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Articles written by Chrystal Blair


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  • Open enrollment is here; Michiganders refresh health care plans

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan News Connection|Oct 31, 2024

    Open enrollment time is here - a brief window for Michiganders and folks nationwide to update their health insurance choices. Healthcare experts emphasize the important tips to remember when evaluating a health plan, such as making sure your doctor is in-network to avoid big out-of-pocket expenses. Also, many healthcare plans reward you for making healthier choices, like completing health assessments and avoiding nicotine. And if you're on Medicare, some Medicare Advantage plans include gym...

  • MI mother defends IVF amid ban concerns

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan News Connection|Sep 26, 2024

    Following the signing of the Michigan Family Protection Act by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, concerns remain about a potential federal ban on in vitro fertilization. The Act, signed in April, safeguards reproductive services such as surrogacy IVF and abortion. However, Project 2025 could limit access to these services if he wins the presidency in November. Stephanie Jones of Grand Blanc, a mother who used IVF to conceive and had her daughter via surrogacy after secondary infertility, is a strong...

  • MI included in landmark EPA climate investment

    Chrystal Blair|Sep 26, 2024

    Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This spring, Michigan was awarded $156 million to use as grants, which is the largest initiative of its kind in history. The goal is to strengthen the nation's economic competitiveness and advance energy independence, while at the same time reducing energy costs in historically underserved communities. Shalanda H....

  • MI voting group energized for National Voter Registration Day

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan News Connection|Sep 12, 2024

    As Michigan gears up for November's pivotal presidential election, the League of Women Voters of Michigan is ramping up efforts to make this National Voter Registration Day more successful than ever. The nonpartisan group has launched a series of voter drives across the state. Paula Bowman, co-president of the league, noted when it is a presidential election year, public interest in voting typically increases and as a result, her organization has received invitations to set up registration...

  • AARP survey reveals key concerns of older voters in MI

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan Connection Network|Aug 22, 2024

    New survey results from AARP shed some light on the top concerns of Michigan seniors and how these issues are likely to shape their voting decisions in the November election. Voters 50 and older will be the decisive force in the battle for Congress, with higher turnout and motivation than younger voters, especially in battleground states like Michigan. Jeff Liszt, partner at Impact Research, a Democratic public opinion firm, underscored that a significant portion of older voters will be living on fixed incomes, making Social Security a...

  • MI minimum wage increase could spark trend

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan News Connection|Aug 15, 2024

    Starting next year, Michigan employers will need to pay workers more than $12 an hour, following a landmark ruling from the state Supreme Court. The 4-to-3 decision reignited Michigan's 2018 ballot initiatives on the minimum wage and paid sick leave. The wage will be $10 per hour, plus an adjustment for inflation since 2018. The ruling should mean higher pay for more than 800,000 workers in Michigan, including a 48% increase for tipped workers. Saru Jayaraman, president of the advocacy group...

  • MI voting group fights disinformation

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan Information News Connection|Jun 20, 2024

    As the 2024 presidential elections approach, the nonpartisan Michigan League of Women Voters is intensifying its efforts to combat disinformation through its Democracy Truth Project. The initiative aims to equip people with tools needed to evaluate media content. The League has teamed up with the Detroit Public Library to disseminate educational resources across various platforms, including social media. Paula Bowman, co-president of the Michigan League of Women Voters, said the group wants peop...

  • Michigan dad imprisoned for 17 years, celebrates Father's Day with son

    Chrystal Blair|Jun 20, 2024

    Last weekend, Father's Day was tough for children with a dad in jail or prison. More than 200,000 kids in Michigan have had an incarcerated parent at some point in their lives. Statistics show an overwhelming percentage of those parents are fathers. Tore Price, 48, was released from a Michigan prison last February after serving 17 years for armed robbery, a crime he said was fueled by a struggle with drug addiction. At the time, his son was only 2. Behind bars, Price explained he connected with...

  • Proposal would make MI State Capitol a 'gun-free zone'

    Chrystal Blair, Michigan Information News Connection|May 30, 2024

    If two Michigan lawmakers have their way, there will be fewer locations in the state where people are allowed to carry firearms. State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, and state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Beverly Hills, have introduced bills that would expand gun-free zones within the State Capitol complex. Both have advocated for stricter gun laws in Michigan. Senate Bills 857 and 858 would make it illegal to carry a firearm in the State Capitol building, the Binsfeld Senate Office Building, and th...