How moving up Michigan presidential primary could increase state’s clout
Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan’s political clout could increase after a Democratic National Committee panel voted Friday to make the state one of the first five states to hold presidential primaries in 2024. The vote comes a day after President Joe Biden wrote a letter to the Democratic National Committee, lobbying to eliminate caucuses during […]
Caregivers need help. Michigan is slowly finding a way
by Sarah Rahal, The Detroit News & Hayley Harding, The Detroit News (for Bridge Michigan). Jim Mangi never thought he’d be living out the later parts of the plot of Nicholas Sparks’ fictional “The Notebook,” but he is grateful he can stay a block from the Saline dementia treatment center near his wife, Kathleen, who is struggling […]
Michigan business hopeful as Congress poised to end rail strike threat
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) A potential national rail strike continues to threaten Michigan’s industries that depend on trains for essential products, even as top federal leaders say avoiding a shutdown is an urgent priority. Congress plans to initiate votes this week to prevent a strike, with leaders of both parties in the House and […]
Michigan State condenses teacher preparation program from five years to four
by Tracie Mauriello, Chalbeat Detroit (for Bridge Michigan) Michigan State University will shorten its teacher preparation program from five to four years, saving education majors $16,700 in tuition and awarding them a credential more quickly. The change alleviates a financial burden on students and addresses an educator shortage by getting teachers in classrooms faster, said Tonya Bartell, […]
Michigan takes steps to boost bed capacity for kids in mental health crisis
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Staffing shortages have helped shrink the number of residential spaces available to children and adolescents in severe mental-health crisis in Michigan’s foster and juvenile justice systems. What was at one point 800 slots for young people in distress has shrunk to fewer than 500 spaces, largely due to the lack […]
Scientists warn of health impacts as Great Lakes plastic pollution grows
by Irving Mejia-Hilario,(Bridge Michigan) As a lifelong West Michigan resident and avid beach walker whose hometown draws its drinking water from Lake Michigan, Arthur Hirsch has always loved spending time along the Great Lakes. That’s how he spotted something worrying in the water three summers ago. Thousands of plastic pellets littered the beach’s sandy shore, […]
As RSV packs Michigan hospitals, a new need emerges: baby cribs
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) As RSV cases among children continue to pack Michigan hospitals and doctors’ offices, hospital supply chain managers are keeping an eye on inventories they say are running dangerously low. Hospital-grade baby cribs — cribs that can cost $5,000 or more — have been in short supply in recent weeks. Hospitals are also […]
No-fault insurance reform may be in play as Democrats take power in Michigan
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Auto crash victims and providers may get another crack at changing Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law when Democrats take control of the Legislature in January. A 2019 law ushering in major changes to Michigan’s insurance policies gave drivers the option to choose coverage levels. The reform was intended to lower […]
Give thanks: No fall wave of COVID in Michigan
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) As Michigan and the nation are just weeks from beginning the fourth year of COVID-19, the signs are remarkably positive, according to new state data release Monday and Tuesday: For the first time since July, Michigan hospitals are treating fewer than 1,000 COVID-19 positive patients. New confirmed cases fell this […]
Michigan businesses brace again for possible U.S. rail strike
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan businesses for the second time this year are unsettled over renewed potential for a national rail strike that could slow billions of dollars in cargo shipments at the start of the holiday season. A disruption could impact supply chains for autos, chemicals needed for manufacturing and water treatment, fuel, […]
