In mid-Michigan, economic worries persist. So does disgust of politics
by Simon D. Schuster (Bridge Michigan) FLINT 鈥斅燗t 78, Daniel Spaniola still mans the counter at Paul 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. 鈥淚鈥檝e burned up most of my savings, but we鈥檙e struggling,鈥 […]
As election nears, Michigan, other states confront intimidation of clerks
by Peggy Dodd聽,聽Pierce Gentry聽,聽Shelby Rickert聽, &聽Olivia Talkington, News21 (Bridge Michigan) Editor Note: This story contains graphic language from threatening voicemails and emails sent to election officials across the U.S. ROCHESTER HILLS 鈥 Exactly seven days had passed since the 2020 presidential election when Tina Barton sat down at her desk and saw the blinking light […]
Report: Michigan’s weak pollution cleanups are costing future generations
by Kelly House聽 (Bridge Michigan) By polluting the state groundwater and choosing not to clean it up, Michigan industries are saddling future generations with untold financial, social and health risks. That according to a new聽report聽from researchers at Michigan State University and the nonprofit FLOW (For Love of Water) that recommends changing Michigan law to make […]
Restoring Michigan rivers by cleaning up, removing crumbling dams
by Lester Graham (Bridge Michigan via Michigan Public Radio) In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, building dams for electricity generation was the big new thing. Those hydroelectric dams provided power to nearby cities. But big companies found centralized coal-burning power plants could provide power to larger areas and make more money. Many of […]
Michiganders get nine new 鈥業 Voted鈥 stickers for the November election
by Jenelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) In an election year filled with memes and 鈥渧ibes,鈥 even the traditional 鈥淚 Voted鈥 sticker is getting a makeover. Michigan has approved nine new stickers that voters can wear after casting their ballots. The winning entries in the state first 鈥淚 Voted鈥 design contest range from funny and cute […]
Executive order signed in Michigan prioritizing grants for high-wage projects
by Josh Boak, Associated Press (via Bridge Michigan) President聽Joe Biden聽on Friday signed an executive order for federal grants that will prioritize projects with labor agreements, wage standards, and benefits such as access to child care and apprenticeship programs. Biden said the ideas in his order 鈥渁re common sense.” 鈥淓conomists have long believed that these good […]
Free COVID shots program ends for uninsured. In Michigan, what now?
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) A federal program that has provided free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured Americans has come to an end, but it appears that at least some doses are heading to Michigan this fall. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has requested 12,000 doses of the updated vaccine, Ryan Malosh, […]
M-STEP results reveal struggles for Michigan kids who began school in COVID
by Hannah Dellinger, Chalkbeat Detroit聽,聽Isabel Lohman, & Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) More Michigan third and fourth graders are behind in reading and writing compared to students in the same grades before the pandemic started and last year, newly released state standardized test results show. The results, which provide the first look at state proficiency scores […]
As medical marijuana shrinks, Michigan mulls 鈥榗lean merge鈥 with recreational
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Al Williams opened DaCut dispensaries in Detroit and Flint to exclusively serve medical marijuana patients 鈥 his only legal option at the time. But last year, his company expanded to become the first in Detroit to open its doors to anyone over the age of 21, ushering recreational marijuana into […]
Lifesaving doula services expanding for Michigan moms with help of Medicaid
by Daniel Schoenherr (Bridge Michigan) Every expectant parent should have access to a doula, Michigan maternal care experts say. But the parents who need those childbirth companions the most have historically had the least access. It the sort of service that medical leaders believe could save lives in Detroit. Doulas provide information and support to […]
