Bridge has a Q-and-A with new Skillman chief Tonya Allen, who talks about the challenges facing her hometown.
Bridge Q and A
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Teacher evaluation bill meant to help, not punish, co-sponsor says
Rep. Adam Zemke says new statewide teacher evaluation legislation will help students by improving teachers’ classroom performance.
Posted inQuality of Life
Michael Moore: Traverse City and the Next Cool Thing
Filmmaker Michael Moore is bullish on Traverse City’s festival boom. (courtesy photo) Bridge recently asked Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, founder of the nonprofit Traverse City Film Festival, to talk about the city’s thriving arts scene, some local complaints of festival fatigue, and what the region needs next. Bridge Magazine: When you look around Traverse City […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan needs more college grads to attract good jobs
Lou Glazer is president of Michigan Future Inc., a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to generate new ideas to help Michigan succeed in a knowledge-driven economy. Bridge: Michigan lost a higher percentage of jobs in the recession than other states, and Michigan is projected to gain fewer jobs than 48 states in the next decade. What’s […]
Posted inChildren & Families
Michigan philanthropists have a ‘sense of urgency’ on education
Rob Collier/Council of Michigan Foundations The Council of Michigan Foundations is the nation’s largest regional association of grantmakers, representing 350 foundations and other grantmaking organizations in the state. Foundations are playing an increasingly prominent role in Michigan as state and local government budgets that support for communities, the arts, recreation and other services have become […]
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
What business wants from Detroit’s next mayor
Doug Rothwell is president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan. Bridge contributor Amy Lane talked to Business Leaders for Michigan CEO Doug Rothwell about the results of a new Detroit mayoral election poll, commissioned by BLM and The Center for Michigan. Bridge: What is the business community looking for in a new Detroit mayor? […]
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Why ‘dark money’ matters when you stand before a Michigan judge
The State Bar of Michigan this month urged Secretary of State Ruth Johnson to require everyone who contributes money to Michigan judicial campaigns to be publicly identified. It said a 2004 decision by then-Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land allowing those who bankroll so-called judicial “issue ads” to remain anonymous undermines the integrity of the […]
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Why Michigan citizens should care about money in judicial politics
Rich Robinson is executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a non-profit, non-partisan campaign finance watchdog group in Lansing. Here are his thoughts about judges who contribute big bucks to political campaigns and the role big money plays in judicial elections. Q. What do you think about Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Henry Saad […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Auto Future: A bounty of jobs and opportunity for skilled workers
Cole is chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. (Courtesy photo.) David E. Cole has worked in, studied, and invested in the auto industry for decades. At 76, he remains Michigan’s go-to expert in the state’s flagship industry. As the Big Three automakers have largely recovered from their near-death spiral of […]
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Research: Politicians have little idea what voters are thinking
Politicians aren’t particularly adept at knowing the views of their own constituents – and conservative politicians are the least adept of the bunch. Those are some of the major findings of a recently released research paper co-authored by a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Chris Skovron, of U-M’s Department of Political Science, along […]
