Michelle Jokisch Polo
As WKAR’s Bilingual Latinx Stories Reporter, Michelle reports in both English and Spanish on stories affecting Michigan’s Latinx community. Michelle is also the voice of WKAR’s weekend news programs.
Michelle joined WKAR in August 2020.
Before joining WKAR, Michelle was the inclusion reporter at WGVU Public Media, covering stories of people at the intersections of racial justice immigration reform, criminal justice system reform, reproductive justice and trans and queer liberation. Michelle began her career as a journalist as the head reporter at El Vocero Hispano, the largest Hispanic newspaper in Michigan.
Michelle has a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University.
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President Joe Biden’s executive actions that temporarily halts most asylum claims at the southern border is leaving many immigrant families in limbo, hoping they’ll be eligible to reunite with their loved ones. -
Michigan suit is challenging lost wages for injured undocumented immigrants -
A group is challenging the state law that can stop immigrants without the proper documents from getting worker's compensation. Michigan and Wyoming are the only two states that deny them.
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Michigan has become the first state in the country to automatically restore voting rights to people as they leave prison.
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The initiatives aim to end "period poverty" — a lack of access to menstrual products. Health concerns and equity are motivating students. -
Some Michigan lawmakers want to do away with the life without parole sentence that juveniles who have been convicted of murder can still receive.
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Five students injured during the shooting at Michigan State University remain hospitalized. One is the child of migrant farm workers. Her family is trying to raise money to support her rehabilitation.
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As more states outlaw abortion, some define human life as starting at fertilization. Some patients and health care workers worry that this could jeopardize in vitro fertilization treatments. -
Some who are struggling to conceive worry that the battle over abortion could put fertility treatments like IVF in jeopardy. The argument that life begins at conception could restrict such processes.
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Spanish and Swahili dictionaries are banned in Michigan prisons. An official says the ban is to prevent prisoners from being disruptive.
