Michigan passes $21.5B school budget with boost for at-risk students
by Isabel Lohman, Bridge Michigan LANSING — The Michigan Legislature passed a $21.5 billion school K-12 budget Wednesday night that includes a significant funding increase for students considered to be “at risk” of not meeting educational goals. It’s the first education budget since Democrats took full control of the Legislature and governor’s office this year, and reflects […]
Charges filed in signature fraud scandal that rocked Michigan governor race
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Two petition firm owners have been arrested, and a third is being sought by authorities, as they face a slew of felonies stemming from a signature fraud scandal that disqualified leading Republicans from last year’s gubernatorial primary and prompted calls for reform. Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the […]
Long COVID remains a debilitating medical mystery for Michigan sufferers
by Irena Li (Bridge Michigan) Jeff Whitmer used to enjoy his free time running around with his kids and playing softball. An architect and father of two living in Sylvan Lake, Whitmer now lives a much more sedentary lifestyle. He primarily works from home, and is struggling to get back to his life three years […]
How a Michigan hospital is acting to save lives of Black pregnant women
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) DETROIT—On a recent afternoon, Rob Barron, a paramedic, stepped into the Detroit home that Kayla Sturkey, 20, shares with her mother, teenage brother and the home’s newest resident: Kayla’s week-old son, Abel. The room is filled with the evidence of new life: a baby blue mylar balloon, a tidy bassinet […]
Traffic deaths spike in Michigan since 2019; experts blame risky driving
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Traffic deaths jumped 15% from 2019 to 2022 in Michigan, even though the pandemic decreased total travel — and experts blame risky driving. Data released Thursday by TRIP, a national research nonprofit, show Michigan drivers traveled over 100 billion miles in 2019, resulting in 985 fatalities. That jumped to […]
Michigan may add organ donation registry to state income tax forms
by Riley Hodder (Bridge Michigan) Michigan might become the first state to ask taxpayers on state tax forms if they want to become organ donors. If passed, House Bills 4362, 4363 and 4364 would add a new question to Michigan tax forms asking taxpayers if they want to add their names to the organ donor registry. Those who check ‘yes,’ […]
Michigan restaurants: Raising minimum wage would doom us. Others dubious
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Allison Rybsky has been a server at Driftwood Bar and Grill in Novi for two years. In addition to waiting tables, she sweeps, mops and completes other cleaning tasks before clocking out. She worries that increasing the state minimum wage to $11.73 from $3.84 for tipped workers may prompt […]
Want better roads? Make it easier to open gravel mines in Michigan, unions say
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Legislation that would strip local governments of the authority to regulate gravel mines is moving along in the state House, prompting disagreements with business leaders who say the reform will cut road costs and local leaders who say it will hurt the quality of life. The bipartisan three-bill […]
As child mental health rates rise, Michigan sharply cuts residential beds
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s efforts to keep children with serious mental illness out of institutional settings is getting pushback from families who fear their child is too volatile — in some cases, too dangerous — to remain at home. It’s a tension that pits the good intentions of health officials, who want to […]
Michigan sounds alarm about mosquitoes after Jamestown Canyon virus detected
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan health officials are warning about mosquito-born illnesses, after a sample of the insects tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus in Saginaw County. The virus is spread by mosquitos and can cause fever, headaches and fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. […]
