ONE STATE, DIVIDED: The view from on high doesn’t match the one from the ground, where too often Michigan residents aren’t focused on helping the state move forward. My happiest moment at 30,000 feet was in 2006 when I saw the Detroit River announce the end of my international flight and my return to Michigan. […]
We have 9 million reasons to find common ground, so let's try
Posted inBrunch with Bridge
On All Souls' Day, remembering a vivid life, well-lived
A RICH LIFE: Anita Betzen fled two European nations but never let setbacks quench her love of life. (Courtesy photo) Next week brings Halloween, generally seen only from a secular perspective. But for Christians, Halloween is also the Vigil of the Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1), followed by the Feast of All Souls on […]
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
WE’RE HIRING: Bridge Magazine announces two staff writer openings
Driven by rapidly growing readership and philanthropic investment, Bridge Magazine has two immediate openings for experienced journalists who have a passion for covering the “how” and the “why” in Michigan’s vast and fast-moving news climate. Michigan Cities Reporter Bridge Magazine, a national award-winning, online publication dedicated to in-depth news and analysis of issues affecting life […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Great Lakes state playing catch-up in effort to build water-based economy
Michigan may be the Great Lakes state, but its neighbors to the east and west are leading efforts to turn water-based technology, academic research and tourism into jobs and revenue. Milwaukee and the province of Ontario are well ahead of Michigan’s efforts to capitalize on an $850 billion global freshwater economy, according to John Austin, […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Fishing captains’ nerves rattled by Lake Michigan salmon catch
Chinook salmon have been the bread and butter of Lake Michigan’s sport fishing industry for nearly 50 years, but the popular fishery now faces many of the same threats that wiped out Lake Huron’s salmon fishery a decade ago. The similarities between Lake Michigan’s salmon fishery and the Lake Huron salmon fishery in 2003 — […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Disinvestment, structural flaws driving school funding crisis
John Austin and Casandra Ulbrich/courtesy photo The State Board of Education is responsible for ensuring that Michigan’s public schools are providing a high-quality education for the state’s youth. Part of that responsibility includes advocating for sufficient and stable funding. A recent analysis conducted by researchers at Michigan State University’s Education Policy Center, on behalf […]
Posted inPhil's Column
The scapegoat in Washington is process, not people
I don’t know just how close our country came to economic disaster last week, but I do know most Americans are sick and tired of the entire mess in Washington. Up to now, I never thought the country was close to ungovernable, but I’m beginning to wonder. It’s no secret we came near to chaos […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Water, water everywhere in Michigan – but is it enough?
Bernard and Phyllis Senske encountered many challenges over the years while operating a sheep farm in Kalkaska County, but water scarcity was not among them. That changed earlier this year. Shortly after a Canadian firm attempted to hydraulically fracture a deep shale natural gas well nearby, the water table on the Senskes’ property went down […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Up or down? Which way are Great Lakes water levels headed?
In January, when Lake Michigan’s chronically low water level reached its nadir, Leland Harbormaster Russell Dzuba faced the prospect of closing the popular harbor to keep commercial fishing vessels and pleasure boats from running aground in the shallow channel. Leland is one of dozens of Great Lakes harbors that have struggled for two decades with […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Redistricting reform is key to fixing our “jerry-rigged” government
Jocelyn Benson and Joe Schwarz (courtesy photo) Washington is broken. Those three words may have become the most common description of the sad state of affairs in our nation’s capital. But they don’t begin to capture the frustration, anger and disgust that Americans feel when they watch our Congress careen from one manufactured crisis […]
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