Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first term was defined by COVID. A Bridge analysis finds the facts are clear: Her orders spared lives, but did so at a cost to the economy and K-12 learning.
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 warns absentee ballots deluge may delay Nov. 8 election results
Once again, the most absentee votes are in Democratic-leaning counties. All told, more than 1.7 million voters have requested them so far.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan absentee ballots data shows heavy interest in Democratic counties
Counties that voted for Joe Biden for president so far have sought more absentee ballots. But that may be cold comfort for Democrats since Republicans are more likely to vote in person.
Posted inMichigan Government
Big money donors shunning Tudor Dixon, Michigan Republican ticket
Dixon is hurting for money in her race against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and part of the reason is donors who funded Bill Schuette and Rick Snyder aren’t giving to her campaign.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan to invest $560M on scholarships to ease college affordability crisis
State lawmakers approved a scholarship plan to provide up to $5,500 per year per student. Some 75 percent of Michigan students would be eligible.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers OK’d $681M in pet projects. Months later, details scant
Lawmakers pushed 145 grants totaling $681 million in late June. Months later, officials only have details on 19 of them.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan LGBTQ teacher videos will stay despite outcry from GOP and Whitmer
Michigan Superintendent Michael Rice won’t remove training videos on making schools safe for LGBTQ students. Rice said there are times when it is not appropriate to tell parents when a student comes out about their gender identity.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan Dept. of Education LGBTQ, gender training blasted by Dixon, Whitmer
The governor asks Superintendent Michael Rice to change trainings under fire from conservatives for suggesting teachers don’t need to tell parents about children’s gender orientation.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan spent $2.5M to be a rocket hub. Critics say it’s produced only hype
Efforts to establish three rocket sites generated plenty of community opposition but few plans or answers after three years.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
CDC loosens COVID rules with new onus on people, not schools, businesses
The Biden administration bowed to the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay and most Americans are better equipped to fend off serious illness. The new rules place more emphasis on individual responsibility.