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 Kurth oversees newsgathering, investigations, and coverage strategy at Bridge Michigan. He joined Bridge in 2017 after 17 years as an investigative reporter and editor at The Detroit News, where he led investigations that drove policy changes on water shutoffs and surgical instrument sterilization and resulted in criminal charges against government officials. He and his teams have won more than 60 state and national awards across a 30-year career in Michigan that has also included stints at newspapers in the Upper Peninsula and Saginaw. Joel also authors Bridge's popular weekly News Quiz.
Joel lives in West Bloomfield with his wife and two children.
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.