Bills introduced in the Michigan Legislature could begin the long and necessary work of reducing drug costs and addressing racial disparities in health outcomes.
Coronavirus Michigan
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan GOP lawmakers advance $1,500 student grants for learning loss
Republicans say the grants would help parents to choose private academic programs to help their children catch up after COVID. Democrats are wary, saying any extra funds should go directly to schools to help struggling students.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan advances bills to ease return of retired teachers to classrooms
The House and Senate bills differ a bit, but they both reflect broad, bipartisan support for quickly getting more teachers in Michigan classrooms amid a critical teacher shortage.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
The pandemic that closed the U.S./Canadian border to people may have opened it to the invasive sea lamprey
Great Lakes invasive species cling to shipments and navigate canals to migrate, but one aquatic invader — sea lamprey — benefitted from border closures instead.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan parks, more popular than ever, struggle to staff up for summer
Seasonal work at Michigan’s state and local parks was once a sought-after job. Now, parks across the state are struggling to find enough workers to keep programs running.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As pandemic wanes, Michigan confronts toll of isolation on homebound seniors
The link between loneliness and health troubles is real. Agencies are turning to everything from buddy programs to animatronic pets to help ease isolation made worse by the coronavirus.
Posted inTalent & Education
No, bus drivers aren’t leading classes in Michigan, despite uproar over law
Educators howled when legislators passed a law allowing school staffers to serve as substitutes temporarily. Months later, hardly any schools regularly take advantage of the law.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Omicron sub-variant BA.2 cases creep up in Michigan; some fear another wave
The BA.2 sub-variant of omicron is confirmed in Detroit and 21 Michigan counties. More contagious than the original omicron, it’s blamed for the sharp rise in cases in several western European communities.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan students to school leaders: We need more help with mental health
Students tell a forum hosted by Bridge Michigan, Chalkbeat Detroit and Detroit Free Press that they have little faith in the mental-health services they receive at school.
Posted inTalent & Education
Advocates press Michigan for $25M to open 100 school health centers
The pandemic exacerbated a slow-burning mental health crisis in Michigan’s schools. Whitmer wants to open 40 centers to help. Advocates say that’s not enough.