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Bridge Michigan

@bridgemi.com

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Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 14h

Michigan budget takes IT from Jocelyn Benson after transparency portal flop

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will lose oversight of IT systems under a budget provision championed by House Republicans. ‘Benson has failed miserably with these public websites,’ said one lawmaker.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 14h

Michigan students lag in reading. Will mandatory teacher training help?

Michigan leaders agree student literacy scores need to improve. One idea some are pushing is to mandate a specific ‘science of reading’ training called LETRS.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 15h

Bathroom wars hit MSU: This time, it’s unisex showers, toilets in honors dorm

MSU has opened its first unisex community dorm bathroom as part of $37 million in renovations to Campbell Hall. While showers are private, public spaces aren’t — and not all parents are on board.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 18h

Gretchen Whitmer signs $81B Michigan budget, roads deal. What to know

Michigan’s new budget has more money for roads, more taxes on pot and some new spending cuts. What to know about the $81B spending law.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 1d

Michigan lawmakers reject money for Gretchen Whitmer’s population growth office

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sought $10 million for her Michigan Growth Office. Lawmakers said no.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 1d

Call it Cadillac Rock City: Michigan town fetes 50 years after visit from KISS

Fifty years ago, the band KISS made a surprise visit to Cadillac to celebrate the high school football team's winning season, which was inspired by KISS tunes. Through this month, Cadillac will host several events commemorating the occasion.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 1d

Michigan corn mazes come to life with GPS, drones and creative inspiration

From the Grateful Dead to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michigan farms are getting creative with corn mazes. Here’s how they’re made.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 1d

Michigan cash aid program for moms and babies gets $270 million in new budget

The additional funding will allow Rx Kids to expand in more low-income communities and reach about 100,000 babies over the next few years.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 2d

‘The Gales of November’ excerpt: Edmund Fitzgerald built for luxury, not safety

In this excerpt of “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” author John U. Bacon explains that the mighty freighter was constructed to hold as much cargo as possible and impress captains of industry.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 3d

10-digit dialing required in Detroit as 679 joins iconic 313 area code

Starting Tuesday, anyone within Detroit’s 313 area code will be required to use 10-digit dialing for all local calls as a new 679 area code is introduced.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 4d

Michigan legislators kill Gretchen Whitmer’s $2B cash-for-jobs program

After years of underwhelming returns, the Strategic Operating and Attraction Reserve is no more. The program was designed to lure mega companies but so far has created far fewer jobs than promised.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 4d

Bridge Michigan News Quiz: Oct. 3, 2025: Do it to it

Paying attention to the news? Prove it by answering these 10 questions and win some prizes.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

Michigan schools budget: free meals, record funding, safety upgrades

Michigan’s $24.12 billion budget includes universal no-cost K-12 school meals, boosts at-risk funding and includes funding for safety and mental health. School groups said the process was a mess.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

Lawmakers add $160M in earmarks to Michigan budget — and transparency rules

New rules required Michigan lawmakers to publicly explain earmark requests for police Tasers, a harvest simulator, art museum upgrades and more.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

Michigan gets a new state budget: Winners, losers in the $81B deal

Days after missing the deadline, Michigan lawmakers finally passed a budget at around 2 am Friday. Here's what's in the $81B spending plan.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

ACLU seeks release of Michigan immigrant with life-threatening leukemia

The man has been held in custody since August and his wife says he didn't receive medication for 22 days.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

New GOP push: Make Michigan school board candidates declare political party

Lawmaker says his proposal would improve transparency and turnout. Clerks say it will add costs and confuse voters.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

Opinion | Think budget stalemate is scary? Approving a ‘con-con’ in 2026 would be worse

This summer’s budget debacle could be just a warm-up act if Michigan voters were fooled into approving Proposal 1 on the 2026 ballot, which would approve a constitutional convention.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 5d

Michigan budget takes shape: Free school meals, $10k per student, nearly $2B for roads

Michigan lawmakers could vote on a new state budget today. Here’s what we know will – or won’t – be in it.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

Retiring superintendent: Michigan students need more days in the classroom

No one knows just how many days of instruction Michigan students are receiving, thanks to flexibility lawmakers have allowed in recent years. That’s a problem, State Superintendent Michael Rice says.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

Opinion | Cannabis consumers shouldn’t bear burden of fixing Michigan’s roads

Cannabis consumers already pay more than their fair share. Any increase would raise costs for consumers, devastate an already strained industry and fail to deliver the budget gains being projected.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

Michigan regulators approve Consumers gas hike, raising bills by $6.44

State regulators approved a $157.5 million natural gas rate hike for Consumers Energy, raising average customer bills by $6.44 a month starting in November.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

$50M for controversial UP copper mine on chopping block in Michigan budget

A state budget still under negotiation is not expected to include $50 million for the controversial Copperwood mine project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

Gretchen Whitmer hints she won’t run for president, blasts Trump tariffs

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used a Toronto speech to blast Trump's tariffs and then implied she won't run for president in 2028: 'I don't know if I need to be the main character in the next chapter'

Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 6d

Winter lovers, help us put together Michigan’s coolest bucket list

Bridge wants your suggestions for the Winter Dreaming Michigan Bucket List.