Michigan is set to receive over $173 million in federal funding to improve health care access, but creative accounting allows major population centers to pilfer these resources and, once again, leave rural communities behind.
Rural Michigan
Posted inQuality of Life
Most Michigan counties gained population last year. See where
Michigan’s population grew between 2020 and 2025, new Census estimates show, but some parts of the state are doing better than others.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Providers face ‘extreme shortage’ of paramedics, EMTs in rural Michigan
Paramedics and EMTs regularly handle the state’s worst medical traumas and receive wages similar to fast-food workers. Even with state assistance to promote workforce development, gaps remain.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
EMS providers battle money, staffing woes in rural Michigan’s ambulance ‘deserts’
Rural emergency medical services in Michigan are burdened by the high cost of keeping crews ready and insurance payouts that fail to cover calls. Hospital closures and mergers and a lack of local dollars aren’t helping matters, leaving local residents in a bind to keep services afloat.
Posted inOutdoors Life
Michigan United Conservation Clubs to pause camp, magazines amid financial woes
The group claims to be the largest statewide conservation organization in the nation. Its board president said, ‘It’s tight right now.’
Posted inOutdoors Life
Looking for a native plant sale? Here are 30+ in Michigan
Native plants provide benefits to the environment and to gardeners.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan pits small, big schools for funding. It’s an unfair fight, leaders say
Michigan increasingly requires schools to apply for grants to fund special programs like career tech. That may disadvantage small schools, where superintendents complete applications between plowing school and substitute teaching.
Posted inTalent & Education
Up North Michigan, schools struggle between pull of home and promise of college
Students’ stark choice in northern Michigan: Go to college and never come back — or stay with smaller paychecks. That’s put school districts in a conundrum about how best to educate them.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Strengthening rural governance in Michigan
We need to move beyond treating structural, systemic struggles in rural Michigan as isolated examples. We must help communities prepare for fast, unpredictable change with strong governance.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
5 things to know as Michigan lawmakers try again on dam safety reforms
A bipartisan group in the state House wants to boost Michigan’s weak dam safety standards while requiring owners to prove they can afford to maintain their dams.