Michigan spends more than $2 billion a year on its prison system. But a bipartisan group of lawmakers now says serious questions are swirling around conditions inside the state’s only women’s prison.

At a recent hearing, testimony detailed allegations of toxic mold, delayed medical care, and a preventable death.

The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski has more on what’s prompting calls for accountability from both Republicans and Democrats, and what could happen next.

Plus: How many AI data centers are planned in Michigan? We counted.

Proof of citizenship for voting campaign submits signatures (WCMU): A campaign seeking to tighten Michigan’s voter ID laws submitted more than 750,000 signatures in hopes of placing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The proposal would require proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to have ballots counted. While supporters say it safeguards voting, critics warn it could disenfranchise voters.

Michigan Republicans introduce permitless concealed carry bill (MLive): Michigan House Republicans are proposing legislation that would allow legal gun owners to carry a concealed pistol without a permit. The bills are unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

Schools would require water safety instruction under proposed bill (Bridge Michigan): A Michigan bill would require public schools to teach water safety in physical education classes, with lessons on flotation devices, water conditions, and CPR. Supporters say the measure could help prevent drownings in a state surrounded by water. Lawmakers have not voted on the proposal.

(The ’Gander TikTok)

Right now, Michigan lawmakers from both parties are raising serious concerns about what’s happening inside of the state’s only prison for women, including allegations of toxic mold, delayed medical care, retaliation against staff who have tried to speak up, and a woman who died after what should have been a treatable infection spiraled out of control.

Here’s the deal: Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers held a hearing to find out what’s actually been happening inside the Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti.

Multiple reports, lawsuits, and sworn testimony all point to a pattern inside Huron Valley. Persistent mold problems, ventilation failures, women getting sick, and even dying. A federal judge even wrote last summer that the facility is infested with mold, and it eats through the brick, drips from ceilings, and falls out of air vents. And he said the Michigan Department of Corrections’ response wasn’t to fix it. It was to hide it before visitors arrived.

So what? If these allegations that are emerging are anywhere near accurate, then this isn’t just one bad facility. It’s a systemic oversight failure inside a department that answers to the state.

Lawmakers are now pushing for testimony from prison leadership. There are active lawsuits moving through federal court, and outside civil rights groups are demanding audits.

Political correspondent Kyle Kaminski has more details in this edition of “so what, Michigan?“

Artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of industrial development statewide. We mapped the data centers that are proposed, approved, under construction, or already online. (Photo illustration/The ’Gander)

By Kyle Kaminski

In township and city halls across Michigan, a new kind of industrial project keeps appearing on meeting agendas: massive data centers built to power artificial intelligence.

Backed by global tech companies and lesser-known developers alike, these projects have promised to bring in new jobs and investment—while simultaneously raising significant concerns about energy use, land development, noise, and other long-term community impacts.

Together, they represent one of the fastest-growing forms of development in Michigan, with at least 20 large-scale AI-related projects surfacing across more than 10 counties since 2024.

To better understand the scope of this expansion, The ’Gander compiled and organized every known project currently proposed, approved, under construction, or operating in the state.

By Abby Deatrick

Welcome to your weekly roundup of Michigan political events, protests, rallies, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide.

📅 Friday (March 6)

Traverse City Indivisible: Senior Center, Good Trouble (Traverse City, 12-1 p.m.) — A rally to call on Congress to protect democracy and stop ICE.

Dexter Strong, Dexter Cares: “Turn ‘I’ into ‘We’” Weekly Protest (Dexter, 4:30-5:30 p.m.) — A protest to support democracy.

📅 Saturday (March 7)

Michigan United Action: The Immigrant Struggle: From LA to Detroit (Detroit, 12-3 p.m.) — An afternoon of discussion and strategy on defending the rights of working-class and immigrant communities, with a focus on strengthening immigration defense efforts in Detroit.

Stand Up For Science Michigan: Stand Up For Science National Day of Action (Lansing, 1-3 p.m.) — A rally for science, health, and democracy featuring remarks from local scientists and Rep. Haley Stevens.

📅 Sunday (March 8)

GR Women’s Day (Grand Rapids, 11 a.m.) — A rally in honor of International Women’s Day.

Indivisible Downriver United 734: Whistle Making Kit Party (Trenton, 2-4 p.m.) — A community event to make warning whistle kits to distribute throughout the community.

📅 Monday (March 9)

Indivisible: Waterford Resistance Dems & Friends (Waterford, 3:30-5 p.m.) — A rally for democracy.

📅 Tuesday (March 10)

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan: Dance & Care No Matter What (Grand Rapids, 6-7:30 p.m.) — Join the dance class led by local Afro Latino dance artists and community organizers, with opportunities to support grassroots mutual aid organizations working to protect reproductive justice.

Michigan League of Conservation Voters: March Volunteer Huddle in Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo, 6-8 p.m.) — Learn more about the work Michigan LCV is doing and ways you can get involved. 

📅 Wednesday (March 11)

Invisible Downriver United 734: No Data Centers Protest (Gibraltar, 4-6 p.m.) — A protest in response to the private company, Raeden, submitting plans to build a data center at the former McLouth Steel site, which could move forward under existing zoning.

Indivisible: MI-01 Meet the Candidates Forum (Hancock, 7-9 p.m.) — A non-partisan forum to meet the candidates for Michigan’s 1st Congressional seat.

📅 Thursday (March 12)

COURIER: MAHA & the Midterms: How Trump and RFK Jr.’s Agenda Costs Americans (virtual, 2:30-3:30 p.m.) — From Trump’s ACA cuts driving premiums higher and proposed healthcare cuts that would strip coverage from millions, to RFK Jr.–led MAHA misinformation fueling chaos for families and caregivers, political decisions are shaping who gets care and who doesn’t. This COURIER event brings together leading voices in the healthcare conversation to break down what’s happening, who is being harmed, and why this moment demands attention.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan: Meet Your New Mid Michigan Organizer and Educator (virtual, 6-7 p.m.) — A virtual volunteer night with Ruby, the new Mid-Michigan Organizer and Educator with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan. Meet fellow advocates and hear updates on reproductive health policy and Michigan. 

📣 Have an event to add? Email Abigail Deatrick, The ’Gander’s state organizing coordinator, with details. Please send submissions at least one week before the event.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Kyle Kaminski and Abby Deatrick. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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