Justin P. Hicks

6 days ago | mlive.com | Justin P. Hicks

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A Grand Rapids dentist of 40 years is suing the state of Michigan over a licensing policy he considers “illegal and immoral.”Kent Wildern claims Michigan is “weaponizing” its licensing process by requiring health professionals to undergo two hours of implicit bias training for every renewal period. Implicit bias can be defined as the attitude or internalized stereotypes that unconsciously affect our perceptions, actions, and decision-making.

1 week ago | mlive.com | Justin P. Hicks

Michigan’s first measles outbreak in more than five years has been reported in Montcalm County. The West Michigan county has confirmed its third related case of the year, qualifying it as an outbreak of the highly infectious virus, state health officials reported Thursday, April 17. Montcalm’s outbreak has been linked to a large, ongoing outbreak in Ontario, Canada. Ontario reported 109 new cases Thursday, bringing the province total to 925 cases, according to .

1 week ago | mlive.com | Justin P. Hicks

LANSING, MI - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to know the impacts of potential federal cuts to Medicaid in Michigan. The governor announced an executive directive Thursday, April 17, for the state Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to create a report outlining effects of proposed cuts to the federal program.

1 week ago | mlive.com | Justin P. Hicks

Another highly contagious vaccine-preventable illness is on the rise in Michigan as uptake for decades-old shots has declined in recent years. Pertussis, a respiratory illness also known as whooping cough, sickened 2,081 residents in 2024. It was the third consecutive annual increase, and a 19-fold jump from the 110 cases reported in 2023. So far in 2025, Michigan health officials have identified 497 cases, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

1 week ago | mlive.com | Justin P. Hicks

Be skeptical if you receive a text message indicating you owe toll fees in Michigan. Those texts are likely a scam. Michigan does not operate toll roads, nor does it solicit payment via text message, said Bradley Wieferich, the state’s transportation director. "Please be assured this is a scam and the texts are not coming from the MDOT or another State of Michigan agency,” he said. “Some state-owned bridges are tolled but not through license plate capture.