How grieving survivors help shape Michigan drug policy
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Nancy King had been doing laundry when the call came. She was in the bedroom of her Kalamazoo home: “Are you sitting down?” Dr. Cara Poland had strung Christmas lights and wrapped the presents at her Boston home. When her younger brother didn’t answer her calls, she knew: “Max is […]
Oxford parents renew call for state probe of mass school shooting
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) Parents of Oxford High School students killed in a 2021 mass shooting on Monday renewed a call for a state investigation into the shooting, including failures by school officials to prevent the attack. Attorney General Dana Nessel, however, maintained she still has not received the cooperation from local officials necessary […]
At least one person in Michigan sickened by E.coli linked to organic carrots
by Janelle D. James (BridgeMichigan) A national E.coli outbreak linked to organic carrots has reached Michigan. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Sunday that at least one person in the state has been infected. The outbreak has infected 39 people and hospitalized 15 across 18 states. The CDC also reported one death. Federal officials have […]
Michigan economy in ‘soft patch,’ facing uncertainty under Trump, reports say
by Paula Gardner (BridgeMichigan) Two new reports show Michigan’s economy continues to tread water, making few gains, while also raising hopes it won’t fall further behind under incoming President Donald Trump. Combined, the reports offer both a look at where the state is stagnating and a glimpse of what may be coming in the next couple […]
Online betting increases Michigan revenue — and gambling addiction
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) Casino-game and sports betting available on the phones of Michigan residents has been a huge winner for state revenues, with Michigan last year rising to first place nationwide for online gaming, but it’s also led to an explosion in problem gambling. Calls to a state gambling helpline have more than tripled […]
What Donald Trump’s ‘mass deportations’ may mean for Michigan immigrants
by Bryce Huffman & Nushrat Rahman, Bridge Detroit (Bridge Michigan) An early promise for Donald Trump’s second term as president is swift mass deportations once he takes office, a threat Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero said “is real to many of us.” The Mexican immigrant is working to protect the interests of the Southwest Detroit communities […]
GM layoffs in Michigan an ‘unmistakable sign the auto industry is slowing’
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Magazine) Another round of layoffs from Michigan-based automakers came Friday when General Motors announced cuts to its salaried workforce in Warren. The automaker said it will trim 1,000 global jobs, with the bulk to come from the GM Global Tech Center in Michigan’s third largest city. Some of the jobs also will […]
Michigan offering free birth control pills, condoms at over 300 locations
Editor’s note: Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) can help with birth control and emergency contraception. Call 734-544-6700 or email health@washtenaw.org. Birth control can help prevent unplanned pregnancies, manage medical conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, make periods less painful, and more. WCHD also offers free condoms and lube at their office at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti […]
Has Michigan governor race begun? Duggan spurs speculation. Here’s who might run
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) With the dust barely settled on the 2024 election, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Wednesday he won’t run for a fourth term in 2025, accelerating speculation about a possible 2026 gubernatorial run. Duggan is just one in a long list of candidates already positioning themselves for potential runs to […]
Give an organ, get a $10,000 Michigan tax credit
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Live organ donors in Michigan can get a tax credit of as much as $10,000 starting next year to reimburse them for expenses related to the procedure. The credit is for costs such as child care, transportation and lodging, as well as lost wages. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4361 into […]
