Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with police Friday night at the University of Michigan and attempted to disrupt a Saturday commencement ceremony.
Isabel Lohman
Isabel Lohman reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan, tracking how policies made in Lansing affect students and educators. She has closely reported on literacy, absenteeism and special education. Isabel was a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit's 2026 Young Journalist of the Year award. Before joining Bridge, she covered children's issues for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee, reporting on COVID-19 in schools and communities coping with gun violence.
Isabel grew up outside of Chicago and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri. She moved to Ann Arbor in 2022.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Whitmer seeks $670M for Michigan schools. Critics call it a ‘raid’
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to avoid school funding cuts relies on redirecting contributions to the state’s teacher retirement system.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Pro-Palestinian protests spread to Michigan State amid nationwide arrests
Michigan State University students joined peers at University of Michigan in setting up an encampment, joining a national movement that has become a test of campus free speech principles.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Democrats ditching Whitmer plans for Michigan trash fee hike, EV rebates
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to raise landfill fees to fund environmental cleanups and provide rebates for electric vehicles. Fellow Democrats are having second thoughts in the Legislature.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan gun plan would make schools share safe storage law with parents
Parents of Oxford school shooting victims are backing a proposal that would require Michigan schools to tell families about the state’s new safe storage law and how to keep guns away from kids.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
FAFSA fiasco leaves Michigan students, families in ‘anxiety inducing’ limbo
Federal aid application woes mean Michigan families are contemplating college decisions without crucial information: How much it will cost.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan’s plan to boost FAFSA: Free pizza for college aid applications
With federal aid applications lagging amid a botched federal rollout, Michigan leaders are hoping free pizza might be a motivator for high school students considering college.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan schools hired 874 mental health staffers — under program set to end
With a mental health crisis still rippling through schools, Michigan districts face tough decisions as funding expires for a pandemic-era program used to hire more than 800 counselors, psychologists and other support staff.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
More FAFSA problems: What Michigan families need to know about financial aid
The federal government promised to make it easier to apply for college aid. It messed up — again.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
What Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan means for Michigan borrowers
President Joe Biden is trying again to forgive millions of student loans. His administration says 87,680 Michigan borrowers have already seen some relief despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down an initial plan.
