As recently as January, city officials had said the estimated cost of the project was $25 million, according to previous Missourian reporting. 
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Columbia Missourian •

First Ward voters to decide fate of Knoth on City Council

Jacob Luebbert is a staff photographer for the Columbia Missourian. He is a graduate student at the University of Missouri, studying photojournalism.
You can reach him at jdlfr5@umsystem.edu, in the newsroom at 573-882-5700, or online at www.jacobluebbert.com.

Jacob Luebbert is a staff photographer for the Columbia Missourian. He is a graduate student at the University of Missouri, studying photojournalism.

You can reach him at jdlfr5@umsystem.edu, in the newsroom at 573-882-5700, or online at...
Michigan Advance •

Grand Rapids residents call for greater transparency in police brutality cases • Michigan Advance

Chants for justice for individuals who had been killed by law enforcement in Grand Rapids were both shouted and sung Friday afternoon by local advocates and families impacted by police brutality on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol. 
Robert Womack, a former Kent County commissioner, organized the rally. He was accompanied by attorney Ben Crump, an attorney who has represented the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in police brutality cases; Ven Johnson, a civil rights lawyer from...
Michigan Advance •

Michigan awarded $129M in federal funding to push forward renewable energy goals  • Michigan Advance

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) received over $129 million in federal funding to bolster local and tribal governments’ renewable energy projects. 
The funding comes from the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act. Tasked with awarding the grants, the Environmental Protection Agency gave 25 projects $4.3 billion in the funding announced Monday.
“Federal funding has really changed the game in Michigan...
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