Michigan inches toward universal pre-K as leaders support 2-year kindergarten
By Ron French (Bridge) Without news conferences, legislative action or statewide policy changes, Michigan is moving closer to universal, optional preschool for 4-year-olds. By essentially sanctioning a second year of kindergarten, more than half of 4-year-olds in the state are now in taxpayer-funded preschool or developmental kindergarten, and that number is likely to increase, with […]
Michigan Supreme Court won’t rule on GOP minimum wage, sick leave changes
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) The Michigan Supreme Court will not decide whether the Legislature’s maneuver to “adopt and amend” the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave laws during last year’s lame-duck session was constitutional, the court announced in a 4-3 ruling Wednesday, December 18. “We are not persuaded that granting the requests would be […]
Michigan Democrats take aim at Nestlé. Farmers urge caution.
By Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) A Swiss company’s water withdrawals in northern Michigan are again stoking long-simmering tensions, with the issue becoming part of a larger debate over who controls water diversion across the Great Lakes region. In a one-two punch, Nestlé Waters North America, Inc. is the target of two state bills designed to increase the state’s control […]
Michigan Republicans poised to bypass Whitmer, ban abortion procedure
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING – Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature is likely to criminalize the most common form of second-trimester abortion early next year if initiated legislation reaches the Capitol. That would bypass Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has promised a veto, but spark a legal fight. House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike […]
Michigan leaders join forces to reform schools. Can it work this time?
By Ron French (Bridge) A Who’s Who of Michigan civic leaders announced Wednesday a joint effort to try to reform Michigan’s struggling schools, focusing first on early literacy and routing more money to high-poverty and rural schools. The organization, called Launch Michigan, may be the most ambitious collaboration of philanthropy, education, labor, business and community leaders in […]
A guide to Michigan’s 2020 Census: jobs, scams, citizen issues
By Alexandra Schmidt (Bridge) The United States has conducted a census every 10 years for more than two centuries, but the 2020 one stands out as particularly momentous. On top of the controversy surrounding whether or not the 2020 census would ask about a respondent’s citizen status (it won’t), it is the first that will allow […]
15,000 Michigan kids take two years of kindergarten. Is Lansing listening?
By Ron French (Bridge) One in eight Michigan kindergarteners now take two years of kindergarten. That’s a financial boon to families with young children and schools, but a $127 million bill to the state for an extra year of schooling with unknown academic impact. In essence, families and schools are stepping in where Lansing hasn’t […]
Deal reached between state, townships and Wolverine World Wide over PFAS
By Riley Beggin, (Bridge) Wolverine World Wide has agreed to pay $69.5 million to extend a new municipal water system to Kent County residents in areas affected by PFAS contamination, the company and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday. The deal will also require the company to pay to maintain the whole-house filtration systems installed […]
Michigan trying to quicken insurance approval for drugs, medical treatment
By Robin Erb (Bridge) When her endometriosis flares up, “it feels like a T-rex in my abdomen trying to claw his way out,” said Lyndsey Crosbie. And that’s why, when the disorder is at its worst, the Dearborn woman needs painkillers. Like, now. But last year, when Crosbie, a doctoral candidate in physical therapy, stopped […]
Michigan, we have a budget deal. (Give or take $400 million)
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING – It’s done. For now. After weeks of stalled negotiations, fallouts and name-calling, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders agreed on a plan to spend more than half of the nearly $1 billion that Whitmer vetoed from the budget and restrict her power to move money within state departments. The House and Senate nearly […]
