An internal email lays out plans to dissolve a legislative commission that has pushed for transparency and accountability in how the state spends $1.6 billion in opioid settlement funds.
Ron French
Ron reports on a variety of subjects across the state. Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron graduated from Purdue University. He reported for newspapers across Indiana before moving to Michigan in 1995. Ron lives in Okemos, and like the true Michigander he’s become, he now has a family cabin Up North. You can reach him at rfrench@bridgemi.com or 517-214-3636.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Dems blast Mike Rogers over opioid stance in Congress
Democrats are trying to throw part of the blame for the opioid crisis on U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who advocated for greater pain med access two decades ago.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Amid drug crisis, one Michigan city is using money to help backfill budget
Farmington Hills has used about $120,000 from an opioid lawsuit settlement to repay itself for past drug-fighting costs. Almost all other cities are using the money to help current users or future drug-fighting efforts.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
How is your Michigan community spending opioid settlement money? Look it up
Use Bridge’s database to search how opioid settlement funds are being allocated by community in Michigan. Most of the money is being spent on recovery, drug courts, defibrillators and the like.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan communities sit on $90M meant to help drug users, Bridge finds
Michigan doesn’t track how cities are spending their share of a landmark lawsuit settlement with opioid manufacturers. A Bridge investigation finds 4 in 10 haven’t spent money yet on the crisis that has upended thousands of lives.
Posted inMichigan Government
How Michigan communities are using opioid settlement funds
A three-month investigation by Bridge Michigan has revealed that only 28% of the $156 million received by Michigan counties and municipalities so far as part of nationwide opioid settlement agreements has been budgeted or spent.
Posted inMichigan Government
Mike Rogers vows to fight drug war, but urged opioid access in Congress
Mike Rogers advocated for policies to increase opioid prescriptions as the national addiction crisis unfolded. Now running for U.S. Senate, Rogers blames doctors and a lack of federal enforcement.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s newest weapon in addiction fight runs on gas and four wheels
The state has money for drug treatment and recovery services. Now, it’s helping people get to those clinics.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Northern Michigan fights drugs with jobs. Can it work statewide?
A new program has success targeting twin crises: The worker shortage and opioid crisis, challenging old notions about the reliability of in-recovery workers. The state is paying attention.
Posted inMichigan Government
Alpena voters approve library tax, despite fuss over sex-themed books
Alpena’s library will keep its doors open after an operating millage passed Tuesday. The fight over sex-themed books is likely to continue.