This year, Sue Hartman was singled out by peers for excellence. But the Republican clerk says trying to convince her mostly Republican neighbors that elections are fair has taken its toll.
Rural Michigan
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Year after reintroduction, no grayling seen in Michigan wild. Hope remains
Biologists with northern Michigan tribes said they expect to see better results as they continue to collect data over the next several years.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Dysfunction rocks county health dept. at center of Michigan MAHA movement
Nurses allege a toxic workplace has taken root at the St. Clair County Health Department. But officials are shrugging off calls for an independent investigation of its anti-vaccine medical director.
Posted inEvents
Bridge Listens Issues Watch recap: The challenges rural governments face
From a lack of people stepping up to fill elected and staff positions to a lack of funds to repair aging infrastructure, rural local governments sometimes struggle to do the business of government.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan got $173M to transform rural health. Where is it going?
Some rural healthcare leaders say the first round of funds allocated from the Rural Health Transformation Program don’t go far enough to stabilize their industry amid federal cuts.
Posted inOutdoors Life
Dozens of deer found dead in Saginaw area, disease suspected
Earlier this week, an angler found deer after deer lying dead in a river in Saginaw County with no visible gunshot wounds. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources suspects a viral disease that is transmitted from a small biting fly.
Posted inMichigan Government
Where Michigan governor candidates stand on rural government crisis
As townships struggle with leadership voids and money woes, GOP candidate John James backs reform. Democrat Jocelyn Benson supports local control.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan villages have a fix for shortage of officials. Townships can’t use it
Michigan’s rural communities are struggling to find people to hold public office. Lansing has been slow to help.
Posted inEvents, Michigan Government, The Center for Michigan
Issues Watch returns Sept. 30 to discuss Michigan rural government crisis
Join Bridge for a virtual event to explore how small communities throughout the state struggle to deliver services and attract officials.
Posted inMichigan Government
Rural townships squeezed on all sides in Michigan, as money woes mount
From leaky roofs to crumbling roads, the signs of Michigan’s rural communities’ financial struggles abound. Will the state help?