Gretchen Whitmer voted for tax increases in the Michigan Senate. Did they help drive the state economy into the ground and result in 500,000 job losses?
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
Confused about Michigan Medicaid reform? These maps and charts explain all.
Michigan wants recipients to work. Maps show who would be affected, how much changes would save and what reform would do to the job market.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Property values roar back in Michigan, but many communities left behind
Tight tax laws put a crimp on Michigan municipalities even as property values finally climb.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Check out property values in your Michigan community (map)
Use this map and database to explore changes in market values in communities throughout Michigan from 2014-2017.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Medicaid reform and race: Maps explain controversy
Cheat work sheet on racial debate embroiling Medicaid work reform bills. Here’s four maps that illustrate why some feel there’s a northern bias toward exemptions.
Posted inTalent & Education
See how low-income students fare in your Michigan school district
Poor children in Michigan struggle compared with more affluent classmates. See how your district is faring in this Bridge school database.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP in bind after Muslim rant taints governor race, experts say
Republican candidates for governor Patrick Colbeck said on a video he fears Muslims are trying to bring “sharia law” to Michigan and “exercise influence” by reaching the state’s top political post. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed was his target.
Posted inTalent & Education
On nation’s report card, Michigan students remain in back of class
Michigan schools continue to trail most states in academic achievement, floundering in the bottom third of all states, according to the national NAEP test.
Posted inTalent & Education
How Michigan schools are suffering, shown in 10 slides
A few steps forward, and several back, as Michigan struggles to revive its schools
Posted inBusiness Watch
Jobs are plentiful and wages are booming in Michigan. No … really.
By definition, Michigan is at full employment. But job growth remains a key election issue and uncertain remains.