Bill requires prisons to give voting registration info to exiting inmates
by Oralandar Brand-Williams, Votebeat (for Bridge Michigan) It’s been nearly a decade since Vince King cast his first vote, and that act of filling out a ballot still resonates with him. “Imagine what it’s like for a person who has never done it,” King recalls. “It made me feel free and part of the process.” […]
Childcare is a critical job, with a critical worker shortage in Michigan
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) La Tonya Glover needs to hire a childcare worker. The families who bring their young children to her Bright Beginnings Child Care in Detroit are counting on her. But Glover, who has operated a licensed childcare business in her home since 2010, has run into a problem tougher to negotiate […]
Michigan lawmakers use word games to skirt law, spend billions on pet projects
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) When Michigan lawmakers approved a $50.7 billion budget bill in 2021, then-House Speaker Jason Wentworth made sure it included money for his hometown, the tiny village of Farwell. Deep in the spending package was a $3.5 million grant “to support a fishing pond that is over 25 acres and located in […]
Old National Bank welcomes new Banking Center Manager to Manchester
submitted by Jaime Guise, Old National Bank Old National Bank is pleased to announce that Kevin Sterling is rejoining the retail leadership team. Kevin will now serve as the Banking Center Manager of the Manchester location. Sterling will be responsible for business development efforts as well as providing leadership and supervision to the staff. Kevin […]
Varsity football coach offers projections for upcoming season
by Marsha Chartrand Varsity football coach Ben Pack, heading into his fourth year of coaching at Manchester High School, is ready to take his team on the field. With a mixture of young newcomers and seasoned players, he is optimistic about the prospects for this year’s Dutchmen. “Pre-season practice sessions have been going extremely well,” […]
Back to School with Manchester Market
by Marsha Chartrand Join the Manchester Market crew for a Back to School BBQ on August 31 at the Manchester Market from 4 to 8pm! Get ready to kick off the new school year with delicious food and great company. This is an in-person event, sponsored by and held at our very own Market, 455 […]
New COVID variant confirmed in Michigan. What to know about BA.2.86
by Robin Erb & Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) One of fewer than a dozen cases of a potentially worrisome new COVID variant has been detected in Michigan following the discovery of cases in Denmark, Israel and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday it was tracking the variant, BA.2.86, after the […]
Michigan gas rises 15 cents to $3.91 a gallon, new high for the year
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s gas prices have surpassed the record set for highest prices all year in just one week, rising to an average of $3.91 per gallon for regular gas from $3.76 last week. Average prices per gallon have risen 37 cents in the last month, according to AAA. The state’s average […]
The future of student loan forgiveness: What to know in Michigan
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) When Mikal Doke learned earlier this summer that about $22,000 of her student loans were forgiven through the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, she took to Facebook. “The PSLF paperwork FINALLY got processed on four of my fed loans!” wrote Doke, 39, a teacher in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Doke’s loans […]
Manchester Eye Care celebrates 30 years
by Marsha Chartrand In a lot of ways, it doesn’t seem to Dr. Julie Marvin-Manders as though much time has passed at all. “Thirty years has gone fast,” she says. “All of a sudden, I’ve bought a building and remodeled it a couple of times; my kids are grown; and now I have Jessie here […]
