Scores of first responders rushed to a Michigan church on Sunday after a mass shooting and fire. Dispatch recordings show how the urgency grew by the minute as crews tried to find six children in the smoke-filled church.
Paula Gardner
Paula directs the business reporting on Bridge, writing much of it and setting the strategy for how statewide business coverage fits into Bridge’s nonpartisan policy-driven editorial mix. Paula came to Bridge in 2020 after several years at MLive.com, where she covered the state on both business and environmental teams. Prior to that, she was editor of the Ann Arbor News and news director of online startup AnnArbor,com, and also focused on business news as an editor and reporter at Michigan Business Review. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Paula moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, and has lived in the city for 20 years with her husband, who grew up in their neighborhood. Paula also regularly visits East Lansing and Grand Rapids to visit her college-aged children. She can be reached at pgardner@bridgemi.com
Posted inMichigan Government
United in tragedy, Oxford and Rochester Hills offer lessons to Grand Blanc
The Genesee County suburb joins a sad list of Michigan communities that have to recover from mass shootings. ‘The aftermath gets harder,’ Oxford’s police chief says.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan church shooting: Gunman was former Marine, Iraq veteran, hunter
Police have not released a motive about the gunman, who was shot and killed by police. Online records indicate he’s a former Marine whose father was ‘very proud’ of his service.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan church shooting: Trump, Whitmer, others condemn violence
President Donald Trump, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others called for an end to violence after at least two people were killed at a Grand Blanc Township church.
Posted inBusiness Watch, Michigan Government
Whitmer biz incentives may face chopping block as part of Michigan budget deal
Michigan funding for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature business incentive program would be eliminated and redirect to roads under a new plan from legislators attempting to avoid a state government shutdown.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Cash-for-jobs deals targeted in Michigan. What to know about agency funding them
Michigan’s corporate incentives are a sticking point in deadlocked budget negotiations. A little-known agency oversees them, the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan economy wobbles from tariffs, as Whitmer prepares budget push
The governor plans a Tuesday address about the economy, as concerns grow about jobs, prices, inflation and manufacturing.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Records: Beydoun, other MEDC officials skipped conflict of interest reports
Michigan economic development officials failed to file required conflict of interest reports for years, including one board member now under investigation for potential embezzlement, a Bridge investigation found.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan officials defend $20B Sandisk incentive offer scrutinized by legislators
Michigan was offering at least $20 billion of a $40 billion incentive package in a failed bid to lure Sandisk, according to officials. Critics say that was too much taxpayer money.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Residents call Michigan’s $261M Flint-area megasite development ‘traumatic’
Legislators called an oversight hearing on the project, where Sandisk recently abandoned plans to build a $63 billion complex.