Ted Roelofs of Kentwood, has been a general assignment reporter at Bridge since 2012 and has written extensively on healthcare in that time as well as prison and juvenile justice reform. Roelofs spent nearly three decades at the Grand Rapids Press where he covered politics, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, rural poverty and mental illness among the homeless. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Reach Ted at ted.roelofs@gmail.com
Michigan lieutenant governor points to tax cuts that he says grew the economy, but his latest ad omits large swaths of his legislative history on taxes.
Attorney General Bill Schuette releases ad blasting Lt. Gov. Brian Calley for his votes as the Republican race for governor heats up.
Upbeat TV ad urges Republicans to vote for lieutenant governor to “continue the comeback” in Michigan.
Michigan attorney general candidate Tonya Schuitmaker is attacking Republican rival Tom Leonard for not sufficiently opposing the Common Core education standards. A classic pot/kettle moment.
The former U.S. Attorney comes under fire from a left-leaning publication for his apparent transformation from a centrist Democrat to a progressive this election cycle. Hit job or truth telling?
Experts in Grand Rapids offer potential answers for a troubled public school system at the "Michigan Solutions Summit: An Educated Michigan," put on by The Center For Michigan/Bridge Magazine and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
The state, hard hit by opioid deaths, has a shortage of doctors trained to prescribe medication that’s critical to recovery.
Expected bills aimed at skyrocketing drug costs face an uncertain fate in the Michigan Legislature
From pressuring drug manufacturers to offer bigger discounts to seeking bulk sales from Canada, other states are taking aggressive steps to help consumers.
The candidate for governor and tea party favorite tries to connect his early support for RTW to Michigan’s post-recession economic recovery. Did he go too far?
Graying populations in regions across Michigan can benefit from grassroots membership networks that help with rides, nursing visits, and other challenges for older residents who want to remain independent.
The former governor helped to give far more to Michigan’s public universities than his Democratic and Republican successors
Democrat Dianne Byrum says John Engler is right choice as interim president of Michigan State despite her criticisms of his treatment of female prisoners’ claims as governor.
John Engler called rape and harassment claims by women prisoners “baseless” and “without merit” when he was Michigan goveronor. He was wrong. The state eventually paid $100 million to more than 500 women assaulted by male prison guards. Engler was named interim president of Michigan State in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal.
Rural counties in Michigan and poor cities like Detroit are at the bottom for flu immunization
If K-12 achievement in Michigan were a trendline, it is clearly pointing the wrong direction. By just about any measuring stick, the state is losing the race to educational excellence.
Some 1.5 million students attend some 3,000 public schools in Michigan. As academic performance has lagged, competing school reform proposals have sprouted like Michigan summer corn.
A commonly shared premise among economic experts: a well-educated work force is key to high-wage jobs and prosperity in the 21st century.
Michigan’s economy has long centered around manufacturing — especially autos. But reliance on a single industry produces boom and bust cycles.
If Michigan’s nearly 10 million residents received a collective physical exam, the result would be a mixed bag – and likely a frown from the doctor.
