The city banned outdoor camping and broke up a longstanding encampment. Officials have pledged help to the displaced, but there’s only so many places to go in a region that has battled affordability for years.
Quality of Life
Michigan is a great place to live. Bridge will report that fact often — and on potential threats to the assets that make it so.
Posted inQuality of Life
Abandoned Michigan cemetery unearths history of segregation — even in death
Abandoned for 60 years, Washtenaw County’s only Black cemetery is now being restored.
Posted inQuality of Life
Battle Creek seeks to right history, remove channel that moved Black residents
Decades ago, Battle Creek and the federal government destroyed a thriving neighborhood by building a concrete channel through downtown. Now, the city wants to put the river back to its natural state.
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As ICE plans to move into Baldwin prison, residents hope jobs will stay
The reopening is part of what has long been an on-again, off-again relationship between county residents and North Lake Correctional Facility, and many residents have doubts about whether the jobs will last.
Posted inQuality of Life
Tiny UP island becomes even more remote as ferry access shrinks
More than 250 Michiganders signed a letter calling for the restoration of evening ferry services to and from Neebish Island, which were cut in 2024.
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Memorial Day weekend in Michigan: Expect more travelers, lower gas prices
This holiday weekend, gas prices are down and a record number of 45.1 million travelers are expected nationwide by AAA.
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As news deserts spread in Michigan, Lenawee County an unexpected oasis
The shrinkage of the newspaper industry has hit Michigan harder than most states, but a southern Michigan county is amid a resurgence of local news thanks to some surprising investments.
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Detroit population gain fueled Michigan growth. See Census numbers for your town
Many Michigan cities, townships and villages added population from 2023 to 2024, especially in Detroit and in suburban communities that are still adding housing. Economic uncertainty could slow the gains though.
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Power company: God caused ice storm; we shouldn’t have to compensate customers
Alpena Power Co. wants to avoid paying customers $40 a day, arguing that the massive ice storm was an act of God, not the fault of the utility. More than 16,000 of their customers could be in line for compensation.
Posted inQuality of Life
30,000 gallons of maple syrup likely lost in historic Michigan ice storm
The historic ice storm that clobbered northern Michigan in late March destroyed at least 150,000 maple trees, meaning a loss of some as much as a third of the state’s output of the sweet stuff.