The US Census Bureau released data from its annual survey of American households this week, which included income levels and whether residents had an electric vehicle, among a variety of topics.
Matt Mencarini
Matt Mencarini is a data and accountability reporter at Bridge Michigan. He was born and raised in Chicago and joined Bridge in July 2026 as a Report for America Corps Member. His journalism career has taken him to five different states. He reported on mass incarceration in Kentucky, voting rights in Wisconsin and local government in Illinois. He spent more than two years covering the Larry Nassar case for the Lansing State Journal, including investigating Michigan State University’s failures to stop the abuse sooner. He was also part of the Louisville Courier Journal team that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. He currently resides in Lansing.
Posted inEvents
Elections, data centers, education take center stage at Bridge Issues Summit
More than 375 people attended or tuned into Bridge Michigan’s inaugural Issues Summit, a half-day convening with journalist-led conversations about the issues shaping Michigan’s future.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan under pressure to end ‘orphan tax’ on benefits for foster youth
A new Michigan law conserves a portion of federal benefits for former foster youth when they age out. But advocates, and the federal government, say that more should be done.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
How many students are ‘college ready’ in your district? Look up SAT scores
Students take the online test during their junior year. The results are considered an indicator of college readiness.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch, Michigan Education Watch
Where former foster youth in Michigan can get postsecondary aid, training
Michigan provides some education and training resources for former foster youth seeking postsecondary degree or self sufficiency.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch, Michigan Education Watch
Michigan foster kids struggle under system that gives ‘nothing’ after aging out
A growing chorus of lawmakers and advocates say Michigan is not doing nearly enough to help the state’s roughly 9,000 foster children after they leave the system. Other states are trying to do it better.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Fact check: Jocelyn Benson’s family ties to Saline data center
GOP attack ad claims Jocelyn Benson will ‘get rich’ off a data center her husband worked on. Benson says her family won’t make a dime. Here are the facts.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Fact check: What Abdul El-Sayed said about prison sentences, freeing inmates
Republicans claim Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wants to release violent criminals from prison. El-Sayed has supported sentencing reform but attack ads take his comments out of context.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Fact check: Can Mike Rogers ‘put a shop class in every high school’?
The Republican Senate candidate says he’ll put a shop class in every high school but hasn’t said how. In truth, Congress can’t dictate curriculum.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Fact check: Democrats claim John James has used Congress to enrich himself
John James has gotten significantly wealthier while serving in Congress. As he runs for governor, Democrats cite stock trades, but most of his gains stem from a family business and blind trust.
