Michigan
Lobbyist sold his condo to a lawmaker at a loss while another rents rooms to legislators
Michigan lawmakers and lobbyists are doing deals that would raise red flags in other states, but we have no rules for such financial transactions here.
Watch Eye On Michigan ask lawmakers about all the free meals they accepted
Lobbyists lavished millions of dollars in free meals and trips on Michigan lawmakers. See what happens when we ask officials about all their freebies.
A lobbyist sold his downtown Lansing condo to a state representative at a financial loss in the largest-ever financial transaction between a lobbyist and a Michigan legislator over the last 20 years, an Eye On Michigan investigation into freebies influencers lavish on lawmakers revealed.
Over the last 20 years or so, lobbyists reported spending more than $6.3 million on meals and trips for lawmakers and state officials. Eye On Michigan reviewed the 17,500 transactions that transpired between influencers and legislators from 2001, the first year for which data was available, to 2023, the last full year for which data is available.
The vast majority of those interactions between lobbyists and lawmakers involved food and travel. But the professionals who make a living influencing state officials are also required to report to the Michigan Secretary of State their financial transactions with legislators.
That’s why Nathan Piwowarski, while registered as a lobbyist, disclosed that he sold his condo to then-state Rep. Phil Potvin, a Republican from Cadillac. Piwowarski bought the condo for $106,900 in 2003 and sold it to Potvin for $79,000 in 2011, according to property records (Piwowarski told the Secretary of State he sold it to Potvin for $78,000).
Potvin refused to discuss the transaction, but Piwowarski said he sold the condo for fair market value. Michigan law does not require an independent evaluation of that claim, unlike other states where the hefty exchange would be closely scrutinized.
Had a sale like the one in question occurred in Washington state — ranked first in the country for disclosure policies by OpenSecrets — it could be reviewed by the state legislature’s independent ethics review board.
Jennifer Struss, the board’s counsel, told Eye On Michigan that if the condo sale was reported to the board, they would conduct an investigation to figure out if it was sold below market value and, if so, why.
“Is the lobbyist expecting the legislator to do something for their clients in a sort of quid-pro-quo thing?” Struss said. “That’s how we would look at it.”
The board would then make its findings and recommendations available to the legislature for potential hearings, censure or removal. A similar mechanism doesn’t exist in Michigan, Secretary of State officials told Eye On Michigan, adding that a complaint would have to be filed in order for them to investigate.
Michigan law does not forbid or regulate financial transactions between lobbyists and lawmakers.
Piwowarski told Eye On Michigan that while he was registered as a lobbyist, he never engaged “in any lobbying as it’s understood under the statute.”
He and a colleague “thought it would be a bright idea” to register him as a lobbyist, but it “never panned out.”
Piwowarski did once testify before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee on behalf of the State Bar of Michigan’s Estate Planning Section, House records show. He did so in 2018 when Potvin was no longer in office and he said he was not paid for his lobbying effort.
Piwowarski never testified before any of Potvin’s committees, according to the House Clerk’s office.
Piwowarski said he bought the condo with his wife when they both attended graduate school at Michigan State University. He said the couple tried to sell it when they moved away, but struggled because of the recession.
“It was very difficult to sell the place and so we rented it out for a few years,” Piwowarski said. “When Phil was elected, he was aware that I still owned a condo down there and we sold it to him for the price that we’d listed it for previously.”
Piwowarski said he’s known Potvin since he was around 10 or 11 years old — the two went to church together and Potvin was a scout leader when Piwowarski was a Boy Scout, he said.
Potvin did not return messages. His wife told Eye On Michigan she would pass on a message, but added she was unsure if he would respond as he “hasn’t held public office for years.”
Potvin sold the condo in 2017 for $70,000.
Other lawmakers have real estate dealings with a lobbyist.
Nine lawmakers rented rooms in a house across the street from the Capitol.
Public records show Rep. Greg Alexander, R-Carsonville; Rep. Timmy Beson, R-Bay City; Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord; Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs; Rep. Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa; Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles; Rep. David Prestin, R-Cedar River; Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen; and Rep. Curt Vanderwall, R-Ludington paid rent to “Capitol House LLC,” which is owned by lobbyist Scott Everett.
Piwowarski said “the way influence is achieved in Lansing is largely undisclosed” and said it was interesting that Eye On Michigan took an interest in a “fair market value transaction” from more than a dozen years ago. He said further disclosures of the business arrangements of legislators and their spouses would be helpful.
Piwowarski, asked if he thought the public had any interest or concern over transactions like the sale of his condo, said “until I started getting calls about this maybe six months ago, no.”
The time period he referred to is when Eye On Michigan began making requests for comment.
Eye On Michigan is a student investigative reporting program based in Detroit and East Lansing. Our mission is to recruit and train the next generation of watchdog reporters, provide high-quality investigations to Michigan news organizations at no charge and to increase diversity in investigative reporting by engaging and inspiring high school students in under-served communities. To support our work, please consider making a donation.
Michigan
Michigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status
Twenty-four thousand immigrants in Michigan have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but a recent Supreme Court decision could put their protection in jeopardy.
TPS is a humanitarian protection granted to U.S. immigrants fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries, often from natural disasters or political instability. The status allows immigrants from the designated countries to live and work in the U.S.
The Supreme Court overturned those for 356,000 Haitians and Syrians in a recent decision. While the court’s decision directly impacted Haitian and Syrian immigrants, it also established that the Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to determine TPS status without judicial review or input from the courts.
That means that the Secretary of Homeland Security can eliminate TPS for any immigrant group that is currently in the U.S. under protection. That puts 1.3 million immigrants in the U.S. at risk of deportation. In Florida, 113,000 healthcare workers with TPS are at risk of deportation. The Haitian population in Philadelphia is also expressing concerns about what comes next for them.
“The Supreme Court turned its back on our moral and legal commitments to people seeking safety,” said Christine Sauvé, manager of Policy and Communication at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. “The decision eliminates legal protections for people fleeing danger and allows the Trump Administration to really advance its mass deportation agenda.”
Left without the ability to live or work in the U.S., these Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS now face deportation. But going back home could still be incredibly dangerous.
“It’s not really an option to go back to their home country,” said Melanie Goldberg, immigration attorney with the Institute of Metro Detroit. “In the case of Haiti, they don’t even have an airport in Port-au-Prince that’s operational. Yet they say it’s safe for these citizens to go back.”
In Michigan, immigrants with TPS have contributed $349 million to the state’s economy, a sign that they are deeply embedded in the community, according to Sauvé.
“Many TPS holders have been in our communities for a very long time,” Sauvé said. “They’ve really spent decades building their lives here in Michigan. We welcomed them here, only to see that completely ripped away with the stroke of a pen.”
The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center encourages Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS, as well as any immigrants in the U.S. with a TPS designation, to seek out a qualified legal service provider and review the “Know Your Rights” Materials on the MIRC’s website
Michigan
Sherrone Moore’s former assistant sues University of Michigan over alleged FOIA violations
A former University of Michigan assistant whose relationship with ex-coach Sherrone Moore was under investigation is accusing university officials of refusing to provide records related to the probe.
Paige Shiver filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Washtenaw Circuit Court, claiming that U of M “arbitrarily and capriciously” violated the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by repeatedly denying her requests. Shiver and her legal team are seeking a court order requiring the university to disclose the records.
The lawsuit also alleges that throughout Shiver’s four-year employment with U of M, she was “discriminated against and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Michigan law including Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.”
“The lawsuit filed today demands transparency and accountability from the University of Michigan, President Grasso and the Board of Regents,” said Shiver’s attorney, Andrew M. Stroth.
On Wednesday, CBS News Detroit reached out to U of M, which says it has no comment.
The investigation led to Moore’s firing in December 2025. At the time, it was determined that he was in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, who was later identified as Shiver.
Moore was arrested hours later after authorities said he went to Shiver’s home and threatened to harm himself. He was charged with third-degree felony home invasion, as well as misdemeanor counts of stalking and of breaking and entering. Moore was sentenced to 18 months’ probation after pleading no contest to the two misdemeanor charges.
According to the lawsuit, Shiver filed a FOIA request in February 2026 for audio, video and transcripts of interviews of herself, her father, Jeff Shiver, and Moore. The lawsuit alleges that the university denied her request, citing the ongoing investigation.
The lawsuit alleges that Shiver submitted a similar request months later, in June, but was told by the university that it was “overly broad and vague” and “does not describe a ‘public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public record.’”
The lawsuit claims that requests were submitted in March and May, respectively, for all emails sent to the law firm Jenner & Block (UMconcerns@jenner.com) and for recordings of Shiver’s meetings by the university through Jenner & Block. However, those requests were denied because the university cited that it had no responsive records, according to the lawsuit.
The law firm was hired by U of M to investigate Moore and Shiver’s relationship. The university later expanded the investigation to include the athletic department.
The lawsuit also claims that Shiver requested copies of emails between Moore and athletic director Warde Manuel that contained the words “affair,” “discipline,” “pregnancy,” “baby” and “abortion.” The university denied the request, citing the communication between U of M employees as “exempt information,” according to the lawsuit.
However, Shiver’s legal team argued that the university has not shown evidence that the emails are exempt.
“This public university paid Jenner & Block $12 million to investigate the Sherrone Moore scandal and the abuse, Title IX and Title VII violations within the athletic department and Schembechler Hall, yet now refuses to release the investigation’s findings. It was important for our client to file this initial FOIA lawsuit to ensure the truth and facts come out,” Stroth said.
Shiver appeared on ABC News’ “Good Morning America” in April to discuss her relationship with Moore. In the interview, she said she became pregnant by Moore and sought an abortion after medical complications were discovered about the pregnancy.
Note: The video above previously aired on April 14, 2026.
Michigan
‘Big Brother’ season 28 to premiere this week. One guest from Michigan
Meet the 3 New Jersey contestants on ‘Big Brother’ 28
Three New Jersey contestants are joining ‘Big Brother’ Season 28. Meet the Maplewood, Washington Township and Monroe Township houseguests.
Doors will to the “Big Brother” house will open soon, as season 28 premieres this week — and the cast list includes one guest from northern Michigan.
At 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, “Big Brother” season 28 will premiere on CBS to introduce the new guests in a 90-minute episode.
“This season’s cast includes an MMA fighter, rocket scientist, game show host, daughter of an ’80s pop star, and a DRAG RACE All Star, among others,” CBS said in a July 7 announcement. “This new group of Houseguests is stepping into a summer where nothing is as it seems, where every twist rewrites the rules, and where time becomes the ultimate twist.”
There is one Michigan guest, Rome Seymour, 28, who works as a professional pickleball coach from Traverse City.
“I would describe myself as bashful, extroverted and extremely excitable. To be on ‘Big Brother’ is a dream. I’ve never felt anything as exiting as this before,” Seymour said in the “Big Brother” July 7 live cast announcement video.
Seymour said he will use his inner nerdiness to befriend and protect guests who are perhaps similar.
“I see myself as hero, but I think a lot of people in the house are going to see me as a villain just because I’m so competitive that I want to win,” Seymour said.
After the 14 guests were revealed by CBS, the cast was said to be joined by long-time “Survivor” contestant Rick Devens, according to a July 7 Entertainment Weekly article.
Here’s more on the cast and how to tune in this week:
What is ‘Big Brother’ about? What is the theme for season 28?
“Big Brother,” is a reality TV show that follows a group of people living in a large house surrounded by 112 cameras and 113 microphones as an unfiltered 24-hour live feed to capture every interaction, strategic move and challenge.
A guest will be voted off each week, and the last remaining guest will win the grand prize of $750,000, according to CBS.
The theme for season 28 is called, “Time Trip,” according to Sneak Peak from Paramount+.
Is anyone from Michigan on ‘Big Brother’ season 28?
Yes. There is one guest from Michigan on season 28 of “Big Brother:” Rome Seymour, 28, is a professional pickleball coach from Traverse City, located in the northwest Lower Peninsula.
Full ‘Big Brother’ season 28 cast list
Here is the full guest list for “Big Brother” season 28:
- Rick Devens, 42: TV journalist and long-time “Survivor” contestant from Blacksburg, Virginia.
- Jason De Puy, 35: Drag Queen and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum from San Francisco, California.
- Ashley Trail, 24: Bartender from Alton, Illinois.
- Barrett Pfeiffer, 27: Jumbotron Engineer from Benton, Arkansas.
- Chuk Anyanwu, 27: Supply Chain Analyst from Dallas, Texas.
- Drew Campbell, 22: Surgical Dental Assistant from Temecula, California.
- Haley Thogmartin, 29: Telemedicine Executive from Neosho, Missouri.
- Rome Seymour, 28: Pickleball Coach from Traverse City, Michigan.
- Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk, 32: MMA Fighter from Phoenix, Arizona.
- LaTrice Verrett, 57: Boutique Salesperson from Kankakee, Illinois.
- Lyric Medeiros, 25: Attorney from Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Mallory Aurichio, 24: Rocket Scientist from Township of Washington, New Jersey.
- Melody Morris, 24: Corporate Game Show Host from Thornton, Colorado.
- Taylor Brown, 27: Elementary School Counselor from Deerfield Beach, Florida.
- Yash Patel, 24: Financial Analyst from Monroe Township, New Jersey.
What time does ‘Big Brother’ season 28 premiere?
The 90-minute “Big Brother” season 28 premiere is set to air at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 9.
“Big Brother: Unlocked,” will air at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, July 10, and a 90-minute episode will air at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 12.
Where can I stream the ‘Big Brother’ premiere this week?
“Big Brother” Season 28 will air on CBS and will be available on Paramount+ Premium, priced at $13.99 per month.
Paramount+ Essential subscribers will be able to catch the episode the day after it airs.
Following the season premiere this week, the series will air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, followed by hour-long shows on Thursdays, featuring live evictions, and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
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