At a September meeting with top MSU leaders, including the police chief, at least two faculty members raised concerns about a lack of door locks in the event of a campus shooting. One speaker cited Berkey Hall specifically.
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 inTalent & Education
Michigan House votes to end A-F school quality ranking system
Michigan may soon end its process of giving schools A through F grades on measures like graduation rates and test scores. Critics of the A-F system call it confusing. A bill to end the system passed the House Tuesday and now heads to the Senate.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan may dump its A-F school quality ranking system
Democrats move to eliminate a school quality ranking system that they claim is redundant. Supporters say the system offers parents a different lens to see how schools are performing.
Posted inTalent & Education
From the gunfire at MSU, an emerging class of determined gun activists
In the month since a terrifying mass shooting, a loose collection of MSU students has emerged to organize sit-downs, pressure lawmakers, tend to classmates and demand that school officials create a safer campus for those who follow.
Posted inTalent & Education
Wayne State launches free tuition program to lower-income students
Wayne State University is launching a program to make tuition and fees free for students whose families $70,000 a year or less. It’s possible because of a new state scholarship program.
Posted inTalent & Education
MSU shooter motive hinted at in note: ‘They made me who I am today a killer’
Michigan State Police on Friday released a redacted version of the note suspected campus shooter Anthony McRae wrote a day earlier and carried with him during the crime.
Posted inMichigan Government
MSU shooting victim’s mom testifies for gun safety laws
Some committee and audience members cried as the mother of MSU student Troy Forbush testified Wednesday about rushing to her son after he was shot during the Feb. 13 mass shooting. She urged lawmakers to pass gun safety laws.
Posted inMichigan Government
Inflation relief checks v. income tax cuts. What saves you more in Michigan?
A proposed $180 rebate for tax filers isn’t happening, but an income tax that will save people more money in the long run is looming. When will you realize savings? It depends.
Posted inTalent & Education
Should Michigan schools teach cursive? Some say yes.
A Democrat-sponsored bill would encourage the Michigan Department of Education to develop or adopt cursive programs and “strongly encourage” schools to teach cursive.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan State shooting victims: Two more students released from hospital
Sparrow Hospital provided an update Friday on the status of students injured in the Feb. 13 mass shooting on the Michigan State University campus.