Bridge Michigan

Young people who spent time in foster care face challenges when seeking a postsecondary degree, and researchers have found that only about 10% will earn a degree by their mid-20s To help, the State of Michigan provides some funding, training and other res…

Educational outcomes for former foster care youth in Michigan trail some national estimates.

Bridge Michigan has been listening to readers’ top election-year concerns and reporting on those issues Bridge also has held regular virtual discussions around those issues The latest virtual discussion was around challenges faced by rural governments.

Statewide Republican candidates Mike Rogers and John James are calling for a quick end to the Iran war Democratic rivals accuse them of flip-flopping Both Rogers and James had supported the war.

Donald Trump made more than 100 specific promises to Michigan during his 24 state rallies running for president in 2024 Bridge is tracking progress on all of them.

Fall in Michigan is a magical time filled with football, foliage, and family orchard visits.

Six candidates are competing for two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court Incumbent justices Megan Cavanagh and Noah Hood are nominees of the Michigan Democratic Party, which now holds a 6-1 edge Republican nominees Casandra Morse-Bills and Michael D.

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor on her administrative acumen and voting rights advocacy Benson says short SOS office visits and expanded voting options show what she could do as governor Critics argue she’s politicized…

Between 2018 and 2019, 19 wolves were brought to Isle Royal National Park to bolster a population of two Researchers recently published a study of what happened to the relocated wolves in the first five years after they were transported to the island They…

Republicans claim Democratic governor candidate Jocelyn Benson ‘ignored’ the law as the state’s top election official Benson did lose multiple election-related lawsuits, but she was sued more often and won more cases than GOP predecessors Cases involved a…

Michigan is handing out $173 million in grants to improve rural healthcare in the state, through the federally supported Rural Health Transformation Program Rural healthcare leaders say the money does not do enough to stabilize their industry amid federal…

Michigan voters decide whether to rewrite the state constitution later this fall under the statewide ballot question Proposal 1 Some see the effort as a way to strip the constitution of recently passed initiatives; others say it’s a way around Lansing gri…

DETROIT — The Trump administration on Monday released new fuel economy standards that relax regulatory requirements for automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks.

An online tool next month will help Medicaid beneficiaries see what they must do, if anything, to maintain coverage next year Meanwhile, more than 5,000 more Michigan immigrants will lose routine coverage next month They are two of several Medicaid changes

Republican Mike Rogers claims Abdul El-Sayed wants to raise taxes, ban private insurance as part of Medicare for All Experts say middle-class tax hikes would likely be necessary, but some Americans could end up saving money overall El-Sayed says he doesn’t

Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is touting his background in public health as he runs for US Senate Republican contend that record is thin, with little follow-through in jobs he held for less than three years El-Sayed also hosted a public he…

There’s a chill in the air and trivia in the moonlight, Michigan!

Federal immigration officers were a half-mile away when a man who was illegally in the U.S. crashed a car at high speed and died in Michigan last weekend, authorities said Thursday.

Absentee ballots now available for Michigan’s Nov. 3 general election Michigan voters can vote via absentee ballot until 8 p.m. on Election Day Clerks across the state will also offer at least 10 days of early, in-person voting Michigan’s Nov. 3 general e…

The board currently has six Democrats and two Republicans.

An angler recently stumbled upon dozens of deer lying dead in rivers outside Saginaw The Michigan Department of Natural Resources suspects epizootic hemorrhagic disease but is awaiting test results Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a virus spread to deer f…

The expanded leadership role reflects Bridge Michigan’s continued evolution and growing focus on journalistic impact, innovation and audience reach.

Attack ads suggests GOP governor candidate John James voted for data center tax breaks, is funded by data center developers Dems point to James’ vote for Big Beautiful Bill, which had broad tax breaks that were not specific to data centers but benefited t…

DETROIT — Campaigning in Michigan alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, former Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that the midterm elections offer a potential “stopgap” halfway through Donald Trump’s turbulent second presidency.

Michigan’s rural townships are struggling to find people to run for office and maintain services Townships have more vital responsibilities in Michigan than most states Reforms are possible in Lansing if politicians choose to address the potential crisis…

Rural communities are struggling to find people to hold public office Villages are allowed to fill clerk and treasurer positions from outside their borders; Townships can’t Several bills to assist struggling local governments are stalled in the Legislature

The Sept. 30 virtual discussion will cover the crisis looming for Michigan’s rural townships Panelists includes experts and elected officials Participants can ask questions of Bridge Michigan reporters during the discussion on Zoom Bridge Michigan’s Issues

Rural leaders share unprecedented financial pessimism in recent survey Tax restraints, inflation and cumbersome grant applications are causing service cuts in some communities The state offers grants and training, but local officials say they need more he…

Republican US Senate nominee Mike Rogers served in Congress for 14 years, focusing on national security, healthcare and more Rogers is tying his background to new policy proposals like putting shop classes in every school and building more affordable hous…

Bridge Michigan reporters have spent months fact-checking claims by the gubernatorial and Senate campaigns and researching ballot measures.

A new survey finds that fewer than 20% of local officials believe data centers are worth the cost Data centers are least popular among rural leaders, where the projects are typically built Leaders worry the project may do environmental harm and boost util…

GOP US Senate candidate Mike Rogers outlined his healthcare policy agenda in Taylor over the weekend His priorities include making healthcare costs more transparent and lowering prescription drug prices to make healthcare more affordable Democratic US Sen…

DEARBORN — The city of Dearborn responded Saturday to a lawsuit accusing it of celebrating Muslim holidays and ignoring religious holidays of other faiths by blaming attacks against it on its diversity and “welcoming nature.”

Residents around Little Traverse Lake in Leelanau County routinely deal with flooding Residents blame beavers damming a stream that empties the lake into Lake Michigan Residents have asked the National Park Service for permission to remove the beaver dams,

Lee Chatfield’s trial was again delayed after his attorney announced an appeal over a witness The appeal could push the trial into 2027, after Attorney General Dana Nessel leaves office Chatfield was first charged in April 2024 over alleged embezzlement s…

Michigan students are struggling in math Leaders say they have seen student growth in skill and confidence through a math program that is ending Math experts are split on if Michigan should impose new requirements, similar to the state’s approach to liter…

LANSING – Michigan’s sand dunes face serious threats as climate change and environmental factors continue to evolve, as do the communities surrounding them, experts say.

LANSING – As enrollment pressures continue to challenge Michigan’s public universities and as state aid stays limited, campuses are forced to choose how to keep their operations running.

GOP attack ad suggests Democratic governor candidate Jocelyn Benson could get rich off data centers The ad points to her husband’s work for a company that helped bring a controversial data center to Saline Township Benson’s husband announced he’s switched…

How are we feeling, Michigan?

A new state audit shows that-one third of $182.5 million spent to boost worker skills went to orientation for new hires instead.

GOP US Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Thursday called for a suspension on both state and federal gas taxes The idea has gained some traction as gas prices skyrocket amid conflict in the Middle East But Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall says suspending the…

GOP gubernatorial candidate John James wants to limit utility rate increases and fire regulators under new plan James also wants to allow more electricity to be purchased on an open marketplace The plan follows a similar reform proposal offered by Democrat

More than 1 in 4 Michigan K-12 students were chronically absent last year The rate has dropped for the fourth consecutive year Still, ‘more work remains,’ the state superintendent says Michigan’s chronic absenteeism rate remains high but decreased slightly

27.2% Michigan students are chronically absent Absenteeism remains higher than it was during the pandemic It’s the fourth year the absenteeism rate dropped Chronic absenteeism in Michigan schools dropped slightly last year, but more than a fourth of stude…

John James and Jocelyn Benson pitched their plans for Michigan to members of the Detroit Economic Club They differed on addressing tariffs against Canada but largely agreed on data center regulations Major business groups have yet to endorse a candidate in

Harris endorsed El-Sayed after his primary win in August This will be her first public appearance with him Harris and El-Sayed will attend a roundtable on Black maternal health Former Vice President Kamala Harris plans to campaign with Democratic Senate n…

Mike Rogers and fellow Republicans claim Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wants to abolish prisons, release violent criminals Opponents reference comments El-Sayed made in 2018 and 2020 but leave out context El-Sayed and Mike Rogers are running to replace retiring…

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

Vaccination waiver rates continue to rise in Michigan schools Kindergarteners had the highest waiver rates Use this tool to look up your local school Michigan students are getting permission to skip routine vaccinations at the highest rate in a decade.