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Michigan is a great place to live. Bridge will report that fact often — and on potential threats to the assets that make it so.
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Payday blues: Rural Michigan and the quick-cash debt hole
With interest rates that can top 400 percent a year, payday lenders sprout in small-town Michigan. Bipartisan legislation in Lansing would rein in lending practices, but there’s no guarantee it will get a hearing.
How one Michigan credit union is helping ease customers from payday loans
After debt, a second chance for rural borrowers through a capped loan program and community education
It’s tax day, Michigan. Take this quiz or face an audit
Okay, we totally lied about the audit. But it wouldn’t kill you to learn more about Michigan’s taxes and exemptions. Test your smarts with this quiz.
As measles outbreak spreads, Michigan anti-vaxxer group hits Lansing
Michigan health officials say 39 residents have contracted the highly contagious disease. But groups opposed to mandatory vaccines are asking lawmakers to preserve their freedom on whether to vaccinate children.
Rich cities lose out as Wayne County cuts waste in programs to help poor
For years, Wayne County was slammed over its handling of community development block grant funds. Now, the county is changing how it distributes money in hopes of steering more toward poor cities and reducing costs.
The federal shutdown hit Sleeping Bear Dunes. So volunteers rushed in.
Michigan’s majestic national park had to shutter its visitor’s center and curb popular snowshoe hikes. But a hardy group of park angels is hauling trash, cleaning toilets and helping maintain the park during the shutdown.
Federal shutdown gets real in Beer City: Michigan summer ales in jeopardy
This year’s new seasonal brews may never hit the shelf, and some smaller breweries along West Michigan’s “Ale Trail” fear their openings may be at risk. Thanks, Washington!
As cities rush to sell off utilities, Wyandotte boasts 3 city-run systems
Cities across the nation are selling off utilities to raise cash for other needs. But Detroit’s downriver neighbor still runs its electrical, water and cable systems, sparking community pride.
Canada geese are as annoying as hell. In Alpena, that’s a death sentence.
Pooping, squawking and bullying, Canada geese are back from the brink of extinction and irritating much of Michigan. Alpena has a big surprise for them.
In Charlevoix and Petoskey, pricey housing leaves businesses without workers
Picturesque views of Lake Michigan draw tourist crowds but push out the workers who make shoreside cities run.
Message from marijuana country: We love legal pot. Will Michigan?
For three weeks, I traveled the marijuana highway from Colorado to California and up to Washington. Most like the taxes pot provides and shrug off worries about legalization. But it’s not a cure all.
Support legal pot in Michigan? Know the latest health risks (and benefits)
The latest research shows pot is less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol, but it’s not without health risks. Here is what you should know before Michigan votes on legal weed.
More pot and lower taxes if Michigan marijuana vote passes this fall (slideshow)
The Michigan marijuana initiative would allow customers to possess more pot and pay lower taxes than most states that legalize recreational marijuana. Bridge compares state laws.
What’s legal, and what isn’t, under Michigan recreational marijuana plan (slideshow)
Legalizing recreational marijuana would not mean a free-for-all. Here are the legal limits if the measure passes in November.
Traverse City grows as local workers search for a place to call home
Michigan towns that rely on tourism like Traverse City are flourishing. But high housing costs paired with low wages leave many local workers scrambling for a place to live.
Despite opioid problems, small-town Hastings, Michigan ‘a good place to be from’
Southeast of Grand Rapids, Hastings is battling opioid addiction and other challenges as it maintains its easy-going character. Bridge pays a visit during its 2018 Truth Tour.
A Northern Michigan town waves as I-75 drivers barrel past
West Branch wants to become a destination for tourists and new businesses. Residents plead for more job training. And the town may even ditch its Victorian past. (With slideshow)
Plans on track for passenger train from Ann Arbor to Traverse City, group says
Booming tourism in Traverse City and interest justifies daily passenger trains from Ann Arbor through stops to Up North, study shows.
Michigan’s riding high. But a downturn is coming and the safety net is frayed.
A peak economy is the perfect time to expand job training and assistance. Instead, state officials are squandering the good times, experts warn.
Michigan falls short in frontline treatment for opioid crisis
The state, hard hit by opioid deaths, has a shortage of doctors trained to prescribe medication that’s critical to recovery.