With map: After a one-year increase, blood lead levels are down again in Michigan. But is it because fewer people are getting tested now that the Flint water crisis has faded?
Joel Kurth
As Executive Editor of Impact, Joel oversees newsgathering, investigations, partnerships and coverage strategy at Bridge Michigan. He joined Bridge in 2017 after 17 years as an investigative reporter and editor at The Detroit News. Over his career, he has led or produced investigations that led to numerous reforms in government and health care, including policy changes about water shutoffs and surgical instrument sterilization, as well as criminal charges of government officials. In addition to authoring Bridge’s popular weekly News Quiz, he and his teams have won more than 60 state and national awards. During his 30-year career in Michigan, he also has worked at newspapers in the Upper Peninsula and Saginaw. He lives in West Bloomfield with his wife and two children. You can reach him at jkurth@bridgemi.com
Posted inUrban Affairs
Detroit studying whether to shut water in underpopulated neighborhoods
Rising costs, aging infrastructure: Are closing taps to abandoned blocks the answer? Detroit is amid a study to find out.
Posted inUrban Affairs
In Detroit, surviving without running water has become a way of life
New records show more than 1,500 occupied homes never had water restored this year after disconnections for nonpayment. That’s at least 1 in 10 shutoffs this year from Detroit’s aggressive collections.
Posted inMichigan Government
Emails: Michigan Republicans brag that redistricting ‘protects incumbents’
Some Republicans were ‘beyond pissed’ and ‘just hated’ proposed political districts that threatened their power, prompting wheeling and dealing to ensure favorable districts in 2011, new emails in federal gerrymandering suit claim.
Posted inMichigan Government
Opinion | Gerrymandering has been ‘weaponized’ in Michigan
Author David Daley has studied Michigan political districts and says expected Democratic gains only prove the power of gerrymandering in the state.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Republicans push ‘popular vote’ bills after trip to Hawaii
A California group sponsored oceanfront trips to Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Weeks later came GOP bills to change how Michigan awards presidential votes. Lawmakers did not have to disclose the travel.
Posted inMichigan Government
How a shadow Republican group gerrymandered Michigan – sparking a backlash
Led by Michigan Chamber executives, the Michigan Redistricting Resource Institute paid $1 million to bolster GOP control of Lansing and the state’s congressional delegation even as state Democrats won just as many votes.
Posted inMichigan Truth Squad
As elections loom, Bridge is changing its approach to Michigan Truth Squad
Truth Squad is simplifying how its rates the accuracy of political ads and rhetoric, while making it easier to alert voters to statements that may be technically factual but misleading
Posted inMichigan Government
Get to know Garlin Gilchrist II, Gretchen Whitmer's pick for Lt. Governor
Garlin Gilchrist, 35, is not well known outside Detroit so it’s unclear how many votes he can inspire as candidate for Michigan’s lt. governor under Gretchen Whitmer. He does bring smarts, national organizing skills and diversity.
Posted inUrban Affairs
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan flexes clout, mostly scores with Dem wins
The mayor got behind Gretchen Whitmer and targeted lawmakers who fought auto insurance reforms. But Duggan candidates had some big misses, too.