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.
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
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
Michigan opioid cash sparks feeding frenzy of vendors, seeking cut of $1.5B
Local officials say there are ‘sharks in the water,’ as companies pitching everything from $7,400 vending machines to $200,000 body scanners seek contracts from the opioid settlement money coming to Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
See how much your Michigan community will get in opioid settlement funds
Michigan is receiving about $1.5 billion over 18 years, with about $725 million going to cities and counties. Some will receive a larger share of opioid settlement, based on how hard they’ve been hit by the crisis.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As opioid deaths mount, Michigan governments sit on millions for intervention
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.
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.
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.