Where have all the babies gone? Michigan births lowest since 1944
by Ron French, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Ontonagon is a quiet little town, and it’s getting quieter. There are three funerals for every birth in this Lake Superior shore village of about 1,500 and the surrounding county of the same name. The number of children birth through age 9 in the western Upper Peninsula county plummeted […]
For cash-strapped police in Michigan, asset forfeiture bills could be a blow
As the opioid epidemic ramps up, police across Michigan are staring down the probability of losing some of the financial resources they use to fight drug criminals. That’s the viewpoint, at least, of many in law enforcement who oppose major legislation that they say could cost them a portion of a $13 million revenue stream […]
Bills to improve Michigan transparency still have loopholes, critics say
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Bipartisan legislation that would open the Michigan Legislature and Governor’s office to some public records requests moved one step closer to becoming law Tuesday when a House committee approved modified versions of the bills. One major change, made under pressure from pro-transparency groups, would require the Legislature to hold onto records […]
Here’s how Michigan should spend Bloomberg’s $10 million to fight opioids
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) As Michigan continues to battle an opioid epidemic, billionaire and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s charity is investing $10 million to broaden state access to treatment and improve prevention. As Bridge Magazine has reported, health and law enforcement experts say the state needs to invest in several areas to reduce deaths, among them: […]
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 […]
