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.
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 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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As crisis rages, Michigan speeds up opioid spending in new budget
The state will pump close to $50 million into addiction services next year from opioid settlement funds. It’s a big increase over current spending.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Before it even opens, a U.P. addiction clinic has 225 patients
There’s a ‘huge need’ for addiction services in the Upper Peninsula, as the Sault Tribe opens a medically assisted treatment center.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Millions to help opioid users still unspent in half of Michigan’s counties
As a crisis mounts that kills 3,000 per year, Michigan’s counties have been slow to distribute tens of millions of dollars in funds meant to fight the opioid crisis.