Updates About People

Recently, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) refused to hear Kim Davis v. David Ermold, where Davis had hoped the Court would overturn a lower court’s decision awarding damages to a same sex couple that Davis refused to issue a marriage license to while working as a court clerk. Davis also requested that the Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that established marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Among those celebrating the decision was Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ individual elected to a statewide office. In a statement released shortly after the Court announced they would not be taking on the case, Nessel expressed relief but gave a warning: this is only a battle won, and to secure lasting victory against other efforts to overturn Obergefell, Michigan must change the state Constitution to protect marriage equality.

The wait is over! The 39th official state Christmas Tree has been selected by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB). This year’s winner is a 68-foot spruce tree from Sault Ste. Marie donated by Linda Reid in honor of her grandparents. The tree is set to be harvested on October 30th and arrive in Lansing on November 1st.

Once at the Capitol, local Boy Scouts troops will continue their tradition of untying the tree. Next, the City of Lansing’s forestry team will prepare the tree for decorations and lighting developed by the Lansing Board of Water & Light and the Michigan Capitol Commission. After the long journey and preparation process, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at the 41st annual Silver Bells in the City ceremony where the thousands of decorative lights will be flipped on at approximately 7:30 PM.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is sharing a new website and survey for the Rural Health Transformation Program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). MDHHS is seeking survey responses from all rural providers, Medicaid beneficiaries, community partners, and rural community residents. The survey will close on Monday, September 22, at 5:00 PM.

Rural Health Transformation Program Website

Participate in the survey here