Mike Wilkinson

Michigan’s population will likely continue to decline, with worsening out migration no longer offset by more births than deaths.

Though Republican-leaning counties have cast fewer absentee ballots cast so far, they have closed the gap on Democrats, new absentee voter tallies show.

Automatic voter registrations with driver license renewals has caused voter registrations to soar. Republicans have sued, but the state says the litigation is part of an effort to sow distrust.

Bridge Michigan and Gongwer News Service analyzed several years of school bond data and the current ballot proposals. Here are five things to know about school funding efforts this fall.

Some 10% of Michigan districts are going to voters with tax requests in November. Taxes for roads and public safety still overwhelmingly pass, but the success rate of school bonds has plummeted in recent years.

The economy is the No. 1 issue for voters. But it’s defied traditional metrics. High interest means high costs but also high pay and investment returns: Charts and graphics explain economy that defies easy characterizations.

FBI crime stats released this week show violent crime fell in many Michigan cities but still remains higher than 2020. Different data sets, though, allow Trump, Harris to make their case to suit their views.

Most communities have trouble hiring police officers, according to a University of Michigan study of 1,800 local governments. Officials blame declining respect and lower pay.

Michigan students are already suffering from pandemic learning losses. High rates of absenteeism make it worse. Rates improved slightly from last year but are still well above 2019.

Household income down 3% since 2019 when adjusted for inflation. Despite other rosy economic data, median household income fell in 30 of 50 states since 2019 when adjusted for inflation.

Use Bridge’s database to search how opioid settlement funds are being allocated by community in Michigan. Most of the money is being spent on recovery, drug courts, defibrillators and the like.

Michigan doesn’t track how cities are spending their share of a landmark lawsuit settlement with opioid manufacturers. A Bridge investigation finds 4 in 10 haven’t spent money yet on the crisis that has upended thousands of lives.

Michigan is one of just four states with ‘moderate’ levels of COVID-19 detected in wastewater, while many states are seeing ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of infection. Case counts in the state are still rising, but more slowly.

Experts have warned that the pandemic’s effect on learning would last for a long time. Now, Michigan scores show third graders are scoring worse on reading than third graders prior to the pandemic.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign, but his name will still be on the ballot. Bridge Michigan explains why he’s on the ballot, and why the Natural Law Party wants him to stay there.

Awaiting sentencing in a separate case, a consultant on the Clare project has provided ‘hundreds of documents and text messages essential to the success of the investigation,’ according to a state official.

A new Michigan program guarantees free community college – but only if you live in a community college district, and 1 in 5 students don’t.

Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin both rolled to victory in U.S. Senate primaries, carrying all 83 counties apiece. But an analysis of results shows some pressure points.

Live U.S. House results from Michigan's Aug. 6 primary for U.S. House, beginning when polls close at 8 p.m.

Live U.S. Senate results from Michigan's Aug. 6 primary, beginning after polls close at 8 p.m.