Court ruling thrusts into doubt the future of Michigan’s e-cigarette industry and millions in taxes. Sales of products are punishable for jail time, fines.
Robin Erb
Robin Erb covers health care and aging for Bridge Michigan, focusing on a state that is aging faster than most. She has led investigations tracking opioid settlement money and health care worker shortages, and previously spent six years at the Detroit Free Press covering the Affordable Care Act and Michigan's Medicaid expansion. She holds a master's degree from Lourdes University in Toledo.
Robin and her husband raised two children in southeast Michigan — and have failed miserably at training their Beagle-Bassets.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan to spray 14 counties to combat deadly EEE mosquito virus
At a cost of $1.5 million or more, low-flying aircraft will spray 2.5 miles around each confirmed EEE case across southwest Michigan and beyond.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Republicans end funding to implement Medicaid work rules they created
Republicans strip $10 million allotted to roll out work rules and avoid chaos that has plagued other states. They say it’s a compromise. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says “these budgets are a mess.”
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Southfield City Clerk accused of Michigan election fraud
Sherikia Hawkins is charged with doctoring absentee voter paperwork to reconcile vote counts. State officials said any misdeeds did not affect the outcome of the 2018 election.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Deadly EEE virus in Michigan forces daylight football starts, cancellations
Friday night football has moved to daylight for at least two schools in Kalamazoo County, the epicenter of the outbreak of Eastern equine encephalitis. Eight people in Michigan have been infected.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
It's official: Flavored e-cigarettes are now illegal in Michigan
Emergency rules aimed at protecting youth make distribution and sale of flavored vaping products punishable by six months behind bars.. Retailers have 14 days to remove the products from their shelves.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Critics rip Michigan vaping ban, citing harm to smokers and vape shops
A legislative hearing in Lansing on Thursday gave lawmakers and shop owners an opportunity to explain the unintended consequences of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s planned ban on flavored vape products.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
How Right to Life has dominated Michigan abortion politics since Roe v. Wade
In a state that favors abortion rights, the group uses a network of ardent volunteers and the “golden ticket” of its candidate endorsements to restrict abortion access. It hopes to make more gains in 2020.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Medicaid rules change soon. Can cool envelopes help avoid confusion?
New work rules go into effect in January for Healthy Michigan beneficiaries. Gleaning lessons from a debacle in Arkansas over similar changes, Michigan is stepping up efforts to communicate the changes.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Vaping may be bad for teens. But will Michigan’s ban hurt smokers trying to quit?
Some worry an all-out ban on flavored e-cigarettes will take them away from adults who use them -‒ effectively, according to some studies -‒ to kick smoking.