The lower minimum wage for migrant farmhands has some farmers celebrating the cost savings and others wondering if they’ll still be able to attract the workers they need.
Rural Michigan
Posted inTalent & Education
Alpena schools get tough on absenteeism. Parents don’t make it easy
Educators are warning parents, scheduling meetings and even threatening charges. Many still miss school: ‘It’s like they’re not afraid of the consequences at this point,’ one says.
Posted inTalent & Education
Many Michigan families can’t find child care. Could new business model help?
Nearly 9 in 10 Michigan families live in child care deserts. A state grant aims to help in two Up North counties.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Tech giants announce $7B data center, Michigan’s first hyperscale campus
Three tech companies have announced plans to build a massive data center on 575 acres in rural southwest Washtenaw County.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
After long legal battle, Michigan toughens poop patrol at factory farms
State regulators first announced stricter pollution regulations for industrial-scale livestock farms back in 2020. But years of legal challenges from farming interests kept them from enforcing them until now.
Posted inEvents
Watch Bridge Lunch Break on the ultimate Michigan winter bucket list
Bridge Michigan Outdoors Life reporter Laura Herberg unveiled the Winter Dreaming Michigan Bucket List and talked with experts and a reader about having fun in the snow and cold. Watch a recap of the virtual discussion here.
Posted inOutdoors Life
12 items to add to your Michigan winter bucket list
Looking for inspiration as we head into the colder months? We’ve got you covered with a dozen winter bucket list items that range from trying out dog sledding to racing a cardboard sled
Posted inOutdoors Life
How you can cross 10 notable pedestrian bridges in Michigan
From crossing the SkyBridge at Boyne Mountain for fall color views to marvelling at one of Michigan’s unique three-way ‘tridges,’ the state’s footbridges have a lot to offer.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Ice storm decimated Michigan’s ‘wood basket,’ meaning tough years ahead
A glut of timber downed by the March ice storm was harvested quicker than it should have been. Now there’s little wood left to harvest and years until planted trees can replace what was lost.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | What Michigan communities need most from Rural Health Transformation Program
Without resources, rural hospitals will close, and many communities will lose their primary source of care. Without workforce investment, these providers will struggle to meet the needs of their communities.