January 20, 2021 The first month of 2021 kicked off with news about 2022: former U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, considered one of the strongest Republicans who could challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her seat, announced she wasn’t running. So did Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. Former Sen. Pete Lucido had expressed interest in running in 2019, but recently got elected Macomb County Prosecutor and is no longer eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2022. Michigan Republicans aren’t sure, yet, which big names will be in. But more than a year out, they’re gearing up for a tough race against Whitmer, who has built both a strong public image and her campaign coffers in her first two years in office. READ MORE Attorneys for former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder say they will ask for Flint water criminal charges against him to be dismissed because he was charged in the wrong county. Snyder was charged last week with two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty related to the water crisis after indictment by a one-man grand jury. The former governor’s attorney told Genesee District Court Judge William Crawford Tuesday that the charges are “fatally flawed” because they were “charged in the wrong venue," saying Snyder was not in the city of Flint when they allegedly occurred. MORE ►Judge Elizabeth Kelly to preside over the most serious Flint water cases If you live in the southern portion of Michigan, your snowblower has not seen much action this winter. Cities like Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Saginaw haven't even had a single four-inch snowfall this season. And those in the northern Lower Peninsula have only seen one big snowstorm. So, where is the snow? Is it headed our way? With the serious snow lovers in mind, MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa takes a look at the forecast to tell us whether that big snow is a'coming in the near future. MORE Online gaming and sports betting in Michigan will go live at noon Friday, Jan. 22. The Michigan Gaming Control Board on Tuesday authorized nine operators to launch on Friday, just in time for Sunday’s NFL conference championship games. The next few days will give the operators and platform providers additional time for testing and adjustments before the gaming goes live, according to MGCB executive director Richard Kalm. Friday’s launch should create a new lucrative revenue stream for casinos, which were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE ►Operators expect competitive market when online gaming, sports betting launches in Michigan Michigan police are keeping a heavy presence at the state Capitol in Lansing through mid-February in response to possible civil unrest surrounding the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said law enforcement agencies are monitoring for possible protests today and are prepared to adjust security measures as needed. Police were prepared for thousands of people to visit the Capitol Sunday, but demonstrators said the increased security and an FBI memo warning of possible violence from anti-government extremists caused many to stay home.MORE Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.mlive to your address book or safe sender list. |