Federal student loan borrowers have not been required to make payments on their loans since spring 2020 and had anticipated having to restart payments in January. Now, they’ll have more time, though it’s unclear how long.
Isabel Lohman
Isabel reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan. She loves visiting schools and analyzing how policies made in Lansing affect students and educators. Previously, she was the children’s issues reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee. There, she reported on the state's third-largest public school district's COVID-19 response and how a community copes after losing teenagers to gun violence. Isabel grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and has also lived in Missouri, Tennessee and Belgium. Isabel moved to Ann Arbor in January 2022 where she experienced her first Michigan winter. She has a warm winter hat with a snap-on puff ball. You can reach Isabel at ilohman@bridgemi.com.
New U-M president Ono lays out climate change, diversity and staffing goals
Santa Ono outlined a host of progressive priorities he hopes to pursue at the University of Michigan, including a $300 million investment in “socially responsible” companies.
Dearborn removes two books from school library after parent pressure
The school board had been under months of pressure from a raucous group of parents and activists to remove books with LGBTQ, sexual, or sexual violence themes. Other books are still under review.
Analysis: Parents rights school board campaigns lost most Michigan races
From the governor’s race to local school boards, the ‘parental rights’ movement has dominated debates on education policy this election year. But movement-backed candidates had limited success Tuesday in local school board elections.
Democrats sweep Michigan Board of Education and MSU, UM, Wayne State races
Republicans framed the education debate in Michigan this year on culture war issues including transgender inclusion, diversity and critical race theory. But in statewide races, it was Democrats who emerged victorious.
Michigan Congress: Hillary Scholten, Elissa Slotkin win; Dan Kildee, John James lead
In early results, it remains uncertain which party will control Michigan’s congressional delegation.
Michigan Supreme Court: Richard Bernstein, Brian Zahra retain seats
Bernstein, a Democratic nominee and Republican-nominated Zahra will return to the state’s highest court. Their reelection maintains the 4-3 advantage on the court for justices nominated by the Democratic Party.
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Michigan colleges tout nonpartisan efforts to get more students to vote
Politicians know young people tend to vote at lower rates than their elders. But Michigan college campus leaders say students are invested in the issues, but may need more help accessing voting information.
More Michigan parents opt to skip school vaccines for their children
More than 10 percent of students opted out of at least one vaccine in five Michigan counties, leaving areas open to potentially deadly outbreaks. Said one ‘vaccine choice’ leader: Parents know what’s best for their children.
U-M President Santa Ono: New ethics office will be truly independent
President Santa Ono said the office will follow best practices from other universities in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct scandals. He also vowed a new initiative on climate change and explained why his selfies and ‘grams are more than a schtick.