An underwater image of Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 petroleum pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Laura Herberg, Justin A. Hinkley and Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has permitted construction of the controversial Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac.
The project, which would divert a section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline from the open waters of the Straits into a concrete tunnel beneath the lakebed, is “not contrary to the public interest” and would not harm tribal treaty rights, the Army Corps said in announcing its permit. Nonetheless,the Corps noted the project would have adverse effects on endangered species and archaeological sites, that it would contribute to “long-term impacts of habitat loss” and have “long-term detrimental impacts on land use.”
While the federal approval clears a big hurdle for the nearly decade-old proposal, don’t expect shovels in the ground anytime soon. The Michigan Supreme Court recently ordered state energy regulators to reconsider a separate key permit, the project remains tied up in state and federal court, and new lawsuits have been promised by opponents.
Still, Line 5 owners Enbridge Energy praised the decision.
The federal permit “represents the highest standard of environmental review required for major critical energy and other infrastructure projects,” Enbridge said in a written statement. “Line 5 is safe. Enbridge will continue operating Line 5 safely and responsibly, incorporating enhanced safety measures in the Straits, and protecting Michigan’s natural and cultural resources.”
A coalition of Native American tribes that has opposed the project, meanwhile, slammed the decision.
“Our federal government has a solemn obligation to uphold and protect Treaty rights and is supposed to protect American waters and sacred spaces,” Managing Attorney David Gover with the Native American Rights Fund said in a statement.
“Instead, the U.S. Army Corps just rubber-stamped a Canadian oil project that desecrates a Tribal sacred space and threatens to pollute the Great Lakes.”
The tunnel project would likely “adversely affect” Houghton’s goldenrod and dwarf lake iris, which are listed as threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Corps said, but that “reductions in the overall recovery, numbers, or distribution” are not expected after mitigation efforts.
The project site is culturally and spiritually significant to the Anishinaabe tribal nations. The Corps noted there would be “major, permanent, adverse effects on historic properties, including archaeological sites” that the tribal nations said “cannot be mitigated.”
The Corps’ decision is in line with the Trump administration’s goal of bolstering fossil fuel energy and preventing renewable energy development.
“The approval of the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project is a testament to President Trump’s vision to ensure our nation’s energy dominance,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle in an emailed statement. “By cutting unneeded red tape and overhauling our regulatory process, to provide fast, clear, and consistent decisions that implement our regulatory authorities just as Congress intended, we are able to help projects like this move forward with regulatory certainty.”
David Holtz, coalition coordinator for the group Oil & Water Don’t Mix said in an email the Corps’ decision was “driven by the Trump Administration’s phony ‘national energy emergency.’”
He said the decision — which did not consider what would happen if the tunnel was not built and Line 5 was decommissioned — was reminiscent of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit review that the Michigan Supreme Court recently said was erroneous. The court called the review overly narrow and said it failed to consider whether it would harm public rights to the Great Lakes and that it failed to study whether Line 5 would shut down if the tunnel isn’t built.
On July 15, Michigan’s departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued two key permits for the tunnel project, despite noting disruption to Native American burial sites and harm to wetlands and rare species.
Enbridge is also seeking a permit to discharge millions of gallons of treated wastewater per day into Lake Michigan during tunnel construction. EGLE is expected to rule on that by Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, the state is battling in court with Enbridge over Whitmer’s 2020 order to shut the existing pipeline down for fear that it could cause an oil spill in the Straits. A federal judge in December ruled that Michigan had no authority to order a shutdown, but the state has appealed the ruling.
Separately, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sought a shutdown since 2019 in a case that has pingponged from state to federal court and back again. The case now sits in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, where deliberations are paused pending resolution of the case stemming from Whitmer’s shutdown order.
By Laura Herberg, Justin A. Hinkley and Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has permitted construction of the controversial Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac.
The project, which would divert a section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline from the open waters of the Straits into a concrete tunnel beneath the lakebed, is “not contrary to the public interest” and would not harm tribal treaty rights, the Army Corps said in announcing its permit. Nonetheless,the Corps noted the project would have adverse effects on endangered species and archaeological sites, that it would contribute to “long-term impacts of habitat loss” and have “long-term detrimental impacts on land use.”
While the federal approval clears a big hurdle for the nearly decade-old proposal, don’t expect shovels in the ground anytime soon. The Michigan Supreme Court recently ordered state energy regulators to reconsider a separate key permit, the project remains tied up in state and federal court, and new lawsuits have been promised by opponents.
Still, Line 5 owners Enbridge Energy praised the decision.
The federal permit “represents the highest standard of environmental review required for major critical energy and other infrastructure projects,” Enbridge said in a written statement. “Line 5 is safe. Enbridge will continue operating Line 5 safely and responsibly, incorporating enhanced safety measures in the Straits, and protecting Michigan’s natural and cultural resources.”
A coalition of Native American tribes that has opposed the project, meanwhile, slammed the decision.
“Our federal government has a solemn obligation to uphold and protect Treaty rights and is supposed to protect American waters and sacred spaces,” Managing Attorney David Gover with the Native American Rights Fund said in a statement.
“Instead, the U.S. Army Corps just rubber-stamped a Canadian oil project that desecrates a Tribal sacred space and threatens to pollute the Great Lakes.”
The tunnel project would likely “adversely affect” Houghton’s goldenrod and dwarf lake iris, which are listed as threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Corps said, but that “reductions in the overall recovery, numbers, or distribution” are not expected after mitigation efforts.
The project site is culturally and spiritually significant to the Anishinaabe tribal nations. The Corps noted there would be “major, permanent, adverse effects on historic properties, including archaeological sites” that the tribal nations said “cannot be mitigated.”
The Corps’ decision is in line with the Trump administration’s goal of bolstering fossil fuel energy and preventing renewable energy development.
“The approval of the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project is a testament to President Trump’s vision to ensure our nation’s energy dominance,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle in an emailed statement. “By cutting unneeded red tape and overhauling our regulatory process, to provide fast, clear, and consistent decisions that implement our regulatory authorities just as Congress intended, we are able to help projects like this move forward with regulatory certainty.”
David Holtz, coalition coordinator for the group Oil & Water Don’t Mix said in an email the Corps’ decision was “driven by the Trump Administration’s phony ‘national energy emergency.’”
He said the decision — which did not consider what would happen if the tunnel was not built and Line 5 was decommissioned — was reminiscent of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit review that the Michigan Supreme Court recently said was erroneous. The court called the review overly narrow and said it failed to consider whether it would harm public rights to the Great Lakes and that it failed to study whether Line 5 would shut down if the tunnel isn’t built.
On July 15, Michigan’s departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued two key permits for the tunnel project, despite noting disruption to Native American burial sites and harm to wetlands and rare species.
Enbridge is also seeking a permit to discharge millions of gallons of treated wastewater per day into Lake Michigan during tunnel construction. EGLE is expected to rule on that by Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, the state is battling in court with Enbridge over Whitmer’s 2020 order to shut the existing pipeline down for fear that it could cause an oil spill in the Straits. A federal judge in December ruled that Michigan had no authority to order a shutdown, but the state has appealed the ruling.
Separately, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sought a shutdown since 2019 in a case that has pingponged from state to federal court and back again. The case now sits in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, where deliberations are paused pending resolution of the case stemming from Whitmer’s shutdown order.
Attorney General Honors Achievements of Child Support Unit
In recognition of Child Support Awareness Month, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is recognizing the significant achievements of the Child Support Unit of the Financial Crimes Division, which has been instrumental in identifying parents throughout the State who are capable of paying child support but deliberately refuse to do so.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Child Support Unit has made significant strides in combating the problem of unpaid child support through its partnership with the Friend of the Court. The division has successfully collected more than $470 million in unpaid child support, directly benefitting nearly 31,500 children statewide. This fiscal year alone, the division has recovered more than $22 million to date.
“The Child Support Unit does incredible work day in and day out to support Michigan families,” Nessel said. “When parents who are able to pay refuse to do so, it’s the children who bear the burden and are deprived of essentials they need to thrive. We remain committed to working with our partners across the state to help kids receive the support they deserve and hold those who willfully disregard their responsibilities accountable.”
The Child Support Unit addresses financial disparities facing single-parent households, where 23.4% of single mothers and 11.4% of single fathers with children nationwide live below the poverty line according to 2020 Census data. The unit focuses on parents with a history of non-payment and significant arrearages of at least $5,000 or 24 months of substantial non-payment, whichever is greater.
By focusing on those who are financially capable but unwilling to pay child support, the division upholds the integrity of the Court’s orders and reinforces the importance of parental responsibility. Failing to pay child support is a felony punishable by up to four years of incarceration or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or both.
The Child Support Unit is funded through an interagency agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support with 66% federal funding and 34% State of Michigan funding. In addition to benefitting Michigan’s children, the unit’s efforts also provide financial relief to the State. By recovering funds that were paid as cash assistance provided to custodial parents, the unit not only covers its operating costs, but also returns revenue to the State. The unit recovers over $5 for every dollar spent.
Custodial parents who have experienced a history of non-payment and are owed significant back child support can file a complaint online with the Department of Attorney General’s Child Support Unit or call (517) 335-7560.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Child Support Unit has made significant strides in combating the problem of unpaid child support through its partnership with the Friend of the Court. The division has successfully collected more than $470 million in unpaid child support, directly benefitting nearly 31,500 children statewide. This fiscal year alone, the division has recovered more than $22 million to date.
“The Child Support Unit does incredible work day in and day out to support Michigan families,” Nessel said. “When parents who are able to pay refuse to do so, it’s the children who bear the burden and are deprived of essentials they need to thrive. We remain committed to working with our partners across the state to help kids receive the support they deserve and hold those who willfully disregard their responsibilities accountable.”
The Child Support Unit addresses financial disparities facing single-parent households, where 23.4% of single mothers and 11.4% of single fathers with children nationwide live below the poverty line according to 2020 Census data. The unit focuses on parents with a history of non-payment and significant arrearages of at least $5,000 or 24 months of substantial non-payment, whichever is greater.
By focusing on those who are financially capable but unwilling to pay child support, the division upholds the integrity of the Court’s orders and reinforces the importance of parental responsibility. Failing to pay child support is a felony punishable by up to four years of incarceration or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or both.
The Child Support Unit is funded through an interagency agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support with 66% federal funding and 34% State of Michigan funding. In addition to benefitting Michigan’s children, the unit’s efforts also provide financial relief to the State. By recovering funds that were paid as cash assistance provided to custodial parents, the unit not only covers its operating costs, but also returns revenue to the State. The unit recovers over $5 for every dollar spent.
Custodial parents who have experienced a history of non-payment and are owed significant back child support can file a complaint online with the Department of Attorney General’s Child Support Unit or call (517) 335-7560.
Poll: Voters Trust Local Newspapers to Provide Public Notices
LANSING — A recent statewide poll shows Michigan voters trust local newspapers and their digital platforms to provide them with accurate information about the actions of elected officials.
The poll of likely November 2026 voters commissioned by EPIC-MRA showed that Michigan voters continue to view local newspapers and their digital platforms as the most trusted and effective source for public notices and information about government actions.
Nearly 60% of survey respondents said they trust a local newspaper or a local newspaper and its website over a government website when it comes to publishing public notices and information on local government budgets, information on spending by elected officials and details about zoning and taxation issues and more.
“The findings underscore the important role newspapers play in promoting transparency, informing Michiganders and ensuring public notices are broadly accessible to the communities they serve,” said Lisa McGraw, public policy manager for the Michigan Press Association (MPA). “Residents across the state want our lawmakers to prioritize transparency and keep these accountability measures in place.”
The MPA continues to call on Michigan’s House leadership to halt ongoing efforts that could remove requirements for governments and other public institutions to publish important information about decision making in newspapers through public notices.
Along with the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, requirements in Michigan for public notices to be published in newspapers help hold government officials accountable to the people they are elected to serve. They play a critical role in helping Michigan citizens learn about and weigh in on important tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and proposed property developments that may impact them and their families.
Public notices are available in local newspapers and on their websites, as well as on a statewide database, mipublicnotices. com, which is managed by the MPA.
The results of the 2026 survey are consistent with a 2019 EPIC-MRA survey, in which the majority of respondents said they trust their local newspaper and newspaper’s website the most to find public notices of government activities, and that their local newspaper would be most effective in making government activities known to the public.
Shifting notices solely to government-controlled websites would make it harder for Michigan residents to access critical information and monitor, evaluate and weigh in on the decisions, policies and actions of elected officials.
“Publishing notices in local newspapers and their digital platforms provides a permanent, third-party record of government activity that can’t be removed, edited or lost on a government website,” said Jim Tarrant, executive director of the Public Notice Resource Center. “We continue to urge Michigan lawmakers to protect these foundational transparency measures.”
The poll of likely November 2026 voters commissioned by EPIC-MRA showed that Michigan voters continue to view local newspapers and their digital platforms as the most trusted and effective source for public notices and information about government actions.
Nearly 60% of survey respondents said they trust a local newspaper or a local newspaper and its website over a government website when it comes to publishing public notices and information on local government budgets, information on spending by elected officials and details about zoning and taxation issues and more.
“The findings underscore the important role newspapers play in promoting transparency, informing Michiganders and ensuring public notices are broadly accessible to the communities they serve,” said Lisa McGraw, public policy manager for the Michigan Press Association (MPA). “Residents across the state want our lawmakers to prioritize transparency and keep these accountability measures in place.”
The MPA continues to call on Michigan’s House leadership to halt ongoing efforts that could remove requirements for governments and other public institutions to publish important information about decision making in newspapers through public notices.
Along with the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, requirements in Michigan for public notices to be published in newspapers help hold government officials accountable to the people they are elected to serve. They play a critical role in helping Michigan citizens learn about and weigh in on important tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and proposed property developments that may impact them and their families.
Public notices are available in local newspapers and on their websites, as well as on a statewide database, mipublicnotices. com, which is managed by the MPA.
The results of the 2026 survey are consistent with a 2019 EPIC-MRA survey, in which the majority of respondents said they trust their local newspaper and newspaper’s website the most to find public notices of government activities, and that their local newspaper would be most effective in making government activities known to the public.
Shifting notices solely to government-controlled websites would make it harder for Michigan residents to access critical information and monitor, evaluate and weigh in on the decisions, policies and actions of elected officials.
“Publishing notices in local newspapers and their digital platforms provides a permanent, third-party record of government activity that can’t be removed, edited or lost on a government website,” said Jim Tarrant, executive director of the Public Notice Resource Center. “We continue to urge Michigan lawmakers to protect these foundational transparency measures.”
James Picks DeBoyer as GOP Running Mate in Governor’s Race
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Jordyn Hermani
Bridge Michigan
LANSING — Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate John James has selected state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as his running mate and choice for lieutenant governor.
DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, was first elected to the state House in 2022 and previously served as the St. Clair County elections clerk. He currently chairs the House Oversight Committee and serves as associate speaker pro tempore.
“I am choosing Jay DeBoyer as my running mate because he has run a business, served in local government, and overseen elections,” James said in a statement. “He knows how to work with both parties in the Legislature to get things done.”
If DeBoyer is nominated by delegates, it would mark the first time since 1978 the Michigan Republican Party will not have a female candidate at the top of the statewide ticket, according to MIRS subscription news service.
He’d join James, Attorney General nominee Doug Lloyd and Secretary of State nominee Anthony Forlini on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Like James, DeBoyer currently represents parts of southeast Michigan.
As lieutenant governor, he will “lead the fight against corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse, protecting core services while fixing what’s broken,” James said.
DeBoyer has repeatedly clashed with James’ opponent — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee — as chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Last year, he subpoenaed and later sued Benson for election training materials and led a hearing on the troubled rollout of a new government disclosure transparency portal.
As a legislator, DeBoyer has sponsored three new laws, including a measure to relax earned sick time rules as part of a bipartisan deal negotiated by legislative leadership and the Whitmer administration.
He cosponsored GOP proposals to toughen voter ID laws, restrict student bathroom use at schools based on biological sex and allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent, a change James has called for.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel panned James for picking DeBoyer, calling it an effort “to pick the most MAGA candidate possible.”
“A James-DeBoyer administration would be a rubber stamp for Trump’s agenda,” Hertel said. “…Michigan Democrats look forward to defeating this extreme Republican ticket in November.”
DeBoyer graduated from Algonac High School in 1988 and attended St. Clair County Community College from 1989 to 1990. In addition to his time as clerk, he has also owned a small business specializing in engineered lumber since 1994.
Republican Party delegates will officially nominate a candidate for lieutenant governor at an Aug. 22 convention in Mount Pleasant.
By Jordyn Hermani
Bridge Michigan
LANSING — Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate John James has selected state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as his running mate and choice for lieutenant governor.
DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, was first elected to the state House in 2022 and previously served as the St. Clair County elections clerk. He currently chairs the House Oversight Committee and serves as associate speaker pro tempore.
“I am choosing Jay DeBoyer as my running mate because he has run a business, served in local government, and overseen elections,” James said in a statement. “He knows how to work with both parties in the Legislature to get things done.”
If DeBoyer is nominated by delegates, it would mark the first time since 1978 the Michigan Republican Party will not have a female candidate at the top of the statewide ticket, according to MIRS subscription news service.
He’d join James, Attorney General nominee Doug Lloyd and Secretary of State nominee Anthony Forlini on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Like James, DeBoyer currently represents parts of southeast Michigan.
As lieutenant governor, he will “lead the fight against corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse, protecting core services while fixing what’s broken,” James said.
DeBoyer has repeatedly clashed with James’ opponent — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee — as chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Last year, he subpoenaed and later sued Benson for election training materials and led a hearing on the troubled rollout of a new government disclosure transparency portal.
As a legislator, DeBoyer has sponsored three new laws, including a measure to relax earned sick time rules as part of a bipartisan deal negotiated by legislative leadership and the Whitmer administration.
He cosponsored GOP proposals to toughen voter ID laws, restrict student bathroom use at schools based on biological sex and allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent, a change James has called for.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel panned James for picking DeBoyer, calling it an effort “to pick the most MAGA candidate possible.”
“A James-DeBoyer administration would be a rubber stamp for Trump’s agenda,” Hertel said. “…Michigan Democrats look forward to defeating this extreme Republican ticket in November.”
DeBoyer graduated from Algonac High School in 1988 and attended St. Clair County Community College from 1989 to 1990. In addition to his time as clerk, he has also owned a small business specializing in engineered lumber since 1994.
Republican Party delegates will officially nominate a candidate for lieutenant governor at an Aug. 22 convention in Mount Pleasant.
