If you care about Michigan, please support our work.
Donate TodayMichigan Government
Citizens cannot do their job of running their government if they don’t know what their public servants are doing. Bridge will take you beyond the political food fights into the policy decisions that affect everyday life.
Popular Articles
Articles
How Democratic presidential candidates want to change higher education
Lower (or free) college tuition? Erasing student loan debt? Democrats running for president have big ideas about cutting the cost of higher education. Here’s a primer on where each candidate stands.
Whitmer’s budget: more help for Michigan moms, not so much for local roads
Much could change before Michigan adopts a budget this year, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants more money for vulnerable mothers, environmental cleanups and education. College and municipal leaders aren’t so happy.
Gretchen Whitmer wants to bring back scaled-down Pure Michigan campaign
The Democratic governor is proposing $15 million in funding for the tourism advertising campaign she nixed last year during a budget .
Fact Squad | Dueling ads take on Gov. Whitmer and those damn Michigan roads
Is Gretchen Whitmer a hero for borrowing billions to fix highways or has she already broken a central campaign promise? Michigan Fact Squad investigates ads reaching opposite conclusions on the governor.
With auto rate relief promised, Michigan gives new scrutiny to insurers
Michigan is beefing up anti-fraud investigations and mounting a public education campaign to help drivers realize savings promised in a new law that takes effect this summer.
Detroit has a lot riding on 2020 Census. Can enlisting neighbors boost count?
Detroit is considered one of the hardest cities in the nation to count in the Census, and is working hard to increase participation in some neighborhoods. Plenty of distrust remains, though, as evidenced by efforts in the small east side neighborhood of Yorkshire Woods.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer takes aim at Trump’s economy in State of Union reply
Gretchen Whitmer says ‘Americans are hurting,’ especially in Michigan, which is expected to be a battleground state in this year’s presidential election.
How Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepared for State of Union response
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stands in spotlight, as she delivers Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union address. Republicans say all she’s delivered is broken promises.
Trump is in Michigan to tout the new NAFTA. Here’s what it means to Michigan.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is expected to provide some boost to the auto industry in the short term, but economists warn it may harm manufacturing jobs in the long run.
Rural Michigan to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: What about us?
Beset with common but daunting problems, leaders in rural Michigan implore Michigan’s Democratic governor to create a Cabinet-level post to address their concerns.
Michigan OKs $3.5B in roads spending. Much of it is going to Metro Detroit.
One day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she will borrow money for roads fixes, a state commission approves the measure that will send 40 percent of projects to southeast Michigan.
Whitmer and GOP agree $3.5B won’t fix Michigan roads, swap blame on funding
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans agree $3.5 billion bonds plan isn’t a long-term solution for Michigan’s ailing roads. But they contend it’s up to the other side to come up with a better solution.
Frustrated Gov. Whitmer vows no more ‘games’ with GOP on fixing Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in her second State of the State, says she’ll work around recalcitrant Republicans to fix roads, maintain Affordable Care Act protections and ensure students don’t repeat the third grade because of the reading law.
Highways win, local streets left ‘in the dust’ by Whitmer’s $3.5B roads plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's new plan to "fix the damn roads" by issuing $3.5 billion in bonds would help rebuild Michigan highways without a tax increase but saddle the state with decades of new debt.
For state address in 2020, Michigan Gov. Whitmer still working on 2019 goals
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to highlight six familiar issues after 2019 plans to fix roads, change school funding, close a talent gap and curb distracted driving failed or moved slowly in GOP Legislature.
Michigan may study whether tolls are solution to state’s awful roads
Plenty of obstacles remain, but the Michigan Senate wants to study whether tolls could help fix roads. The proposal comes as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce her new plans for road repairs.
Law limiting Michigan ballot drives mostly unconstitutional, court rules
House and Senate Republicans may appeal the decision to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Michigan voters: Roads stink, but don’t ask us to pay for fixes
Michigan voters say roads are getting worse, but they aren’t ready to open their checkbooks to fix them, according to a new statewide poll that points to distrust in state government.
How Democratic presidential candidates want to change health care, Medicare
Michigan’s presidential primary is March 10. Here’s a look at how the contenders would change health insurance.
Fact Squad | Sanders promises Medicare for All will cut Michigan auto rates
Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders claims car insurance rates will fall with his Medicare for All plan. He doesn’t mention that they’re expected to change anyway this year.