- Legislative Update: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her final State of the State address last week, outlining priorities for her last year in office, while also reflecting on the great progress she has made with Senate Democrats and others in the Michigan Legislature over the last several years. Read more about this below.
- District Update: The Michigan Dept. of Education recently announced that Michigan’s 2025 four-year graduation rate reached a historic high, demonstrating how the strategic investments that Sen. McMorrow and her colleagues have made are having a positive impact on students across the state.
- District Update: Get ready to set your clocks forward and lose a bit of sleep! Daylight Saving Time starts this Sunday, March 8.
- Good News from the District: The School at Marygrove will welcome its inaugural 6th grade class this fall, when current 5th graders will take their next step into middle school right on campus.
- Good News from the District: The beloved Berkley Theatre is being reborn! Learn more below about the $4 million live music and entertainment venue slated for our community.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Delivers Her Final State of the State Address
Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her final State of the State address where she outlined priorities for her last year in office, while also reflecting on the great progress she has made together with the Michigan Legislature over the last several years. From delivering a historic $1 billion tax cut for working families, guaranteeing all Michiganders a no-cost path towards a college degree or skills certificate, and making transformational investments in housing to lower the cost of purchasing a new home — Senate Democrats have been busy delivering results for Michigan communities.
But as the governor noted in her speech, our work is not done yet! There’s still more for the Legislature to do to lower costs, make housing more affordable, support students in their educational journeys, and ensure every Michigander has the opportunity to build a secure future for their family. As the legislative session continues, Sen. McMorrow looks forward to working with the governor and her colleagues in the Legislature to pass policies that advance these goals.
If you missed the address, you can watch the full recording here.
March is Reading Month! Ensuring Literacy for Michigan Students
The governor has called for additional steps and strategic investments to boost literacy rates and offer a quality education statewide. Senate Democrats have long been leaders on this effort, prioritizing Michigan futures through investing in our kids and fighting for proven-effective educational programs and support. With March as Reading Month, Sen. McMorrow wants to highlight some actions Senate Dems have taken to help more young Michiganders learn to read, including:
- Spearheading Science of Reading literacy programming;
- Bringing phonics back to Michigan curriculum;
- Banning the use of cell phones in the classroom to keep kids engaged; and
- Passing legislation that will soon screen every student for dyslexia.
Sen. McMorrow and her colleagues are laser-focused on supporting public education and continuing critical investments in Michigan’s kids, both in and out of the classroom. Read more about some of their recent education wins here.
Happy Women’s History Month!
March has been nationally recognized as Women’s History Month since 1987, celebrating the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of women who have paved the way for progress and continue to inspire generations. Sen. McMorrow is proud to be a part of Michigan’s first female-majority legislative caucus, where they’re not just breaking barriers from within, but working hard to ensure all women across the state have the resources and opportunities they need to be successful. Whether it be safeguarding reproductive rights and freedoms or expanding the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect against discrimination, Sen. McMorrow will continue to do the work to stand up for Michigan women.
Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks!
We’re one step closer to spring! Here’s your reminder that starting this weekend, we will lose an hour of sleep and gain an extra hour of daylight. This Sunday, March 8, clocks will spring forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. and reset to 3:00 a.m. While cell phones will automatically reset themselves, make sure to change any manually controlled clocks or devices ahead of time before heading to bed on Sunday night, to avoid any confusion or a last-minute morning scramble to get to work on time.
Michigan Athletes Bring Home Hardware from 2026 Winter Olympics
As some of the best athletes in the world headed to Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Michigan was proud to send more than a dozen to compete in activities such as figure skating, ice dancing, bobsledding, skiing, and hockey. Over the past few weeks, these athletes put their skills and talent to the test, and in the end, our Michigan competitors made our state proud — bringing home some serious hardware, including 11 gold medals.
Some of the most exciting moments from Milan came from the U.S. women’s and men’s hockey teams who put up a great fight against Canada to snag gold in each division, with Michigan players being the ones to score the game-winning goals! On the women’s team, it was Farmington Hills native Megan Keller who was the hero in sudden death overtime. And the men’s team had Canton Township’s Jack Hughes to thank for securing their gold medal as he also scored a sudden-death overtime goal.
To learn more about all of the Michiganders who competed — and won — in this year’s Olympics, click here.
Water and Sewer Hardship Assistance
The Oakland County Water Commissioner’s Office and United Way for Southeast Michigan have a Hardship Assistance program that provides direct financial support for your water bill. This program also provides help with plumbing and service repairs as well as current water or sewer bills. Apply here. If you need help completing the application form, call 844-211-4994. If you live outside Oakland County and need assistance, please call 211 to receive a referral for an agency that serves your area.
Utilize Michigan 211 to Get Connected with the Resources You Need
Michigan 211 is a toll-free service that provides residents with information. Specialists trained to assist community members will connect you with the proper resources. From utility payment assistance to household needs, 211 is a great tool for you and your loved ones to use.
Michigan 211 supports seven regions in the state of Michigan. You can text, email, or call for help. For more information, click here.
Michigan’s High School Graduation Rate Reaches Another Record High
The Michigan Dept. of Education recently announced that Michigan’s 2025 four-year graduation rate once again improved to the highest level since 2008! The graduation rate increased to just over 84%, up by 1.2 percentage points from the previous year, while the state’s four-year dropout rate decreased. This new data represents important progress toward increasing the number of students who graduate from high school.
These new findings are thanks to significant investments the state has been making in Career and Technical Education. Programs like these expand secondary learning opportunities to provide students with work-based learning in career paths such as skilled trades, agriculture, public safety, information technology, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, among many others.
To learn more about what CTE programs you or your children may be able to take advantage of, click here.
The School at Marygrove Opens for Middle Schoolers
The School at Marygrove (TSM) in Detroit is opening its doors to middle schoolers for the first time. This fall, TSM will welcome its inaugural 6th grade class! Current 5th graders will take their next step into middle school right on campus.
Applications to attend are now open through April 3. Apply here.
Berkley Theatre Gets New Life
After sitting empty for many years, the beloved Berkley Theatre is being reborn into a $4 million live music and entertainment venue. The vacated storefronts will become a new restaurant, bar, and lobby that will pay tribute to the historic theatre. The original “Berkley” marquee will remain part of the new construction, and the complex will open later this year. The photo above shows what the building will look like after the renovations.
Thank you for staying connected with Sen. McMorrow’s office through the biweekly e-newsletter. We’re committed to keeping you informed on our work in Lansing and the progress we’re making in the district. Whether it’s legislative updates or community initiatives, we want to ensure you’re engaged and aware of the ways we’re advocating for you.
Reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas that you may have. Our office is here to assist you with any state-related matters, and we value your feedback. Feel free to contact us at (517) 373-2523 or by email at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov. You can also fill out a contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able.