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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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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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. -
Black doulas are setting out to help change the dramatic Black infant mortality rate. In Michigan and across the country, Black infants die far more frequently than white babies.
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In Michigan, hairdresser Ashley Medina is known as the Mullet Queen of Lansing, with clients coming from all over the U.S. to get a mullet styled by her.
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A flood of threats has followed Michigan's school shooting. Information about missed warning signs has spurred a conversation about threats and how to reassure families that classrooms are safe.
