Deaths at Michigan women’s prison spur calls for Whitmer to act, director to resign
by Janelle D. James, (Bridge Michigan) Federal and state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to intervene at Michigan’s only women’s prison after a third inmate in less than a month died Saturday, intensifying scrutiny over conditions and medical care at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility. Ashley Hoath of Hillsdale County was rushed to Trinity Health […]
Gov. Whitmer has vowed to boost literacy in Michigan. Here’s where we stand
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Magazine) In a packed auditorium on a cold day in December, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said literacy would be her top priority in her last year. Now, as students break for the summer and we’re halfway through that last year, Bridge Michigan is taking a look at what progress Whitmer has made on […]
Saline data center brings out bigwigs. Big day for Michigan or big betrayal?
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Leaders of tech companies behind a blockbuster data center project in Saline Township gathered Monday for a ceremonial groundbreaking of what they say is one of the largest artificial intelligence projects in the world. The $56 billion complex, known as The Barn, will be completed at the end of 2027. Operations should […]
Michigan bald eagle success story faces new threats
by Isabella Figueroa Nogueira, Bridge Michigan The number of bald eagles in Michigan is declining, and funding delays aren’t helping the cause. Researchers who have spent decades climbing trees, banding eaglets and monitoring nests across Michigan say something unusual is happening this year. Field crews working with long-term bald eagle monitoring programs say they’ve found […]
Scabies outbreak puts more than half of Michigan prison under quarantine
by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan More than half of the housing units at a Muskegon prison are under quarantine after 15 cases of scabies were confirmed by the Michigan Department of Corrections. The itchy skin condition, caused by mites burrowing in the upper layer of the skin, was first reported at the Muskegon Correctional […]
Michigan center for adults with disabilities to reopen after dispute
by Robin Erb, Bridge Michigan A northern Michigan adult day program for people with developmental disabilities will reopen this month, following a complicated dispute about workers’ wages. The Bergmann Center in Charlevoix serves about 70 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It closed after last month over a dispute with North Country Community Mental Health, […]
Mallory McMorrow backs Supreme Court age limits, corporate PAC spending ban
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Michigan Democratic US Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow wants to “explore every option” to reform the US Supreme Court, including expansion, age limits and implementing an independent code of conduct could help curb abuses of power and prevent conflicts of interest. The proposal, shared first with Bridge Michigan, is part of […]
Michiganders soon to face stricter Medicaid rules. What to know
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Hundreds of thousands of working-age Michiganders will face new paperwork requirements to keep their Medicaid coverage, beginning next year. In addition to “work requirements,” those beneficiaries also will have to verify twice a year that they’re eligible for coverage. As it stands now, Medicaid eligibility is reviewed just once a […]
Michigan loves a ‘river story.’ But happy ending isn’t guaranteed
by Kelly House, Bridge Michigan Michigan may be known as the Great Lakes state, but most of its residents have a river to thank for their hometown’s existence. “Just looking at settlement patterns in Michigan tells us a lot about how important our rivers are,” said Lisa Dechano-Cook, a Western Michigan University geographer who co-wrote […]
Whitmer on 2028 presidential aspirations: ‘Never say never’
by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan After telling Fox2 Thursday morning she had no plans to run for president in 2028, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer walked back the statement hours later with a familiar political caveat: “Never say never.” After giving her final keynote speech as governor at the Mackinac Policy Conference, Whitmer told Tricia A. […]
