Kate Wells

3 weeks ago | michiganpublic.org | Kate Wells

More than $390 million in federal grants to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services appears to have been abruptly discontinued this week, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website. The site, which has been riddled with major inaccuracies and overinflated numbers in the past, says the cuts were from grants administered by the federal Health and Human Services department, but gives no specifics as to which state programs the grants covered.

1 month ago | michiganpublic.org | Kate Wells

Pontiac will soon become the fourth Michigan community where pregnant moms and babies are eligible for thousands of dollars in cash aid, with no income requirements. It’s the latest expansion of Rx Kids, a private-public partnership that began over a year ago in Flint, and recently expanded to Kalamazoo and the eastern Upper Peninsula. It gives families $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month for the baby’s first six months to a year, no strings attached.

1 month ago | michiganpublic.org | Kate Wells

Some dairy farmworkers say they’re struggling to get basic resources like PPE, testing, and flu shots needed to protect themselves from possible bird flu infections, even after connecting with their local and state health department. That’s according to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), which issued a press release Thursday describing recent situations in which they say workers tried to get testing, vaccines, and personal protective equipment, but ran into barriers and delays.

2 months ago | michiganpublic.org | Kate Wells

Pregnant women and babies in the eastern Upper Peninsula will now get cash aid, no strings attached, starting next month. The Rx Kids program, which originated in Flint last year and recently expanded to Kalamazoo, uses both public and private funding to provide direct assistance to families during their baby’s first year. The Upper Peninsula version will give pregnant moms $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month for the baby’s first six months.

2 months ago | civicmedia.us | Kate Wells |Bennet Goldstein |Jack Kelly |Hallie Claflin

Op-EdAngela LangFeb 10, 2025, 12:13 PM CST“It was never about DEI. DEI was only the crumbs they allowed us to have, while simultaneously undermining any advancement with harmful policies.”This column is from The Recombobulation Area, a weekly opinion column and online publication founded by Dan Shafer, now part of the Civic Media network. Learn more about The Recombobulation Area and subscribe here.