Michigan’s rivers are back from the brink — and play a pivotal role in state life. From dams to fish and pollution to development, they face a host of challenges that Bridge is exploring in a summerlong series.
Rural Michigan
Opinion | Michigan can lead the way on health care affordability. Rural families need us to
Creating a state-level HSA program is a smart and practical step. It allows Michigan to tailor savings incentives to our own residents. This is the kind of tangible, pocketbook benefit that people can actually feel.
Whitefish waning. Should Michigan have commercial trout, walleye catches?
Bills under consideration in the House aim to expand commercial access to walleye and trout as whitefish catch rates plummet. Recreational fishing advocates and state fishing regulators object.
Northern Michigan ice storm debris could mean dangerous fire season
Dry timber buildup from last year’s ice storm has fire officials bracing for a riskier-than-average fire season. But early season impacts are trending below average.
Michigan limits hunters to one buck in Lower Peninsula, urges doe killing
Some hunters gunning for a more balanced deer sex ratio in the state are disappointed the policy didn’t pass statewide.
Detroit fuels Michigan population gain. See new Census numbers for your town
Detroit added more than 5,000 residents for the second year in a row, but some other communities lost ground, according to new US Census estimates. Use our searchable database to look up your town.
Nurses allege toxic workplace under Michigan county medical director
St. Clair County’s medical director has been the subject of several complaints throughout his tenure, with nurses alleging gender-based discrimination in the county health department.
Michigan created a buck-centric culture advocates now want to change
A 1921 law forced hunters to kill only one deer for decades, a buck. That policy likely created a culture of capturing that trophy buck in Michigan, which advocates say is a problem and something they’re trying to correct with a new one buck rule.
Appeals court issues split ruling in Michigan solar permitting suit
Local governments had sued the state over rules that limit their control over renewable energy permitting. A three-judge panel largely upheld the rules, with some changes.
Rural Michigan may need more medical helicopters. Can it afford them?
Pending federal cuts will lead to reduced services at rural hospitals, moving patients to bigger facilities by helicopter. But federal policy limits how much money those choppers can collect.