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Morning Briefing

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

In today's newsletter, a Michigan court rules the state's 1931 abortion ban is unconstitutional, Michigan's inmate population is at a 30-year low and we ask Kyle all about the Lions as their first regular season game approaches.

Every Jane Doe had a life and has a story. After years of work, here's Breanna Sharp's story.

For the last decade, investigative reporter Gus Burns has been thinking about the life and death of a girl he never got to meet. But sometimes a story grabs you, especially when it seems like the world forgot a 13-year-old girl who was buried in an unmarked grave as a Jane Doe.

Gus wasn't sure Breanna Sharp's story would ever be printed or recorded. He kept his notes, documents and audio files for years. Now, Breanna's story is forever documented as a written story and a podcast. Gus also wrote a column explaining what it was like for him to work on and wonder about Breanna's story for the last 10 years. You can read that personal account here.

Keep reading today's newsletter for more on Breanna, with information about the podcast, as well as stories about her and other unidentified persons in Michigan.

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

A childhood photo of Breanna Sharp, provided by her father, Lenard Cobb.

Breanna Sharp, 13, died in a stairwell. No one reported her missing. No one seemed to care.

Read her story: In 2008, 13-year-old Breanna Sharp disappeared. No one reported her missing to local authorities in Detroit. No one seemed to care. It would be four years before she would be connected to remains labeled as a "Jane Doe" in an unmarked grave. How and why was she seemingly forgotten?

Listen to her story: Reporter Gus Burns used his interviews with family members, law enforcement officials and others to weave Breanna's story into a four-part series for our Michigan Crime Stories podcast. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or search for it on your favorite podcasting platform.

More reporting on unidentified persons in Michigan: There are 326 Jane and John Does in Michigan. And in Wayne County, there are 224 unidentified persons without autopsy reports.

Read more

Michigan's Court of Claims has ruled the state's abortion ban is unconstitutional.

The court has ruled: It's a decision many were waiting on. The court sided with Planned Parenthood of Michigan, “permanently” prohibited the state from enforcing the 91-year-old abortion ban, and ordered the attorney general to pass the judgement on to local prosecutors.

There's a catch: Wednesday’s ruling is likely to be appealed to a higher court, as was the case with a previous ruling in the Planned Parenthood lawsuit.

Meanwhile: A group of residents are attempting to make abortion a constitutional right in Michigan. Reproductive Freedom for All got more than enough signatures to bring the question to the voters in November. However, the proposal needs a court to say it qualifies for the ballot after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on approval last week.

 Read more

The inmate population of Michigan's prison system has hit a 30-year low.

Shrinking numbers: Michigan’s inmate population is at a 30-year-low, resulting in cost-cutting and downsizing measures that include the closure of a prison in Ionia and consolidation of another in Adrian, the Michigan Department of Corrections said Wednesday.

According to MDOC: "Michigan’s recidivism rate has dropped from nearly 45% to just 23.6% over the last 20 years, reflecting a significant decrease in the number of violations and new crimes committed by those on parole. Michigan now ranks in the top five nationally for its recidivism rate."

Juvenile lifer released:After serving 30-plus years behind bars for a murder she committed at the age of 16, Amy Lee Black, a juvenile lifer, has been released from prison.

Read more

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How much better has Jared Goff really looked for the Lions this year?

Ask Kyle: As we prepare for the first regular season game on Sunday, let's check in with Lions writer Kyle Meinke on Jared Goff, the team's vulnerabilities, the best halftime snacks and more.

Dungeon of Doom: Kyle and fellow Lions writer Ben Raven watched each episode of the Lions' season of "Hard Knocks," which aired its finale this week. What were their thoughts on the last episode? You can hear all about it here.

Other Lions news: One player who didn't make the roster is now helping on the sidelines. Plus, the Lions are set to meet their former teammate as a captain for the Eagles. And who's going to play right guard in the season opener?

Read more

Eastern Michigan University has asked the courts to order striking faculty back to class.

University files a lawsuit: Eastern Michigan University has filed suit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court claiming its striking faculty members are breaking the law and should be ordered back to work.

The strike:The EMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which has roughly 500 members, voted 91% in favor of authorizing an indefinite strike on Tuesday, after working without a contract for the past week. A major concern for the faculty members is a proposed health care plan, which the union says differs from plans provided to other groups on campus.

'Teaching myself is not ideal:' We spoke with EMU students about their reactions to the faculty strike.

Read more

You're all caught up.

Good to see today for our Morning Briefing.

Remember, you can always find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. And maybe you are feeling that pull to become an MLive subscriber.

Have a lovely day! I'll see you back here tomorrow for a Friday morning news roundup.

— Jessica Shepherd

OTHER TOP STORIES

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• Lawsuit targeting Saginaw County 911 says shot woman was left on porch bleeding for more than an hour
  
  
• Michigan lawmakers eye lowering recreational marijuana working age to 18

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