Which comes first — job growth or population growth? Unfortunately, Michigan struggles with both.
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
Michigan ambulance workers still in short supply despite state grants
It’s a high-stress job with middling pay. With other jobs aplenty, ambulance services are struggling to find, train and hire paramedics and EMTs, with the gap expected to grow this decade.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Dana Nessel loses FOIA case, ordered to release Whitmer kidnapping records
Documents related to the kidnapping plot were presented in open court, but the AG’s office refused to release them to the public. A judge said Nessel had no basis to do so, and is now weighing imposing attorney’s fees on the state for its refusal.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
A compromise offers hope for Michigan library defunded over LGBTQ books
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.
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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 Politics Watch
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.
