A high-priced battle and a wedge issue for governor. What did the Supreme Court ruling change?
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 Education Watch
In Jackson, school choice bring new reality: students as fickle customers
Jackson loses 40 percent of school-age children to other districts and charters. How districts respond illustrates the free-market educational system for Michigan families, and the budgetary challenges districts face.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Where they stand: Michigan candidates for governor on K-12 education
Perhaps no issue is as important to Michigan’s future as improving the state’s schools and increasing the number of post-secondary graduates. Here’s how the candidates answered questions from Bridge.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Where they stand: Michigan governor candidates on college affordability
Some Michigan governor candidates want to make college free, others want to emphasize career tech. Here’s what the candidates facing primary challenges are saying about the rising cost of college.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Poll: Michigan Dems more alarmed about nation, more excited to vote in November
A survey of Michigan residents also suggests that large majorities of voters take a dim view of money in politics and want want to make it easier for people to vote.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Six more meetings set on controversial Michigan social studies standards
Public outcry over proposed changes to the standards, including deletion of “democratic” from “Core democratic values” at the request of a Republican legislator, has delayed approval.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
California’s redistricting commission has some free advice for Michigan
California has had a citizen redistricting commission since 2008 similar to the one proposed in Michigan. One lesson from the Left Coast: be prepared for lawsuits.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Why rural Michigan teens are skipping out on college. It's not grades
If Michigan is going to deepen its talent pool, it needs to figure out how to get more rural high school grads onto campuses, and how to keep them there.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
To get first-generation students to college: Could the answer be…a bus?
While other universities struggle to get rural and first-generation students to apply, Central Michigan University came up with a surprisingly simple solution: foot the bill to bring busloads for campus visits.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
How a California college program for inmates pays returns for taxpayers
Why should convicted killers get free college? It’s a good question, with a surprisingly easy answer