Michigan News Update: Guilty Plea in Chatfield Case, Whitmer Pardon, GOP Pressure on State Police Leadership

LANSING, Mich. — A former aide to Michigan’s ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and tax fraud charges filed late last year.

State Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that 38-year-old Anne Minard of Bath Township accepted a plea deal in exchange for her testimony against Chatfield, who is accused of using nonprofit funds for personal expenses. Minard had initially pleaded not guilty.

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Whitmer Pardons Lansing Community Leader Facing Deportation

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has pardoned Lue Yang, president of the Hmong Family Association of Lansing, who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last July. Yang had faced potential deportation to Laos, despite completing a sentence for a crime committed nearly 30 years ago. His conviction was expunged in 2018.

Whitmer said the pardon reflects a recognition of rehabilitation and community leadership, noting Yang’s continued contributions to mid-Michigan’s Hmong community.

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GOP Lawmakers Call for Firings at Michigan State Police

Michigan Senate Republicans are demanding the firing of State Police Director Colonel James Grady and Deputy Director Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimbacombe, citing what they call “failed leadership.”

Senator Jim Runestad led a Thursday morning press conference, saying the agency’s credibility has been damaged.

Grady responded that he will not resign, and Governor Whitmer’s office countered by highlighting a significant drop in violent crime across the state.

In a separate development, the state of Michigan acquired a life ring that washed ashore 50 years ago from the Edmund Fitzgerald, as part of a lawsuit settlement with citizen Larry Orr. The suit involved unrelated allegations against a state police officer and was not tied to the shipwreck itself.

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Gotion Project Declared in Default

The state has declared battery manufacturer Gotion in default of its $175 million taxpayer incentive agreement after the company failed to deliver on a promised $2.3 billion plant near Big Rapids.

The controversial project, once expected to create more than 2,000 jobs in Green Township, has been marred by legal and political setbacks.

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SNAP Benefits Impacted by Federal Shutdown

Michigan’s SNAP benefits program faces a temporary halt, with the USDA instructing the state to pause the distribution of food assistance coupons for November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The pause could affect nearly 1.5 million residents across the state.

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Lansing Opens New Riverfront Music Park

A private ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Friday evening for Lansing’s newest riverfront destination — the Fish Ladder Music Park on Cesar Chavez Avenue.

A public grand opening featuring live music performances will follow the private event, marking the debut of what city officials are calling a key addition to Lansing’s downtown revitalization.