Ten years after the beginning of the Flint water crisis, the city’s youth are scarred as much by low expectations as by the lead-tainted water. ‘People had already decided who we were. They had ideas about IQ and behavior.’
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
Blood lead levels continue to fall in Michigan: Look up your ZIP code
In a major public-health success story, lead exposure in Michigan children has plummeted in recent decades, including in Flint.
Posted inTalent & Education
Flint water crisis still crippling kids’ futures. But not because of lead
Ten years later, a growing body of research suggests fears of permanent brain damage are a ‘myth.’ That’s good news for children, but some say trauma from the crisis is now worse than lead.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan opioid settlement dollars sit unspent as crisis rages
Less than a quarter of the money Michigan’s state government has received to fight the opioid crisis has been spent, more than a year after the funds began flowing into state coffers.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
In drug-ravaged northern Michigan, there’s money for help. But few counselors
Michigan is receiving $1.5 billion from an opioid settlement. Up North, experts worry that housing and worker shortages will make it hard to put the money to good use and help users.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Providers: Rollout of $1.5B opioid settlement a ‘huge disaster’ in Michigan
Clinics that treat drug addiction say they’re confused about how to access money flowing into the state from a lawsuit settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Meth makes a comeback in Michigan, even as drug fight focuses on opioids
New data confirms law enforcement suspicions about a surge in meth and cocaine. Michigan has spent millions to treat opioids, but treatments don’t work the same for meth.
Posted inMichigan Government
In northern Michigan, voters admit qualms about Trump, still will vote for him
Michigan could determine the presidency this fall. Trump supporters acknowledge some fatigue, but say he’s right on issues like the border and the economy.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Has the opioid crisis hit your family? We seek Michigan stories
Michigan is set to receive a huge influx of money to address the opioid crisis. How has the epidemic affected your family? Share your story.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan won’t know how $725M is spent on opioids help. Other states do it better
Advocates slam ‘abysmal’ transparency surrounding opiods settlement in Michigan. Unlike many other states, Michigan set up few controls over how cities, counties spend their 50% share of the money.