Candidates weigh in on school choice, book bans, the performance of state Superintendent Michael Rice, and more.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first term was defined by COVID. A Bridge analysis finds the facts are clear: Her orders spared lives, but did so at a cost to the economy and K-12 learning.

As students and schools try to recover from the pandemic, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican challenger Tudor Dixon have vastly different plans for how to improve Michigan schools and colleges.

Bridge Business Editor Paula Gardner moderated a discussion Wednesday with industry leaders on how inflation is affecting businesses, employees and consumers, as well as innovations to lessen its burden.

‘Little Bavaria’ draws 3 million visitors a year, fueling a robust rebound from pandemic restrictions. Its iconic restaurants and shops suffered financial disruptions similar to other towns. But leaders set aside politics and focused on winning back tourists.

Once again, the most absentee votes are in Democratic-leaning counties. All told, more than 1.7 million voters have requested them so far.

The redistricting commission was approved by voters in 2018, but left out of the budget.

A handful of Michigan congressional races could determine the congressional majority. The new 7th District, featuring a race between congressional incumbent Elissa Slotkin and Republican challenger Tom Barrett, is a prime example.

MSU researchers found the negative effects of remote learning persisted even after students returned to classrooms last year, though these performance gaps shrunk once most classrooms reopened.

Campaigning for governor, Whitmer laid out a 98-page plan for Michigan. Four years later, she gets passing marks for childcare, education, abortion, failing ones for transparency and the pension tax and an incomplete on roads.

There are some significant changes as open enrollment begins Saturday, offering beneficiaries the chance to review options for 2023 and make adjustments. But it’s still buyer beware.

Mid-Michigan lawmakers urgently introduced a slate of bills to better fund and regulate Michigan’s aging dams. But more than two years after the Midland disaster, the reforms have yet to receive a hearing.