Long-awaited dam safety reforms move closer to law after Michigan Senate vote
by Kelly House, Bridge Michigan The Michigan Senate on Thursday voted to overhaul Michigan’s lax dam safety laws, moving long-awaited reforms one vote away from reaching Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both legislative chambers have now approved versions of two companion bills sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and Rep. Bill G. Schuette, R-Midland, to strengthen […]
Michigan foster kids struggle under system that gives ‘nothing’ after aging out
by Matt Mencarini, Bridge Michigan When Brianna Carsley, who spent most of her life in and out of foster care, graduated from Oxford High School in 2023, she’d already been accepted at Michigan State University and been awarded multiple scholarships. “I threw myself into school because it was all I had,” Carsley told Bridge Michigan. […]
Data center tensions simmer across the state
by Alex Boesch, Capital News Service LANSING – The expansion of hyperscale data centers in the state is inflaming tensions between some community residents and their governments as local officials balance the unpopularity of data centers, the economic pressure from corporations and the limits of local authority. According to the annual State of the State […]
It’s chipmunk season, Michigan. The cute critters are causing trouble once again
by Olivia O’Neill, Capital News Service LANSING – As the seasons change and brisk weather rolls in, Michigan residents prepare for winter, but so do other, smaller community members – and they can sometimes be heard scurrying inside the walls. Michigan property owners are voicing concerns about property damage caused by none other than the […]
Doug Lloyd blasts Eli Savit’s ‘dangerous’ sex work policy in Michigan AG race
by Jordyn Hermani, Bridge Michigan LANSING — Joined by human trafficking survivors, Republican attorney general candidate Doug Lloyd on Thursday chastised Democratic opponent Eli Savit’s for decriminalizing consensual sex work as Washtenaw County prosecutor. “His stance on legalizing prostitution is foolish and dangerous. It is the perspective of a social engineer, not a prosecutor,” Lloyd […]
Michigan got $173M to transform rural health. Where is it going?
by Eli Newman, Bridge Michigan LANSING — Michigan is doling out the first in a pool of federal funds meant to innovate and strengthen rural healthcare systems. But key stakeholders are saying the dollars are not flowing to the groups that need it the most, and some lawmakers are noting a lapse in reporting where […]
Rural townships squeezed on all sides in Michigan, as money woes mount
by Ron French, Bridge Michigan WATERSMEET — It’s not the frigid winters of the western Upper Peninsula that scares New Jersey native Yvonne Clark. It’s not even the black bears searching for snacks outside her remote lake home. What keeps the 62-year-old up at night is the balance sheet of Watersmeet Township, where the supervisor […]
Michigan villages have a fix for shortage of officials. Townships can’t use it
by Ron French, Bridge Michigan Since Allie Nemecek began working for the Village of Central Lake, she’s managed the 950-resident community’s finances and found grant money for a disability-accessible kayak launch and a community pavilion. She answers the phone and keeps up with the paperwork for grants from her Post-It strewn desk office at the […]
Dozens of deer found dead in Saginaw area, disease suspected
by Laura Herberg, Bridge Michigan Ryan Mills of Burton stumbled upon an “eerie” sight early Sunday morning in the Saginaw area. While fishing along the Cass River in a kind of swampy area, he saw a deer lying dead in the water with no visible gunshot wounds. He went up the river around 20 yards […]
Who will be exempt from Medicaid work rules in Michigan? What to know
by Robin Erb, Bridge Michigan In just three months, a sweeping Medicaid overhaul starts for hundreds of thousands of people in Michigan, including new work requirements for some. But with federal guidance still being released as late as this month, state officials and patient advocates are scrambling to build systems that beginning in January will […]
