In some counties, there are three funerals for every birth. That’s not a trend that bodes well for the state.
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 inUrban Affairs
Memo to Mike Duggan: This is the real state of the City of Detroit
Key metrics measuring the health of Detroit – income, home values, poverty, foreclosures – show real progress since Mike Duggan became mayor in 2013. But he also benefits from starting at one of the worst periods in the city’s history.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to fix Michigan roads: Nearly triple gas tax
The Democratic governor wants to add 45 cents atop Michigan’s 26.3 per gallon tax on gas. She’ll propose doing so when she unveils her first state budget proposal Tuesday. Republicans already are criticizing plan.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan roads are a big mess. Here are eight big ideas to fix them.
Reform Proposal A? Raise the sales tax? Boost taxes on rich? As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to unveil her first budget, Lansing officials say it’s time to think big to fix Michigan’s big problems.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Warming temps mean many Michigan lakes won’t freeze in coming years
Climate change means that inland lakes in much of the Lower Peninsula may not regularly freeze during winter, endangering the ecosystem and a way of life.
Posted inTalent & Education
Whitmer pushes college aid. But success rates vary wildly at Michigan schools
A new scholarship proposal could get more students into Michigan colleges. But which campus they go to plays a big role in whether they graduate and how much they – and the state – will benefit.
Posted inMichigan Government
Jeep plants a big win for Detroit. But expect debate about tax incentives
Public officials cheer major investment in city to bring 5,000 jobs. But Detroit and state officials have 60 days to assemble land and present an incentives package to FCA.
Posted inTalent & Education
More Michigan residents get college degrees, but state still trails diploma race
More than four in 10 Michigan adults have an associate’s degree or higher, the highest rate on record but still far short of what the state needs.
Posted inMichigan Government
Lansing, we have a problem: Whitmer kills $2.5M rocket plan pushed by Snyder
The grant, approved in lame duck, was intended to boost prospects for a commercial space program in Michigan. But the venture lacked detail and was derided by an expert as a “back of the napkin” plan.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer changes course, blocks $10M grant that helps former GOP chair
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has put on ice a grant that would help bring water and sewer lines to a swath of land owned by a company with ties to former GOP chair Bobby Schostak. She wants to determine if the money could be spent elsewhere.