West Michigan’s Patmos Library will add labels describing the content of books to its 90,000-volume collection to regain taxpayer support. The library hopes that it will earn support for a new millage vote in November.
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 inQuality of Life
Michigan tribes race to save their language from extinction
The Anishinaabemowin language was systemically suppressed by a century of Indian boarding schools. Now, tribal members are trying to reclaim the language and culture of their ancestors.
Posted inQuality of Life
Michigan libraries recruiting citizen army to aid book ban wars
The state’s library association is looking for residents to spot and shed light on library battles that often focus on LGBTQ-themed books.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Survey: Young workers sour on auto industry jobs, in another blow to Michigan
A new survey shows many would leave Michigan for jobs they consider more innovative. Young people say they aren’t sure auto companies can provide the work-life balance they crave.
Posted inTalent & Education
In Las Vegas, firms pitch mass-shooter security to schools. Does it work?
Michigan has invested $335 million in school security since the 2021 Oxford High School shootings. Concern over shootings has yielded a gold-rush of security vendors offering schools everything from robotic dogs to bulletproof whiteboards.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan’s police officer shortage becoming dire: ‘Where did everyone go?’
Retirements are outpacing recruitment, with roughly 4,500 fewer Michigan officers today than in 2001 despite efforts to pay recruits more. That makes the job more stressful and, leaders say, the streets more dangerous.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Despite national slump, Michigan vacation rentals are going gangbusters
Vacationers are hedging away from Airbnb and VRBO rentals in hotspots like Austin, San Francisco and Cape Cod, but the Michigan market is still growing rapidly in vacation areas near Lake Michigan.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan is set to better track Native American student achievement
In a win for Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes, schools will now track the individual tribal affiliation of students, a move experts say is likely to triple the count of Native students and provide better feedback on their progress.
Posted inMichigan Government
Panel to keep young people in Michigan includes one person under 40 so far
The Gov. Whitmer-appointed Growing Michigan Together Council has a tough job figuring out how to keep young adults from moving away, while getting more people to move to Michigan.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Western Upper Peninsula towns empty out, look to Wisconsin for lessons
Along the U.P. border, Michigan counties are losing people while their neighbors in Wisconsin are gaining. Local leaders say the Badger State’s investments in small businesses and infrastructure are paying off.