Michigan rents are rising, prompting debate about tenant protections
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Ty Lancaster says he slept in his pickup truck when he first moved from Florida to Michigan this summer. Then the pickup truck broke down, Lancaster said, and he was truly without shelter. He said he had to sleep in a park near the Lansing Capitol lawn […]
After local pushback, Michigan Dems seek state oversight of green energy
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) State Democratic leaders hope to muzzle the battles at local township boards that have often throttled Michigan’s green energy efforts by moving control of the siting of energy projects to the state’s Public Service Commission. House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, told Bridge Michigan Monday he plans to […]
5 things to know as Michigan COVID cases rise into the fall
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) As summer winds down, it seems increasingly clear that another kind of season is just ahead: COVID. Heading toward its fourth autumn in Michigan, the virus behind COVID-19 which is now linked to nearly 39,000 deaths in Michigan seemingly has snapped into seasonal rhythms, with cases and hospitalizations on the […]
Over 80,000 Michigan residents lost Medicaid benefits in first month
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) More than 80,500 Michigan residents lost Medicaid coverage in the first full monthly accounting of Medicaid re-enrollment efforts in the state, which amounts to 37 percent of those scheduled to re-enroll in June, according to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The vast […]
What’s being done about plastic trash getting into the Great Lakes?
by Lester Graham, Michigan Radio (for Bridge Michigan) Across Michigan temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees, but at Duck Lake State Park next to Lake Michigan, the temperature was in the mid-70s with a breeze. There was fog hanging over the lake, but people were splashing and playing in the waves under the yellow flag, […]
Michigan may require high school seniors to file FAFSA financial aid form
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) A college degree offers a better shot at a steady job and earning more money. But high sticker prices can deter students from even applying to schools, particularly students whose families may be unfamiliar with the college application process or not understand how financial aid works. State Sen. Darrin Camilleri […]
Michigan regulators seek penalties for repeat utility outages
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan regulators are moving to force the state’s biggest electricity suppliers — Consumers Energy and DTE Energy — to improve reliability by penalizing them for repeat outages. The Michigan Public Service Commission this week announced it will impose unspecified penalties on companies whose customers lose power four or more times each year, […]
Storms, tornadoes linked to 5 deaths and widespread power outages
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Heavy storms and at least four confirmed tornadoes are linked to five deaths as they uprooted trees, flooded roads and triggered power outages across Michigan on Thursday. On Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer offered state assistance to Wayne and Monroe counties. Whitmer issued an emergency declaration and agreed with requests from […]
Appeals court nixes Michigan PFAS water limits in ruling for 3M
by Lester Graham & Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) A Michigan Court of Appeals panel has struck down state restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in drinking water, but left the regulatory rules in place as the state pursues an appeal. In a split decision Tuesday, the three-judge panel concluded the state failed to follow proper […]
Bill requires prisons to give voting registration info to exiting inmates
by Oralandar Brand-Williams, Votebeat (for Bridge Michigan) It’s been nearly a decade since Vince King cast his first vote, and that act of filling out a ballot still resonates with him. “Imagine what it’s like for a person who has never done it,” King recalls. “It made me feel free and part of the process.” […]
