New for 2025: A cap on drug prices for nearly 2 million older Michiganders
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) More than 1.9 million Michigan seniors may get a big break on drug costs in 2025. The changes are the result of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, a wide-sweeping package that also aims to shift the country’s reliance from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. The law also took a major swing at […]
Ann Arbor hopes to bring rooftop solar to the masses by creating a utility
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) In the shadow of a presidential election dominated by rhetoric about job-killing EVs and the virtues of fossil fuels, the residents of one Michigan city voted this fall to embrace solar energy. Seventy-nine percent of Ann Arbor voters approved creating a community “sustainable energy utility,” on the promise that plastering the city’s […]
Michigan eggs must be cage-free by 2025 as new sales law takes effect
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) As you do your holiday shopping, you may notice new signs in Michigan grocery stores that differentiate cage-free eggs from conventional eggs and warn that some varieties will soon be discontinued. It’s because of a 2019 state law that is only now taking effect, and experts say it could lead to […]
Whooping cough cases skyrocket in Michigan, as vaccinations decline
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) Cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, have jumped 14-fold since 2023, alarming state health officials. As of Dec. 8, there were 1,578 confirmed cases of pertussis in Michigan, compared to 110 for the full year of 2023. Cases dropped dramatically during the pandemic, possibly because the use of […]
$90M data center tax break plan headed to Gov. Whitmer after final passage
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) The Michigan Senate has approved a plan to provide multimillion-dollar tax breaks to tech companies that build large, energy-hungry server farms in Michigan, sending a package to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature. Whitmer has avoided stating a public position on the bills. But both supporters and opponents see her as a […]
Dems go it alone in Michigan House, where chaotic meeting ends in lame-duck limbo
by Simon D. Schuster (BridgeMichigan) Over 12 hours in a half-empty chamber Friday, Michigan House lawmakers passed a litany of legislation without any votes from Republicans, who had walked out in protest. More than 50 bills passed the House as Democrats rushed to complete an increasingly narrow wish list of legislation before they lose their […]
As holiday hugs and coughs await, only 1 in 4 Michiganders has taken flu shot
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) About 1 in 4 Michiganders has had a flu vaccination this season, the lowest number since coverage by flu shots spiked during the first full winter of the COVID pandemic. That’s a concern to health officials as the time nears for the close-quarters sneezing, coughing and hugging of holiday parties […]
Facing DEI scrutiny, University of Michigan abandons ‘diversity statements’ in hiring
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) ANN ARBOR — Amid a national debate over diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the University of Michigan announced Thursday it would no longer solicit “diversity statements” as part of faculty hiring, promotion and tenure. It’s the first step in what could be a broader effort to scale back DEI at […]
Citing COVID sticker shock, Michigan Dems push emergency price gouging cap
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michgan) LANSING — Michiganders seeking toilet paper, cleaning supplies, masks and other essentials early in the COVID-19 pandemic faced serious sticker shock as demand outpaced supply – prompting a surge in price gouging complaints. Four years later, Attorney General Dana Nessel and legislative Democrats are renewing efforts to create price caps […]
Michigan House battle was most expensive ever. Dems spent big, GOP won anyway
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — The 2024 battle for the Michigan House smashed spending records to become the most expensive legislative election in state history, costing a minimum of $67 million, according to an analysis by Bridge Michigan. The total includes campaign finance records and ad spending data from the firm AdImpact […]
