What is ‘team teaching?’ Michigan schools shake up the ‘one-teacher’ model
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) In a hallway lined with backpacks, jackets and student art, second- and third-graders walk to their home classroom. The students are coming from small group lessons, where some of them have been with classmates a year older or younger than them. It’s part of the district’s experiment with “team teaching.” […]
Despite US research resistance, Great Lakes aims to be Silicon Valley for water
by Brett Walton, Circle of Blue (Bridge Michigan) MILWAUKEE – The confluence of the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers, in the downtown core of Wisconsin’s largest city, is a prime vantage to assess the collection of assets that define the past and future of Great Lakes water use, and the array of technology development encompassing the […]
Battle over Medicaid boils over in DC; what it means for Michigan
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) ANN ARBOR — Pressure continues to mount in Congress and from the White House to shave billions of dollars from Medicaid, leaving Michigan’s health care leaders to grapple with the “what ifs” in a battle that’s likely to continue. In a stunning setback Friday, House Republicans failed to push their […]
Keeping the $5.5 billion Michigan fishery afloat
by Lester Graham, Michigan Public (Bridge Michigan) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station is based in a building that was constructed in 1917, originally as a federal fish hatchery. It wasn’t the first on this site. An earlier hatchery was built in 1894. The U.S. government was trying to replenish the fish population. Lake […]
EPA weakens PFAS drinking water limits. What it means for Michigan
by Kelly House, (Bridge Michigan) The Trump administration has announced plans to rescind drinking-water limits on four PFAS “forever chemical” compounds while extending the compliance deadline for two others, in a move that outraged victims of Michigan’s widespread PFAS contamination. Nationwide regulations limiting allowable levels of PFOA and PFOS — two of the most common […]
As farmers wait on government ice storm relief, nonprofits take charge
by Emilio Perez Ibarguen (Bridge Michigan) After a once-in-a-lifetime ice storm tore through northern Michigan weeks ago, David Coveyou woke up to discover trees strewn across his 330-acre Petoskey vegetable farm and fencing ripped from the ground. Nearly two months later, he’s still working to rebuild while preparing for a busy planting season. “We’ve spent […]
Amid public outcry, Michigan pauses goose-killing program
by Emilio Perez Ibarguen (Bridge Michigan) State officials have indefinitely paused a controversial program that allowed landowners to combat nuisance geese by hiring crews to kill them. In a letter sent Friday to Democratic lawmakers who had objected to the state issuing permits to send problem geese to chambers where they would be gassed with […]
As lawmakers prep budget, economists warn tariffs may cost Michigan 13,000 jobs
by Jordyn Hermani (Bridge Michigan) Michigan could lose out on 13,000 jobs across the next five years due to auto, steel and aluminum tariffs, economists warned Friday, predicting the state economy may grow nonetheless. Despite the projected tariff impact, which is expected to hit the state’s auto industry particularly hard, Michigan is still on track […]
‘Gutted.’ Michigan losing $200M in fed research funding, with more in limbo
by Ron French & Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) At Michigan State University, researcher Jamie Bernard is trying to prevent some of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of breast cancer. But in recent months, she wonders if the federal government wants her to continue that work. With each passing day, the associate professor feels more “gutted” about […]
Michigan Republicans aim to ban gender-affirming medication, surgery for minors
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Minors in Michigan would no longer be able to receive gender-affirming care under legislation introduced Wednesday by Republicans in the state House and Senate. The bills would prevent minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy or anatomy-alternating surgeries. The proposal would prohibit medical professionals from providing such care […]
