Ted Roelofs
Articles
Revision to ‘Kevin’s Law’ means quicker treatment for the mentally ill
With about 300,000 Michigan adults with serious mental illness, the changes allow judges to order outpatient treatment more quickly, before a crisis
At 17, living in a tent by the river
Homeless off and on since he was 17, he’s slept in a van, stayed with relatives, in shelters, in abandoned buildings, and lately, in a tent in several spots along the Grand River.
Homeless student, meet volunteer family. Now, graduate.
An innovative program in Lenawee County has drawn national attention for getting every last homeless student through high school, with most advancing to post-secondary programs.
Fewer homeless veterans. More homeless children in state.
A 10-year plan to end homelessness in Michigan has failed families and children, even as the number of homeless veterans and people using shelters has fallen sharply.
We hope you enjoyed your stay at the county jail. Here’s your bill.
Michigan’s county jails charge inmates up to $50 per day for housing, fees that can saddle ex-offenders with five-figure debt loads.
The price of Michigan's cash bail system
Critics say locking up criminal defendants before trial because they can’t post bond screws the poor while needlessly raising jail costs borne by taxpayers. Is there a better way?
Among rural Trump supporters, an America that has lost its way
Voters in rural areas of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula say they have found their blunt savior in Donald Trump. Some are bracing for a fight if he loses
Young voters feel they’re ‘screwed either way’
Among Michigan millennials, Clinton may be the favorite, but with heavy sighs over politics as usual.
Is college still worth the cost? Usually
In spite of rising tuition and loan debt, experts say a college degree still looks like a wise financial investment for most Michigan students, if they choose wisely.
Michigan prosecutors defying U.S. Supreme Court on ‘juvenile lifers’
The U.S. Supreme Court has instructed states that only “rare” circumstances should keep juvenile offenders in prison for life. Despite this ruling, prosecutors across Michigan have filed petitions seeking to hold most juvenile lifers behind bars until they die
In prison for decades, one juvenile lifer’s quest for redemption
Convicted of a Macomb County murder in 1992, Bosie Smith, now 41, has earned consistent praise for his leadership from prison staff and even a former warden
Missing in action: Michigan's primary voters
Dozens of state House primary races will likely shape both parties for years to come. And yet 4-in-5 voters are expected to stay home on Aug. 2
As hunting wanes, selling Michigan to a new outdoors generation
Critics say the state must better promote a $19-billion industry built on biking, kayaking and other pursuits to attract young adventurists, and residents. More REI than Cabela’s.
Blue-collar Duluth transformed by outdoor tourism economy
A once-declining industrial city now breathes new life by banking on its outdoor recreation assets
Michigan balks at rule shortening full-contact practice for high school football
A new guideline recommends no more than 90 minutes of hitting a week to reduce brain injury, but official policy still allows up to six hours. That’s six times what Ohio and Wisconsin allow.
Live free and die: Michigan’s motorcycle helmet law four years later
In 2015, Michigan recorded the highest number of motorcycle deaths in 30 years, with an average of 14 more deaths annually since a law requiring helmets was dropped. Lansing has no interest in revisiting the helmet law
Asleep at the desk: How school begins for many Michigan teens
It may be the the simplest way to improve academic achievement. But starting school later in the morning is a surprisingly tough sell
What happened when one Minnesota school district let high schoolers sleep in
An hour delay paid off in achievement and attendance. So why aren’t more schools following that lead
Bipartisan bill to make governor, lawmakers subject to open records law in doubt
After disclosure of government incompetence in Flint, there were passionate calls for Michigan to join 48 other states in making the governor and legislature subject to the state’s public records laws. But House and Senate leaders remain reluctant.
Building a better school board
Districts across Michigan struggle to field candidates for school boards. The job can be time consuming, nerve wracking, and is often unpaid. Would proper training for new board members help?