A landmark lawsuit settlement will pour $1.5 billion into Michigan, almost half of it directly to communities. But local governments have been slow to spend the money, and transparency questions dog efforts to fight the drug scourge.
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 Health Watch
Michigan disbands racial equity group as tension mounts over opioid money
The state spent $148,000 on a racial equity group to offer advice on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds. But after issuing recommendations, the group said it was ‘silenced.’
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
John Bebow retires after building Bridge into national model for nonprofit news
Trained as an investigative reporter, John Bebow launched Bridge and the Center for Michigan and grew it into a juggernaut.
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
Bridge Michigan top editor David Zeman retiring after award-winning career
Bridge grew up under the reins of a metro Detroit native known for his meticulous editing, investigative chops, fairness and self-deprecating humor.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan population panel files recommendations. Now the hard work begins
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 28-person population commission offers a broad blueprint to reverse decades of tepid population growth, calling on new investments in economy, education, people and communities.
Posted inMichigan Government
Pay people to move to Michigan? Whitmer population panel mulls the idea
Communities (and one state) around the nation offer incentives for people — particularly remote workers — to move there. Michigan’s population commission is exploring a similar program here.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan’s draft population plan: Better schools, high-tech jobs, new taxes
Draft recommendations from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s population commission includes a laundry list of changes. And they’ll cost money.
Posted inMichigan Government
Ottawa mulls paying for concealed carry gun permits for county workers
One of Michigan’s most politically conservative counties is weighing whether to spend taxpayer dollars on handgun training and concealed carry permits for its 1,200 employees.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan is spending to fill critical worker gaps. Here’s what’s needed
Some worker shortages hurt more than others, and state leaders are rushing to try to make it easier to fill vacancies from paramedics to special ed teachers.
Posted inMichigan Government
Indiana is beating Michigan by attracting people, not just companies
Indiana leads the Midwest in population growth. Michigan lags. What can we learn from the Hoosier state? That building cities and towns where young people want to live and raise families can bring the economy along with them.