wayne county

On today's show: the largest county jail in Michigan still bars visits due to pandemic rules, different ways to tax EVs for road money, unlocking the powers of ancient mint and how pandemic induced bias affected Asian-American owned small businesses.

After a year in the Wayne County Jail, Darrell Ewing filed a lawsuit against the jail administration, claiming the denial of in-person visits is unconstitutional.

Michigan local governments recieved more than $4 billion in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, and hundreds of millions of dollars of that is planned to be spent in 2023.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wayne County courts put off many cases until public health restrictions eased. Now, they’re dealing with an increase in cases without enough staff to handle them.

In August, on the night before Michigan’s primary election, Wayne County Republican Party leaders held a virtual training session for poll workers and partisan poll observers. During the session, the party leaders encouraged people to break election rules.

The county detention center has become overcrowded, with some juveniles locked up for months in a facility that’s not meant to house people long-term. It's also facing a staffing crisis.

A 15-minute phone call from the Wayne County Jail, at $4.20, is among the highest rates in the state. The county's contract for jail telecommunications brings in at least $1.75 million a year for the county.

Interviews paint a picture of disarray and indifference during much of the pandemic – problems that appear to have improved in late 2021, once the county switched medical providers. Especially in the early days of the pandemic, fear moved from cell to cell.

On today's podcast, two county prosecutors weigh in on what they'll do if Roe v Wade is overturned.

As the prosecution rests, we get an update in the trial of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Plus, writer Kelsey Ronan's new book tells an interracial love story set in her hometown of Flint.