Statewide, 13.3 percent of residents are impoverished. In Lake, Mecosta and Wayne counties, the rate is 20 percent or more.
Mike Wilkinson
Mike has been a reporter for Bridge Michigan since 2013 and focuses on data-assisted reporting, often finding stories by analyzing maps and data sets and has created Bridge's dashboards on COVID-19, the state's economy and Michigan's elections. He held similar positions at The Detroit News and The Blade of Toledo. A native of Michigan, Mike grew up in Macomb County, graduated from the University of Michigan and started his reporting career in New Baltimore before his career took him to Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio. You can reach him at mwilkinson@bridgemi.com
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan population panel files recommendations. Now the hard work begins
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 28-person population commission offers a broad blueprint to reverse decades of tepid population growth, calling on new investments in economy, education, people and communities.
Posted inMichigan Government
Dana Nessel’s office probing $2M rocket plan that failed to launch
Michigan’s attorney general confirms it is investigating the awarding of a grant to study the feasibility of launching rockets from Michigan. Opponents say the plan is dead.
Posted inMichigan Government
Records: Michigan senator helped steer $25M Clare grant now under investigation
Sen. Rick Outman acknowledges contacting the state to help move along a $25 million grant that is now under investigation. But Outman said he didn’t know it would help a former aide to then-House Speaker Jason Wentworth.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan attorney general investigating $25M grant to ex-House speaker’s aide
Michigan health officials halted work on a $25 million health plan last year, citing ‘red flags.’ Now, the state attorney general is investigating the project led by Jason Wentworth’s onetime aide.
Posted inTalent & Education
School choice here to stay in Michigan: See how it impacts your district
Michigan public school choice has grown in the last decade. See how many people in your district use school choice.
Posted inTalent & Education
In Michigan, 1 in 4 kids go to school outside district, as choice expands
Once a largely city and suburban issue, school choice is now a statewide and rural phenomenon. That’s good news for many parents, but it’s causing financial problems and headaches for school officials.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan wins $120 million judgment against dam owner
A federal judge ruled that the former owner of two failed mid-Michigan dams is liable for $120 million in damages. But he filed for bankruptcy in 2020.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
COVID-19 mini-wave back in Michigan, just in time for Thanksgiving
Hospitalizations are up 50 percent in the last month and case counts are rising, especially in metro Detroit and Kent County. Even so, that’s a fraction of the cases, hospitalizations and deaths during worst of pandemic.
Posted inQuality of Life
Michigan continues to lose residents, amid Whitmer push to grow population
The bad news: Michigan had a net loss of 9,900 residents to other states last year. The good news: That’s fewer than 2021, when the state lost 15,000 residents.