Jonathan Oosting
Bridge Magazine
Lansing, MI, United States
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Past articles by Jonathan:
Universal background check gun bills clear Michigan House
House Democrats approve legislation that would require background checks for all gun purchases, not just pistols. It’s part of a larger push to tighten gun laws. → Read More
Michigan Right-to-Work backers plot ballot proposal as Dems pursue repeal
Republican activists and donors are discussing a potential ballot proposal to preserve Right-to-Work as Democrats vote to repeal the law, according to organizers of the fledgling effort. → Read More
Right-to-Work repeal advances to Michigan House
Democrats are moving fast on legislation to repeal the state’s Right-to-Work law, a GOP statute that prohibits compulsory union dues or fees as a condition of employment. → Read More
Inflation relief checks v. income tax cuts. What saves you more in Michigan?
A proposed $180 rebate for tax filers isn’t happening, but an income tax that will save people more money in the long run is looming. When will you realize savings? It depends. → Read More
Michigan Senate votes to repeal abortion penalties under 1931 ban
Senate and House Democrats have now each approved bills to effectively repeal Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban, calling it a logical and important step after voter-approval of Proposal 3. → Read More
Historic day for LBGTQ rights, as anti-discrimination bill goes to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan Legislature finalizes legislation to write protections for gay and transgender residents into state law. Next up, a promised signature by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. → Read More
MSU shooting victim’s mom testifies for gun safety laws
Some committee and audience members cried as the mother of MSU student Troy Forbush testified Wednesday about rushing to her son after he was shot during the Feb. 13 mass shooting. She urged lawmakers to pass gun safety laws. → Read More
Repeal of Michigan’s 3rd grade retention policy ready for Whitmer’s signature
The 3rd grade retention requirement for struggling readers has been the most controversial part of the 2016 Read by Grade 3 law, which was designed to improve literacy. → Read More
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs Michigan tax relief, minus $180 inflation relief checks
Low-income workers and pensioners will benefit from a tax relief plan signed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Republicans blocked $180 inflation relief checks to preserve a potential income tax rate reduction. → Read More
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer poised to sign repeal of Michigan read-or-flunk law
Michigan Democrats finalized legislation Tuesday that would repeal part of a GOP law that required schools to hold back struggling readers who are a year or more behind after third grade. Research shows Black and low-income students were far more likely to be held back. → Read More
House Democrats plan vote on Right-to-Work repeal
House Democrats are moving quickly on a top priority for unions: Repeal of the state’s 2012 Right-to-Work law. Committee and full floor votes are expected Wednesday. → Read More
MSU police can’t explain 13-minute alert gap, remain mum on shooting details
MSU police offered a new explanation Wednesday for why it took 13 minutes after the first shooting reports to issue an active shooter warning to students. In that time, the gunman had moved from Berkey Hall to the MSU Union, where a third student was killed. → Read More
Michigan State shooting: Alerts to students delayed as police rushed to campus
All on-duty officers rushed to the gunman, leaving no one initially to send an alert to students to ‘run, hide, fight.’ The text came 13 minutes after the first 9-1-1 call, as the gunman had moved to another building. → Read More
Election denier Kristina Karamo to lead Michigan GOP, topping Trump favorite
Karamo, who refused to concede her 14-point loss in the 2022 secretary of state race, beat Matthew DePerno, who is under investigation for vote machine tampering. → Read More
Michigan State weighs security plan after rampage. Here are some options
MSU is conducting a security review over the coming months. It’s a debate that seeks to balance the openness of a large, public university with keeping students and staff safe. Here is how other colleges have tried to protect students. → Read More
Police: Michigan State shooter felt ‘slighted,’ threatened others in note
Police say MSU shooter Anthony McRae also threatened several local businesses, a church and New Jersey schools “on his list,” according to a handwritten note they found in his wallet, and failed to register his guns. → Read More
Michigan State sought to be leader in campus security. Upgrades came too late
MSU has a sprawling camera system, but officials needed three hours to comb through footage to find an image of the suspected shooter. The university is moving to live camera surveillance. → Read More
Michigan State dispatch logs: Anthony McRae spotted hours before he was caught
Within 20 minutes of a mass shooting, officers had multiple sightings of the man who police say killed three students and critically injured five others. A deluge of other tips may have diverted officers, the dispatch log suggests. → Read More
Michigan State shooter Anthony McRae had guns charge, run-ins with police
The alleged gunman is a 43-year-old who was charged with a felony in 2019 for gun possession. He had several run-ins with police over the years for traffic offenses and driving on a suspended or revoked license. → Read More
Michigan inflation relief checks: Why GOP is fighting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rebate plan
The Michigan Senate is expected to take up tax relief on Tuesday. The party that normally favors low taxes is opposed to Gov. Whitmer’s $180 rebate checks. It’s complicated. → Read More