MALLORY MCMORROW

Until last month, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow was not a figure of national political prominence. That changed on April 19.

Mallory McMorrow’s riposte to a hurtful slander by a colleague in the Michigan state senate that she wanted to ‘groom’ children went viral and has been hailed as a midterms blueprint for Democrats

Persuadable people are out there, if Democrats just know where to look.

Old accusations of LGBTQ people "grooming" and "recruiting" children have gained new traction. When have we heard this before? What counternarrative are activists using to win over public opinion?

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said abortions will become illegal in Michigan “immediately” once Roe v. Wade is overturned, because of a 1931 law banning abortions apart from those necessary to preserve the mother’s life. National attention turned to Michigan’s 74th House District special election after Carol Glanville became the first Democrat to represent the Kent County district since 1983. Due to redistricting, the May election was the last time the current configuration of the 74th District will be in play. Planned Parenthood of Michigan also filed a lawsuit, the same day, to block enforcement of Michigan’s abortion ban. “In the absence of categorical funding, school safety funding, children’s mental health funding, infrastructure modernization funding, and the teacher recruitment and staff retention funding, this is not the budget that we need for Michigan school children,” Rice said, of the House and Senate budget proposals.

Democrats need to fight back against the Republicans’ phony culture war. Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow showed how.

What if the GOP stopped capitulating to Trump? Plus: There’s a reason kids make better philosophers than grown-ups do.

Humans are drawn to narratives, but too many politicians struggle to use storytelling to find common ground.

A Democratic Michigan state senator whose passionate Senate Floor speech went viral last week is saying that her Republican colleagues are creating problems that don’t exist in an effort to rile up their supporters and avoid addressing “real issues.”

Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow sits down with us to chat about her speech that is getting national attention. The Michigan senator discusses her comments and how it’s making people reflect on what is going on in politics today.

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News.

LANSING MI — A Michigan senator went viral across social media this week after giving a speech on the Senate floor speech viewed more than 14 million times on Twitter. Dozens of congressional candidates and those running for state House and Senate turned required paperwork into their local clerks. Ten Michigan Republicans have filed for August’s primary election ballot for governor hoping to earn the GOP endorsement and run against incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer this November. The Republican convention Saturday, April 23, will decide who earns their party’s endorsement to receive the nomination for secretary of state and attorney general. (MLive.com File Photos)When choosing a governor, Michigan hosts an August primary to narrow the candidates on both sides.

A Michigan senator’s speech went viral after she took to the Senate Floor to defend herself against unsubstantiated claims made by another lawmaker in a campaign email.

A Republican senator’s hateful, preposterous fundraising email backfired

Republican Sen. Lana Theis opened a Michigan Senate session with an invocation by claiming children are being attacked by “forces" that want to indoctrinate them with ideas their parents do not support.

Accusations, made without evidence, are part of a surge in anti-gay rhetoric and anti-LGBTQ legislation in several states.

A Michigan lawmaker, mother and LGBTQ rights supporter who was accused by a Republican colleague of wanting to “groom” schoolchildren says her impassioned response resonated because people are sick of such attacks.

LANSING, MI – A Democratic Michigan state senator has a powerful message for GOP colleagues who baselessly accused her of grooming and sexualizing children in a recent fundraising email – “Hate won’t win.”“Hate wins when people like me stand by and let it happen. I won’t,” Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, wrote in response to what she called a “hateful scheme” from a Republican state senator. McMorrow delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, April 19, in response to being named in a fundraising email by Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton this week. The email, published online by Michigan Advance and other news outlets, called McMorrow a “progressive social media troll” who “grooms and sexualizes kindergarteners.”“These are the people we are up against,” the email from Theis’ campaign reads. Last week, McMorrow and two other Democratic senators walked out of a Senate session in protest of an invocation delivered by Theis, Michigan Advance reported.

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day.

A Michigan state senator’s passionate speech has gone viral after she took to the Senate Floor to defend herself against unsubstantiated claims made by another lawmaker in a campaign email.

Sen. Theis sounded like a QAnon nut in her diatribe about Democrats

Michigan drivers can now once again rock those old-school license plates that celebrate our "Water-Winter Wonderland." Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the return of...

Michigan politicians are “horrified” following a Metro Detroit school shooting at Oxford High School that resulted in three deaths and six other shooting victims, including a teacher and five students. Related: Three students dead, 6 injured in Oxford High School shooting, 15-yr-old suspect in custodyAt least one state legislator called for tighter gun legislation in the wake of the tragedy. “The news of today’s school shooting at Oxford High School is simply horrifying,” said Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Beverly Hills, whose district includes the high school. “I am horrified by the shooting at Oxford High School today,” U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, said in a statement issued on Twitter. More on MLive:Multiple people shot at Oxford High SchoolThree students dead, 6 injured in Oxford High School shooting, 15-yr-old suspect in custody

ROYAL OAK, MI – The owner of four 50-pound African cats is facing multiple citations and has been ordered to remove them by Monday after one roamed a Detroit suburb for about 16 hours on Wednesday, the Detroit Free Press reports. The demand by Royal Oak city officials may lead to a legal battle, the report said. Police previously acknowledged that caracals are not illegal to own as they are not regulated in Michigan. RELATED: Large African cat escapes owner, prowls Michigan suburbPolice said this is at least the third time one or more of the caracals has escaped from their enclosure. The owner has assured authorities that the felines are gentle and not aggressive toward people.

Yet many parents cannot return to the office because they do not have access to affordable and reliable child care. And it was still just an incredibly stressful challenge and it got down to the day before I was set to come back to Lansing, we didn’t have child care figured out yet.”McMorrow points out that many child care providers operate traditional workday hours, despite many jobs not having flexible schedules themselves. “I think we need to have government-backed guaranteed child care. “It’s really seen as essential for families with two working parents or if you’re a single parent it is seen as really, really essential,” he says. But then it was completely canceled because of the low wages provided to child care workers.

On Wednesday, Michigan Senate Republicans pushed to end those orders and allow in-person commencement once more. Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 335, sponsored by Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, on partisan lines during session on May 5. The bill would ban the state health director or local health officers from ordering a ban or limit on high school commencement ceremonies for this year’s class of students. The bill, approved 21-15, would apply to both public and nonpublic school alike, and comes a day after Gov. Wednesday’s vote on the Senate bill drew partisan reactions.

GOP legislators argued that graduations are a tradition that should be preserved despite concerns that large events risk spreading coronavirus infections.

A Michigan state senator’s bill is aiming to give drivers the option of having the classic blue and black Michigan vehicle license plates for a $100 fee. Sen. Mallory McMurrow’s (D-Royal Oak) Senate Bill 1146 also would allow the Secretary of State to readminister the blue license plates Michigan used from 1983 until 2007, as well as the black plates issued between 1979 and 1983. The blue and black license plates would be available to all drivers in Michigan for an added fee of $100. Michigan License Plate -- white with blue letters, with "Pure Michigan" campaign, first issued in 2013. We are happy to support the classic license plate design knowing it will produce a positive influence on both our culture and our economy.”

Michiganders could have a chance at retro license plates under a proposed bill. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, reintroduced a bill to bring back the blue license plates used from 1983 to 2007 and black plates issued between 1979 and 1983. Funds from the nostalgic plates would go to the state’s transportation fund and used for Michigan roads, according to a release from McMorrow’s office. The vintage license plate designs will instill pride in Michigan’s reputation for automotive development, said Shawn Pomaville-Size, Executive Director of the MotorCities National Heritage Area. When McMorrow was elected in 2018, friends and colleagues from her auto-journalism days asked her to bring back the blue license plate.

LANSING, Mich. – The FBI warned law enforcement agencies of possible armed protests at state capitols of all 50 states next week. Additionally, Michigan’s State Capitol Commission voted to ban open carry of firearms at the Capitol on Monday. READ: Democrats criticize ban on open carry of guns inside Michigan Capitol for not going far enoughREAD: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for ‘immediate action’ to ban all weapons at Michigan CapitolWith no checkpoints inside the Capitol, McMorrow said it is now harder for sergeants at arms to spot weapons if they can be concealed. Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel want a more comprehensive approach -- a ban on all weapons and possibly metal detectors and tighter security.

Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders were tossed by the Michigan Supreme Court last week, but a Senate bill could help solve the issue. Senate Bill 886 passed through the state Senate on Thursday, Oct. 8, which nearly replicates Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-76. It would put temporary pandemic measures in place for Michigan unemployment system through Dec. 31. One point of contention – five bills were tie-barred to Senate Bill 886, meaning it can’t become law unless the other five bills are passed as well. “I’m very angry about what was done today.”Hertel still voted in favor of the unemployment bill, despite it being tied to the other bills.

LANSING, MI - In 2018, it was determined that more than 500,000 Michigan residents lacked broadband internet access. In an effort to help fill those gaps, the state legislature has approved a grant program for private projects to fill internet access gaps for those underserved communities. Related: Lack of high-speed internet leaves rural communities behindThe Senate approved the Broadband Expansion Act of Michigan Grant Program by a 36-1 vote Thursday, Oct. 1. “Unserved” is defined as a census block lacking broadband access from at least one internet service provider. After approval in the Senate on Thursday, the grant bill will be sent to Gov.

A Michigan state senator’s bill is aiming bring back the classic blue Michigan vehicle license plate originally issued from 1983 until 2007. Sen. Mallory McMurrow’s (D-Royal Oak) Senate Bill 1146 also would allow the Secretary of State to bring back the black plate originally issued by the State of Michigan from 1979 to 1983. “Any Michigander who grew up here in the 80s and 90s remembers the simple, iconic design, and knows bringing back the blue plate is a no-brainer,” said McMorrow. “Bringing back the blue plate offers a creative way to generate much-needed revenue to help fix the roads without raising taxes.”The state switched to a white plate with blue letters and numbers in January 2007. The state plans to keep the white plate as the standard issue.

click to enlarge Lutsenko_Oleksandr / Shutterstock.comRemember Michigan's classic blue license plates? click to enlarge Jaycarlcooper, Wikimedia Creative CommonsMichigan black license plate ran from 1979-1983. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat from Royal Oak, is willing to bet that enough drivers would cough up extra cash to rep one of Michigan's old-school blue license plates on their car.The money raised would then go toward Gov. Bringing back the blue plate offers a creative way to generate much-needed revenue to help fix the roads without raising taxes. According to the, they were very popular, with more than 230,000 plates issued by the end of 2016.Michigan's current white plates with blue lettering would remain the standard.

click to enlarge David Rudolph PRA cocktail from Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles. Allowing residents to legally drink alcohol outside in designated areas is one issue on which many in the divided Michigan legislature agrees.Democrat Sens. reported parts of Toledo had allowed outdoor drinking areas since 2015, and the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area includes 24 establishments.Outdoor drinking districts are not a new concept, and they have been proven to be effective even prior to COVID-19, Webber said in a statement. As Michigan looks to slowly reopen various industries, this is a common-sense solution we need to explore. It could prove very beneficial to our local downtown areas.Whitmer shut down in-person dining at bars and restaurants on March 16 in response to COVID-19, although she reopened them at half capacity in parts of Upper Michigan starting Friday.

click to enlarge David Rudolph PRA cocktail from Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles. Allowing residents to legally drink alcohol outside in designated areas is one issue on which many in the divided Michigan legislature agrees.Democrat Sens. reported parts of Toledo had allowed outdoor drinking areas since 2015, and the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area includes 24 establishments.Outdoor drinking districts are not a new concept, and they have been proven to be effective even prior to COVID-19, Webber said in a statement. As Michigan looks to slowly reopen various industries, this is a common-sense solution we need to explore. It could prove very beneficial to our local downtown areas.Whitmer shut down in-person dining at bars and restaurants on March 16 in response to COVID-19, although she reopened them at half capacity in parts of Upper Michigan starting Friday.

Republican Sen. Peter Lucido of Shelby Township was disciplined after multiple women came forward alleging sexual harassment including Democrat Sen. Mallory McMorrow from Royal Oak, who said Lucido made inappropriate comments to her during an orientation that included sexual harassment sensitivity training.According to an investigation, Lucido engaged in an "unfortunate pattern" of "inappropriate workplace behavior" toward women, and has been ordered to undergo more sensitivity training. After the story was published, 22-year-oldreporter Allison Donahue went to the Capitol to ask Lucido about the page. "The Senate Business Office and its outside counsel were charged with investigating whether I did. After their comprehensive and impartial investigation, they determined that the allegations made against me could not be unequivocally substantiated. Whitmer sent Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg a letter calling for the company to enforce its standards against hate speech.

click to enlarge State SenateSen. Peter Lucido. A third woman has come forward to accuse state Sen. Peter Lucido of sexual harassment.Melissa Osborn, a regulatory affairs specialist for a trade group, says the Republican from Shelby Township began complimenting her appearance at a conference for credit card union executives in Lansing in May.He was looking me up and down, Osborn told Crains Detroit Business . "And he stayed there for several minutes, making these comments about my appearance and my look and what he liked about it. "He wasn't cupping my butt, but (his hand) was definitely not really all on my back either," Osborn said. "Osborn is the third woman to launch sexual harassment allegations against Lucido in two weeks.

During a break, McMorrow said she approached Lucido to introduce herself to the Shelby Township Republican, who was a sitting House member at the time. "He shook my hand and with his other hand held my low back with his fingers on my hips, effectively upper rear, and we had a back-and-forth conversation," said McMorrow, a Royal Oak Democrat. "And he asked where I was from," McMorrow said. "I said, 'Royal Oak.' "Once I saw (Allison Donahue) give an interview and she said 'it made me feel small,' I felt guilty," McMorrow told.

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. - On Monday, the City of Birmingham released a public advisory for drinking water customers in accordance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, alerting residents that five of the 32 sites tested (out of about 9,000 total customers) exceeded the action level for lead in water. "Protecting our drinking water is a top priority for residents and families, especially in the Great Lakes State. "Since my first day in office, I've been advocating for increased funding for implementation of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act and facilitating ongoing conversations between our municipalities and DEGLE," McMorrow added. "The Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act was an important first step toward proactively identifying potential public health risks, and now it is time that we take the next step," Manoogian added. Residents can learn more about protecting their drinking water from lead contamination here.