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.
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
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
In Michigan’s vast UP, finding help for drugs is hard. So is finding solutions
Millions of dollars are coming to help the Upper Peninsula combat opioid addiction, but finding consensus among county governments to pool resources is difficult.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
After years of opioids agony, rural Michigan finds reason for hope
While still inadequate in many communities, addiction services are on the rise, thanks in part to an influx of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds.
Posted inMichigan Government
Alpena County moves to fire library officials over sexually-themed youth books
Michigan’s book wars escalate after a library wouldn’t move a handful of books to the adult section. The move leaves officials in ‘shock’ and comes before a tax vote to keep library doors open.
Posted inMichigan Government
Facing population crisis, Whitmer opens Michigan growth office — with no new staff
The governor announces a new state office to find ways to address decades of stagnation. The move comes after a commission she appointed unceremoniously ended.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Frustration, accusations in tense meeting about Michigan opioid funds
Several members of the Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission said addiction shouldn’t be partisan, but that politics are shutting them out of spending discussions.