Families can’t afford to pay and workers can’t afford to stay. Michigan’s child care crisis is crimping family budgets and hobbling Michigan businesses.
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
Crush of retirees a crisis in Michigan. State unprepared to meet their needs
Michigan spends more than many states and gets less in return on services for seniors, who face long waits for care, transportation gaps and bureaucracy that pushes them to nursing homes. The problems will only get worse.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Whitmer proposes more money for Michigan's aging crisis. Is it enough?
Michigan underfunds services for the elderly compared to other states. That’s a red flag for a state with a fast-aging population.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Experts: Michigan lawmakers should make 6 fixes to improve senior care
Lawmakers need to streamline bureaucracy, change policies and focus on caregiving to prepare for a gray wave that is gripping Michigan.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan's state Superintendent Michael Rice will retire later this year
Rice’s departure comes at a crucial time for Michigan education, where some state education chiefs are embracing President Trump’s education agenda and others like Rice are fighting it.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan drug recovery, worker housing in limbo after Trump funding freeze
Desperately needed housing for those recovering from drug addiction is on hold in a fight over ‘green’ federal grants.
Posted inTalent & Education
U-M, Grand Valley targeted for civil rights probes by Trump administration
The Trump administration announced new civil rights investigations into two universities in Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
What Trump’s pledge to repeal EV, climate regulations means to Michigan
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the flurry of directives the ‘most consequential day of deregulation in American history.’ Michigan environmentalists agree — but they don’t think it’s a good thing.
Posted inTalent & Education
How Michigan may be impacted by Trump plan to gut Department of Education
The president intends to slash in half the number of employees in the department starting March 21. What cutting the agency does — and doesn’t — mean for states, college loans and services to disabled students.
Posted inTalent & Education
Trump admin to University of Michigan: Stop antisemitism, or face 'enforcement'
Trump administration warns 60 schools — including University of Michigan — they must do more to protect Jewish students from discrimination after pro-Palestinian protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
