Career tech students in Houghton needed hands-on experience. So they spent a year building a house. It went up for sale last weekend.
Justin A. Hinkley
Justin A. Hinkley has worked in journalism for two decades, beginning as a cub reporter at his hometown paper, the Battle Creek Enquirer, where he covered everything from local government to cops and courts to education and everything in between. He then worked as an investigative journalist at the Lansing State Journal, focusing on state government, before moving to the Alpena News, where he served as managing editor and then publisher. He joined Bridge in February 2025. He lives in Alpena with his wife and son and was born and raised in Battle Creek.
Posted inEvents
Watch Bridge Lunch Break on the state of local media in Michigan
Four panelists discussed news deserts, trust and what’s lost because of the shrinking media landscape in north and west Michigan.
Posted inEvents
Bridge Lunch Break to discuss media in Michigan
The May 28 panel discussion via Zoom will feature representatives from media, government, and business discussing the state of the media in north and western Michigan.
Posted inQuality of Life
As news deserts spread in Michigan, Lenawee County an unexpected oasis
The shrinkage of the newspaper industry has hit Michigan harder than most states, but a southern Michigan county is amid a resurgence of local news thanks to some surprising investments.
Posted inEvents
Watch Bridge Lunch Break on Michigan summer tourism, impact of foreign travel
Three tourism experts joined Bridge Michigan Outdoors Life Reporter Laura Herberg for a conversation about what’s coming up in Michigan tourism this year and the challenges tourism officials face.
Posted inMichigan Government
Watch: Donald Trump holds Michigan rally to mark first 100 days
Watch President Donald Trump’s remarks in Macomb County.
Posted inQuality of Life
Power company: God caused ice storm; we shouldn’t have to compensate customers
Alpena Power Co. wants to avoid paying customers $40 a day, arguing that the massive ice storm was an act of God, not the fault of the utility. More than 16,000 of their customers could be in line for compensation.
Posted inQuality of Life
30,000 gallons of maple syrup likely lost in historic Michigan ice storm
The historic ice storm that clobbered northern Michigan in late March destroyed at least 150,000 maple trees, meaning a loss of some as much as a third of the state’s output of the sweet stuff.
Posted inQuality of Life
Days after storms, thousands still without power. That’s the norm in Michigan
Michigan has some of the longest power outages in the US, but state officials and utility leaders say recent rate hikes will lead to investments that should help.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan drug recovery, worker housing in limbo after Trump funding freeze
Desperately needed housing for those recovering from drug addiction is on hold in a fight over ‘green’ federal grants.