The university has faced criticism for years for its treatment of dogs during research. A new attorney general opinion states that there needs to be state oversight of animal experimentation.
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
Cheers for Dr. Fauci at comeback University of Michigan commencement
The COVID-19 pandemic stopped the classes of 2020 and 2021 from having a proper graduation ceremony. Saturday, they gathered under blue skies to hear Dr. Anthony Fauci urge them to embrace leadership and reject falsities.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan GOP, Whitmer push college tuition aid plans. How their plans differ.
Lawmakers propose competing scholarships, aid programs to return to school during Michigan budget deliberations.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Joy among anti-abortion faithful as Michigan confronts a post-Roe world
To some, the likely end to nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections means losing a say over their own bodies. But others see an end to what they deem government-sanctioned crime. They all appeared to scarcely believe the enormity of the ruling.
Posted inTalent & Education
Big and small groups, during and after class: tutoring is all over the map
Using federal COVID relief funds to curb learning loss, some local school districts are putting money into tutoring. A review of 16 programs shows some schools follow best practices more closely than others.
Posted inTalent & Education
Without state help, school tutoring strains to halt COVID learning loss
State educations leaders have not provided the coordination and financial support as in some other states, leaving Michigan school districts to develop their own programs or take other approaches to stemming learning delays.
Posted inTalent & Education
Central Michigan University faces civil rights probe for cutting track team
A federal civil rights agency is looking into why CMU ended men’s track and field and then revived its men’s golf program. University President Bob Davies said a tight budget (track costs more to run than golf) not racial bias was the reason.
Posted inTalent & Education
Republicans add transgender athlete ban to Michigan education budget bill
Across the country, conservative legislatures are trying to exclude transgender athletes from girls sports. A few sentences in a K-12 budget proposal could have a similar impact in Michigan.
Posted inTalent & Education
Q+A with Central Michigan University leaders on the plan to rebuild school
CMU’s president and board chair say they understand the difficulty of reversing steep enrollment declines and have big decisions to make in the next budget cycle.
Posted inTalent & Education
Citing cash crunch, Central Michigan University pauses new student housing
CMU acknowledged that new housing is necessary as part of a larger strategy to attract new students following steep declines. But its board said Thursday “now is not the right time” to advance new housing plans given ongoing economic uncertainty.