Voters want to hear about K-12 learning, the economy, abortion, college attainment and crime. Here’s what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her GOP challenger Tudor Dixon have said.
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 Government
Michigan LGBTQ teacher videos will stay despite outcry from GOP and Whitmer
Michigan Superintendent Michael Rice won’t remove training videos on making schools safe for LGBTQ students. Rice said there are times when it is not appropriate to tell parents when a student comes out about their gender identity.
Posted inMichigan Government
With fewer inmates (and officers), Michigan closes another prison
Michigan’s prisoner population is dropping fast, but a shortage of corrections officers still strains the system.
Posted inMichigan Government
Meet the judge keeping abortion legal in Michigan (for now)
Elizabeth Gleicher had a history of liberal advocacy as a lawyer before joining the Michigan Court of Appeals. Colleagues also say she’s a hard-working, fair judge.
Posted inTalent & Education
Romance author Nora Roberts helps save MI library defunded over LGBTQ books
Saying she was ‘appalled’ by the possible closure of an Ottawa County library, romance novelist Nora Roberts steps in with a $50,000 donation and a willingness to send more. Donations now exceed next year’s budget shortfall for the library.
Posted inTalent & Education
After student loan relief, here are 4 more ways to cut Michigan college debt
Michigan students leave college with more debt than the U.S. average. Experts have suggestions for ways to lessen the load.
Posted inTalent & Education
MI community colleges ditching remedial courses to keep students enrolled
Remedial courses are one of the main reasons vulnerable students drop out. The courses cost money and provide students with no credit toward graduation, discouraging many students from completing their degrees.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fundraisers pass $100K for Michigan library defunded over LGBTQ books
The Patmos Library in Ottawa County has attracted donations from as far away as Australia. Meanwhile, some of the books that upset residents aren’t sexually explicit.
Posted inMichigan Government
Defunded over LGBTQ books, Michigan library will try tax again in November
Jamestown Township’s library will be forced to close if residents again reject a millage over fears that stocking LGBTQ books is tantamount to the ‘indoctrination’ of children.
Posted inMichigan Government
Donations pour in after Michigan town defunded library over LGBTQ books
More than $50,000 has been contributed so far through a pair of GoFundMe campaigns. Nearly 1,000 donors from as far away as Australia have pitched in to keep the Jamestown Township library open.