Suicides, often linked to opioids, spike in rural Michigan and among young
by Jim Roelofs (Bridge) About every five hours, a Michigan resident dies by suicide. Fatal drug overdoses happen even more frequently. New research by the University of Michigan suggests an upsurge in opioid overdoses and suicides may be linked. This finding suggests that public health specialists may need to reexamine their approach to policies intended to prevent […]
Is this the year Michigan joins the rest of America on public records?
by Jim Malewitz, Riley Beggin (Bridge) Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include remarks from the group Progress Michigan. LANSING — Michigan largely keeps the public in the dark about what happens behind the scenes in the Legislature and governor’s office; it’s one of just two states exempting both from state Freedom of […]
Gov. Whitmer: Boost Michigan schools by $507 million, with more for neediest students
by Ron French, Lindsay VanHulle (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first budget recommends an additional half billion dollars for Michigan schools, including as much as a $180 boost in per-pupil funding and extra funds for low-income and special education children. And the money may not be the biggest story. Whitmer’s budget allocates money in what amounts to a […]
Whitmer budget would triple literacy coaches to help Michigan students read
by Ron French (Bridge) The number of literacy coaches working in Michigan schools would triple under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget, a change that could yield huge benefits for Michigan school children, school officials said. Whitmer’s budget plan, unveiled Tuesday, proposes a $24 million increase in spending for literacy experts to work with classroom teachers to improve […]
Michigan businesses to Whitmer: Focus on talent, stay consistent on taxes
by Lindsay VanHulle (Bridge) Creating more skilled workers. Developing more housing in rural areas to attract more workers. Staying consistent on business taxes and regulations. These are among the policy goals that new Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should consider, business groups across Michigan, from chambers of commerce to small business advocates, told Bridge in advance of the new […]
Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to fix Michigan roads: Nearly triple gas tax
by Jim Malewitz, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to nearly triple Michigan’s gas tax, adding another 45 cents per gallon to fix the state’s roads, her administration confirmed Monday. The proposal will come Tuesday as the Democratic governor unveils her first budget, which would need approval from the House and Senate, both controlled […]
Analysis: Gretchen Whitmer’s budget banks on Michigan GOP backing one historic tax hike
by Lindsay VanHulle, Riley Beggin (Bridge) A single, simple vote. With just the push of a button, Michigan lawmakers can solve the many vexing, expensive problems plaguing the state. At least, that’s how Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pitched her first budget proposal to legislators Tuesday, before a joint meeting of the state House and Senate appropriations […]
Six big proposals in Gretchen Whitmer’s first Michigan budget
by Riley Beggin, Lindsay VanHulle (Bridge) The conventional wisdom that many of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s campaign promises to protect the environment, invest in education and fix the roads would pack a punch to the state’s wallet has finally come to fruition. Whitmer’s first budget proposal, unveiled Tuesday, calls for a 3.6 percent increase in state spending over […]
An $18B debt is coming due, and it’s haunting small town Michigan
by Roelofs (Bridge) Once a mining community, Iron Mountain is probably more famous now as proud home town to Michigan State University men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo. But this Upper Peninsula city is also notable these days for something no one brags about: It’s one of dozens of small rural Michigan communities and public bodies that face […]
Whitmer kills Michigan marijuana licensing board in favor of new agency
by Lindsay VanHulle (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday killed a controversial state board tasked with approving licenses for medical marijuana operations, instead opting to house the process in a new state agency intended to speed up the process. The announcement drew praise from industry advocates and at least one Republican legislative leader, even as it was […]
