Michigan’s fall salmon migration run has begun. Anglers are salivating
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s coastal rivers and streams are filling up with salmon as the prized sportfish make their annual fall migration from the Great Lakes. The fall fishing run is eagerly awaited by anglers, giving them easy access to some of the millions of Atlantic, Chinook, pink and coho salmon that the […]
Tough job, fewer applicants: Michigan struggles to hire police, survey finds
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Police agencies throughout Michigan are struggling to hire qualified officers, a new study finds, exacerbating an officer shortage that has hit forces nationwide. A University of Michigan study released Tuesday found that 72% report difficult hiring and another 48% said they had problems keeping officers of the 1,800 Michigan cities, townships and counties surveyed. […]
U-Pick? Go soon. Michigan apples, peaches ahead of schedule
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michiganders who want to pick their own apples or buy fresh from farms may want to head to the orchard earlier than usual — because they’re ready now. Extreme weather events — like a 70-degree day in February followed by a cold front and then record-high temperatures — have caused Michigan […]
As marijuana stigma fades, 1 in 4 older Michiganders say they use pot
by Robin Erb & Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Walled Lake —Whether it’s to “feel good,” fall asleep or curb pain, Michiganders who are 50 and older are turning to weed more often than the rest of America — smoking it, eating it, drinking it or applying it to their skin. That’s according to the newest survey by researchers […]
In Michigan, 1 in 3 students miss 18+ days of school a year, data shows
by Isabel Lohman & Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Nearly 1 in 3 K-12 students in Michigan missed 10% or more school days this past academic year, a tiny decrease from last year but still considerably higher than before the pandemic. The troublesome trend comes as state test scores show students have still not fully recovered from […]
Census: Michigan household income drop among nation’s worst. Blame inflation
by Mike Wilkinson & Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Inflation and higher costs for groceries and housing have erased household income gains in Michigan and nationwide since the pandemic, the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows. Median household income in Michigan fell to $69,183 in 2023, down 3% from the inflation-adjusted income in 2019, […]
Fed up with geese, Michigan abandons relocation efforts. Next up: killing them
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s booming Canada goose population is both a conservation success and daily annoyance: They poop everywhere, drop feathers, chase pedestrians and occasionally cause E. coli outbreaks in popular lakes. Starting next year, some landowners will be able to respond with lethal force. On Thursday, Michigan regulators unveiled a new policy […]
Michigan gas prices may drop as refineries switch to winter-grade fuel
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michiganders could see a dip in gas prices ahead of the fall as oil refineries make the switch to “winter-grade fuel.” As fall approaches and drivers are spending less time on the road as they did during the summer, demand for gasoline tends to decrease. That along with oil […]
In mid-Michigan, economic worries persist. So does disgust of politics
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) FLINT — At 78, Daniel Spaniola still mans the counter at Paul’s Pipe Shop, the business his father started 96 years ago. The walls of the tobacconist are lined with display cases for pipes and are mostly empty these days. “I’ve burned up most of my savings, but we’re struggling,” […]
As election nears, Michigan, other states confront intimidation of clerks
by Peggy Dodd , Pierce Gentry , Shelby Rickert , & Olivia Talkington, News21 (Bridge Michigan) Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic language from threatening voicemails and emails sent to election officials across the U.S. ROCHESTER HILLS – Exactly seven days had passed since the 2020 presidential election when Tina Barton sat down at her desk and saw the blinking light […]
