A soon-to-be published book chronicles a Michigan journalist’s journey to uncover her family’s history in the state’s notorious Indian boarding schools.
Upper Peninsula
Posted inMichigan Government
Other states shrink local governments. Michigan law preserves archaic ‘mess’
Michigan has more local governments and puts more tasks on them than most other states. Other states have shrunk government, but Michigan law makes mergers or dissolving extremely difficult.
Posted inMichigan Government
Rural Michigan in crisis: Too many governments that too few want to lead
Many of Michigan’s nearly 1,500 townships and villages are run by part-time retirees in their 80s who are begging for help. The system is frayed and, without reform, communities could falter. Lansing isn’t coming to rescue.
Posted inOutdoors Life
Bridge readers list Au Sable among Michigan’s best rivers. Who else won?
Bridge Michigan asked you to tell us which rivers are the best in the state. The results are in and one river dominated, but a handful of others also rose to the top.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer pushes pension plan to relieve prison staff shortage, despite her veto
Corrections officers and their advocates now hope lawmakers can reintroduce bills to allow officers to join the Michigan State Police pension plan, which advocates say would help with staff recruitment and retention in Michigan prisons.
Posted inMichigan Government
Don’t spit! Michigan’s strangest local laws trace back to bygone eras
Spit, swear or read fortunes at your own risk in some Michigan cities, where old — but often unenforced — local laws remain on the books.
Posted inMichigan Government
Advocates: Upper Peninsula prison pay raise won’t solve dangerous shortage
A $10,000 a year pay raise may help with recruitment, but it may not be enough to keep officers working at Upper Peninsula prisons, where former corrections officers say vacant positions contribute to assaults on prison staffers.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan loves a ‘river story.’ But happy ending isn’t guaranteed
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
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.
Posted inQuality of Life
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.