What furor over drab Gaylord land says about Michigan’s energy transition
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) GAYLORD — For generations, few paid much attention to the unremarkable plots of trees and grasslands on the edge of town. Over the years, red pines were planted, logged and replanted. Utility transmission lines sprung up, along with oil and gas wells and the occasional human visitor. So it went for […]
Who funds Michigan lawmakers? Most get cash from PACs, not voters they represent
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Local voters send representatives to the Michigan Capitol, but outside donors are far more likely to send those lawmakers checks. A new Bridge Michigan analysis of campaign finance disclosures shows most lawmakers elected to the state House last year received only a small fraction of their political […]
Snow days, cold days: How Michigan schools decide it’s time to cancel classes
by Isabel Lohman As Michigan braces for another cold snap, superintendents across the state may have to make the call that some parents dread but students await: Is it too cold or too snowy to hold classes? An arctic blast headed our way started Saturday night. It is sending wind chills well below zero in […]
Planet parade 2025 and other celestial delights to keep your eyes on the sky
by Janelle D. James (BridgeMichigan) Are you ready for the big parade, Michigan? Not just the one on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. This one’s taking place right above us. Six planets are visible in the sky this month, some with the naked eye, in a so-called planet parade. If that’s not enough to keep astronomy […]
Michigan looks to future with R&D tax credits, startup ‘innovation fund’
by Lauren Gibbons (BridgeMichigan) Michigan will be the latest state to offer businesses research and development credits and an “innovation fund” for entrepreneurs and startups under bills signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Monday. The new laws, which earned bipartisan support in the Legislature, are the state’s latest attempt to incentivize current and prospective employers to […]
Are Michigan population woes improving? Moving data offers signs of hope
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s battle with the border is improving, with two national moving companies reporting that fewer people are relocating out of the state. Both United and Atlas van lines, in December and January reports, still show moves out of Michigan still outnumber those coming into the state. But the gap has […]
Study: Climate change means fewer freezing winter days in Michigan
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Tough as it may be to believe as a January chill grips the state, Michigan has lost more than a week annually of freezing weather to climate change. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the climate communication nonprofit Climate Central, which found that Michigan is getting nine fewer days annually […]
1 in 4 older Michiganders lack enough friends. That’s a health concern
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Many have outlived their spouses, siblings and best friends. For others, physical disabilities keep them tethered at home — isolated from the social activities of the past. One in three older Americans feel a lack of companionship “some of the time” or “often,” while 1 in 10 older Americans could […]
Michigan tax revenue up, but economic unknowns loom
by Lauren Gibbons (BridgeMichigan) Michigan is entering the new year with a projected budget surplus — but looming trade policy changes under President-elect Donald Trump, high costs of living and fluctuating inflation rates could be a drag on the state’s economic future, forecasters said Friday. The state is expected to bring in $33.18 billion […]
Amid outcry, solar farm owner says it no longer wants Michigan forest to expand
by Kelly House (BridgeMichigan) A proposal to lease 420 acres of state land near Gaylord for a solar energy development is on shaky ground after attracting criticism from lawmakers, including calls for “mass firings” of state employees involved in the plan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will issue a public notice Tuesday of its intent […]
