As Michigan schools ban cellphones, reports surface of ‘talking,’ ‘eye contact’
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) ADA TOWNSHIP—Standing outside Forest Hills Central High School in late August, senior Jack Walls admitted he has an issue with his phone. “I’m addicted,” he said. “I know it. It’s real bad. I have a real bias for texting people.” This was Day 1 of a districtwide ban on student cellphone […]
What you need to know about Michigan’s flavored e-cigarette ban
by Riley Beggin, Joel Kurth (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made national news on Wednesday by announcing an order to make Michigan the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes. Here’s what you need to know. Why the ban? The Democratic governor said she was moving to protect Michigan children by ordering the state Department of Health and Human Services to issue emergency […]
HPV cancer rates are up. Yet many Michigan doctors won’t talk about it.
by Robin Erb (Bridge) In its fight against a sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV, Michigan’s health department is hoping to recruit a surprising ally: dentists. While common and generally not life-threatening, HPV also can trigger a host of cancers, and rates are rising: 43,371 cancers were associated with the virus in the United States in 2015, […]
As Lansing debates funding, schools struggle to pay teachers, fix roofs
by Ron French (Bridge) WYOMING – The roof caved in at Lee Middle and High School in May. A large silver tarp covered the hole and orange metal braces propped up the brown brick façade of the building, which opened in 1925 when Calvin Coolidge was president. Nearby, Godfrey Elementary is comparatively new – it […]
Suicide rates rise across Michigan, with few answers
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) Even as Michigan’s suicide rate rose by a third over two decades -‒ and climbing even higher among young people, rural residents and military veterans -‒ a fundamental question has yet to be fully answered. Why? “We need to get to the bottom of why this is happening,” said state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-Oakland […]
Michigan Republicans push budget without road deal, a likely no-go for Whitmer
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Republican leaders controlling the Michigan House and Senate have agreed on a budget, they announced Friday ‒ one that doesn’t include a negotiated deal on road funding with the state’s Democratic governor. The announcement raises the stakes for a possible state government shutdown in less than a month. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has […]
Michigan becomes the first state in U.S. to ban flavored vaping products
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan will become the first state in the nation to ban flavored vaping products under emergency rules announced Wednesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. It will be issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services, which has found youth vaping to be a public health emergency. The six-month ban will […]
Algae is again fouling Lake Erie. Thanks a lot, Ohio.
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Across western Lake Erie, a giant green algal mass is again forming and it’s the largest in three years. How big is it? So big it can be seen from space and, at 620 square miles, is about bigger than the largest cities in Michigan (Detroit), Ohio (Columbus) and Indiana (Indianapolis) put together. Not […]
Report: Funding cuts, high tuition spawn a cost crisis at Michigan colleges
by Ron French (Bridge) Michigan families are facing a college affordability crisis caused by a “perfect storm” of falling wages and state disinvestment in higher education, according to a new report released Friday. That affordability crisis is hitting hardest among Michigan’s rural and low-income families, according to the report, by the New York-based Century Foundation, which describes […]
Michigan committee approves health warning labels for marijuana
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING – The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved bills that would require labels on marijuana indicating its health risks for pregnant mothers. “This is a brand new product that’s going out … and a lot of people automatically think ‘Wow it’s legal, it’s going to be safe,’” said Rep. Daire […]
