More volatile weather sparks new Michigan trend: tornado safe rooms
by Nate Miller, Bridge Michigan In the 24 years since he founded Linden-based Patriot Builders, Charles Schultz has fielded countless demands for custom features on the homes he builds. But this spring he received a new one: Two families requested tornado safe rooms. The requests for the FEMA-compliant shelters built to keep occupants safe in […]
Amid tax pressure, competition, marijuana may move out of rural Michigan
by Elizabeth Dunham, Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative, Bridge Michigan In December, 62 people lost their jobs when a marijuana manufacturing plant in Webberville (population roughly 1,400) closed. The plant’s leaders blamed a cannabis market contracting amid oversupply that’s driving down prices and a new 24% state wholesale tax. Researchers and industry insiders say that tax […]
As MSU president exits, what the heck is going on? We have (some) answers
by Kim Kozlowski (Bridge Michigan) It’s happening again: Michigan State University is losing another leader. President Kevin Guskiewicz announced Wednesday that he will be departing soon to serve as president of Clemson University in South Carolina. He’s leaving a lot of money behind to serve a school with 20,000 fewer students. Here’s what we know. […]
Biz leaders push data centers, warning Michigan may miss ‘golden ticket’
by Simon D. Schuster, Bridge Michigan MACKINAC ISLAND — Amid growing protests over data centers, business leaders who gathered for the Mackinac Policy Conference argued Michigan must quickly embrace the massive projects or risk losing out on a wave of investment. Hyperscale data centers are “producing thousands of construction jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars […]
Michigan is old and getting older. Experts warn of looming consequences
by Jordyn Hermani, Bridge Michigan An aging population, rising retirement rates and a stagnating labor market could have serious consequences for the state and its residents if left unaddressed, state demographers said Friday. Data presented to state lawmakers painted a stark picture of Michigan’s labor market, which officials say has seen little upward momentum since bouncing back […]
New Michigan tax system sparks confusion for 27,000 taxpayers
by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan As Michigan rolls out a new online tax system meant to modernize filing and improve security, the state is acknowledging that it sent at least 27,000 taxpayers incorrect notices claiming they owed taxes already paid or had to repay unexpected refund checks. As of last week, the state had […]
Michigan prison sentences are growing. Revived commission to consider reforms
by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan The Michigan Sentencing Commission convened this month for the first time in nearly 30 years to begin reconsidering guidelines that have led to increasingly long sentences pushing state prisons closer to capacity. Lawmakers in 2024 voted to reinstate the commission, which is made up of 15 members, including current and former state legislators, attorneys, […]
In school cafeterias, kids fight Michigan’s food waste problems
by Isabella Figueroa Nogueira, Bridge Michigan Unlike most fourth-graders, AJ Beaudion likes to leave recess five minutes early. It’s part of his job. At 9 years old, Beaudion is the composting manager at Hayes Elementary School in Livonia. His responsibilities include arriving on time during kindergarten through fourth-grade lunch to help sort the food waste, […]
Michigan plans to reissue Line 5 permit amid federal review, court fight
by Kelly House, Bridge Michigan State environmental officials plan to reissue a key water quality permit for the Line 5 tunnel, according to a preliminary decision announced Tuesday afternoon. Regulators with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy propose to permit Canadian oil company Enbridge Energy to discharge millions of gallons of treated […]
Study of PFAS levels in Michigan firefighters raises cautious optimism
by Eli Newman, Bridge Michigan Michigan firefighters are regularly exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” on the job. But new state data revealed last week shows that their PFAS blood levels are no higher than the average American’s, a finding that has some cautiously optimistic about state regulation designed to limit exposure. The results come at […]
