Biden pardons federal marijuana possession charges. What it means to Michigan
by Zahra Ahmad (Bridge Michigan) Michigan marijuana reform leaders on Thursday called President Joe Biden’s pardon of federal marijuana possession convictions an overdue step in the right direction. Biden pardoned all people convicted of marijuana possession under federal law and said his administration should consider whether the drug should be classified as a Schedule 1 […]
Crime spiked in Michigan under Whitmer. Who is or what is to blame?
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) Sirens wail over Detroit’s skyline, police lights flicker through a living room window and looters smash a business storefront in a new online attack ad that accuses Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of being “soft on criminals.” The dystopian imagery is part of a Republican push to blame rising violent crime […]
Michigan psychiatric centers cut number of beds despite having more money
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Michigan has been forced to close 77 beds at state-run psychiatric facilities since April, largely because the system lacks enough staff to care for severely mentally ill patients. The situation may get worse in the near-term: Health officials say hundreds of job openings have failed to draw applicants. That has […]
Michigan Proposal 3 fact check: No, masseuses won’t give abortions to minors
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) Advocates and foes alike agree Proposal 3 would keep abortion legal in Michigan if voters approve the ballot measure on Nov. 8. But beyond that, there’s little agreement on wide-reaching effects of the constitutional amendment. Opponents claim it would impact — and perhaps nullify — 41 state laws covering everything from […]
Abusive parents cause youth sports crisis as referees, participation plunges
by Heaven Jobe/MindSite News (for Bridge Michigan) This story was reported by and published in partnership with MindSite News, a nonprofit news site devoted to reporting on mental health Ronny Roby has seen more than his share of abusive parents interfering in youth sports. For 26 years Roby has been the park director and fill-in […]
Michigan approves $846 million in aggressive bid to attract new business
by Paula Gardner and Lauren GIbbons (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is intensifying efforts to bring more large-scale development to the state, voting Wednesday to add hundreds of millions of dollars to a fund that would sweeten how much it can offer “transformative” businesses in incentives. A bipartisan vote in the Michigan Legislature boosted the state’s business […]
Michigan may regulate sale of kratom, an herbal mix linked to overdoses
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Whether it’s harmful or helpful, addictive or medicinal, Michigan soon may regulate the herbal supplement kratom, making it illegal for minors and requiring licenses and product testing for anyone wishing to sell it. A Michigan bill, sponsored by State Rep. Lori Stone, D-Warren, several other Democrats and a Republican, swings […]
Michigan lawmakers reach deal on letting clerks pre-process absentee ballots
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Michigan lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office have reached a deal on legislation allowing clerks more time to pre-process absentee ballots to speed up the vote count, as well as other tweaks to the election process. The Republican-majority Senate voted 33-0 on bills that would let clerks prepare absentee ballots […]
Michigan school districts are flush with cash, but wary of a downturn
by Koby Levin (Chalkbeat, for Bridge Michigan) Grand Rapids Public Schools received $104 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding, an enormous one-time cash infusion equal to about half its annual budget. The district used the money for tutoring, extra summer programs and coaching for teachers. But now, facing an uncertain economy and the expiration date […]
Gretchen Whitmer touts economy. Michigan lost 82K jobs under her watch.
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) Standing between supermarket shelves, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer turns to the camera and acknowledges that “everything is going up,” even the cost of breakfast cereal. “I can’t solve the inflation problem, but we’re doing things right now to help,” she says in a television ad for her re-election campaign, noting $400 state […]
