Updates About People

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that automatically sentencing 19- and 20-year-olds to life without parole is unconstitutional under the state’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In a 5-2 decision, the court said these young adults must instead receive individualized sentencing, allowing judges to weigh circumstances before issuing such severe penalties.

The decision applies retroactively, meaning it could impact past cases that are still eligible for court review. While life without parole remains a sentencing option for serious crimes like first-degree murder, courts must now consider factors such as age and personal history before deciding. Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement and Justice Brian Zahra dissented from the majority opinion.

In 2024, Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) enrolled over 45,000 four-year-olds in free pre-kindergarten, a 10% increase from 2023. This program received funding via a $655 million state budget allocation.

The program, which aims to provide universal pre-K access for 75% of Michigan’s four-year-olds, currently serves 38% of the state’s nearly 117,000 children in that age group. The funding can serve up to 54,000 students and still has 11,000 unfilled spots available to students.

The GSRP emphasizes the importance of early education for early development, emotional intelligence, and long-term academic and career success. MiLEAP Director Beverly Walker-Griffea also highlighted the program’s impact, saving families an estimated $10,000 annually in childcare costs while retaining $450 million in the state’s economy.

A 60-foot spruce from the front yard of a Clinton County couple has been chosen as this year’s Capitol Christmas tree, DTMB announced. The tree is being donated by Rich and Dorcas Albertson, who decorated the tree every Christmas season over 27 years, until it grew to be too massive for their space. The large spruce will be harvested on November 1st and transported to Lansing, where local Boy Scouts will help untie it before it’s placed on the Capitol lawn. The tree will be decorated one last time for the Silver Bells in the City event, with the ceremonial lighting scheduled for November 22nd.