The state and a national health care provider are squabbling over a contract, and the losers are Michigan ambulance services
Ron French
Ron French is the senior enterprise reporter at Bridge Michigan, covering a wide range of topics including rural communities, federal policy impacts, education and public health. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter, and previously reported for newspapers across Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University.
Rooted in Okemos, Ron has become a true Michigander — complete with a family cabin Up North.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Farmington Hills’ use of opioid funds to backfill budget prompts AG complaint
The money coming into Michigan communities is intended to help with the drug epidemic. The Oakland County suburb is using it to pay itself back for old costs.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
GOP blasts Democrats’ plan to close panel critical of Whitmer opioid efforts
A group that has called for more transparency in how the state fights opioid addiction is the focus of a fight between Republicans and Democrats.
Posted inQuality of Life
In Michigan’s north woods, a search for Bigfoot and political common ground
At a Sasquatch conference in northern Michigan, experts preach tolerance, a willingness to engage with skeptics and keep an open mind — all lessons that could help in the leadup to Nov. 5 as easily as in the woods.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan needs doctors more than ever. More medical schools haven’t helped
Universities have aggressively expanded medical schools with the hope that could curb a looming doctor shortage. Instead, the shortage worsened as newly licensed doctors left Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Primary-care doctor shortages cut deep in Michigan's underserved areas
More than 1 in 4 Michiganders live in an area with a shortage of health providers. Primary care is among the worst hit.
Posted inMichigan Government
Alpena backs away from firing library board after sex-themed books are moved
The culture wars have led to compromise in northern Michigan, with a library moving books and county commissioners rescinding a threat to fire library board members.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Democrats may dissolve panel critical of Whitmer opioid efforts
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.
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.