Abigail Censky | Michigan Radio
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Abigail Censky

Abigail Censky is the Politics & Government reporter at WKAR. She started in December 2018.

Jocelyn Benson says results from Michigan’s Tuesday primary will likely be late

By • Mar 5, 2020
people in voting booths
Steve Carmody / Michigan Radio

Less than a week ahead of the Michigan presidential primary, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is warning results may come late.

She says there’s been an 80% increase in absentee ballots.

Bloomberg's bet on Michigan

By • Mar 3, 2020
Bloomberg will officially be on ballots across the country for Super Tuesday, the first time he's appeared on a ballot alongside other Democratic frontrunners. He's betting heavily on a good Super Tuesday showing to transfer into wins the next week.
Maxim Jenkins / WKAR

While some of the biggest names in the race to become the democratic presidential nominee dropped out ahead of Super Tuesday, one candidate’s big gamble doesn’t start until today.

Mike Bloomberg has spent a huge amount of money in Michigan ahead of the state’s primary next week, and he’s hoping the payoff could be a share of the state’s 147 delegates.

Bills targeting absentee ballot processing move to Senate floor

By & WKAR • Feb 14, 2020
absentee ballot
Emma Winowiecki / Michigan Radio

2020 is the first presidential election year Michigan voters will have access to no-reason absentee voting, and election clerks are expecting a surge in absentee ballots. A set of bills passed out of the state Senate Elections Committee Thursday will allow clerks to remove ballots from the mailing envelope, but not the secrecy sleeve the day before the election.

Gov. Whitmer calls for $3.5 billion in bonds to fix roads and bridges

By & & Jake Neher • Jan 29, 2020
Gretchen whitmer at a microphone
Jake Neher / WDET

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is seeking $3.5 billion in new bonds to fix crumbling roads and bridges. She unveiled the plan in her second State of the State speech Wednesday evening. She said this is her “Plan B” after Republicans rejected her proposal for a 45-cent fuel tax increase last year.

“So from now on, when you see orange barrels on a state road, slow down, and know that it’s this administration fixing the damn roads,” Whitmer said.

The new plan doesn’t require the Republican-led Legislature to sign off.

Governor's jail task force recommends changes to Michigan’s criminal justice system

By • Jan 14, 2020
Hands gripping jail cell bars
maxpixel

A special task force on jails and pretrial incarceration handed over 18 policy recommendations Tuesday to leadership in the state Legislature.

At Michigan State, Students Protect Their Mascot From Mischievous Rivals

By • Nov 15, 2019

Members of the Michigan State University marching band are braving below freezing temperatures to take part in "Sparty Watch" — a more than 50-year-old protection scheme devised to fend off attacks on MSU's beloved mascot, The Spartan, in advance of their rivalry football game on Saturday.

It's 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 22 degrees. Twenty members of the MSU marching band and color guard are huddled outside in the snow flanking the 9-foot bronze statue.