Ron French

2 weeks ago | bridgemi.com | Ron French

MSU wants to cut its budget by $85 million over the next two yearsThe belt-tightening is partly in response to federal research funding cutsThe budget cuts won’t affect student financial aidMichigan State University is girding for potential hiring reductions and elimination of academic programs, due in part to cuts in federal funding support from the administration of President Donald Trump.

2 weeks ago | bridgemi.com | Ron French

Bridge Michigan will be a training ground for three aspiring journalists this summerIt is the seventh year Bridge has offered internshipsThe goal: nurturing the next generation of great Michigan journalistsThree young journalists are joining Bridge Michigan for the summer. This is the seventh year Bridge has offered summer internships.

3 weeks ago | bridgemi.com | Ron French

Patmos Library is closed temporarily after the majority of its staff resigned last weekThe library has been the focal point of a long-running battle over LGBTQ-themed booksThe Ottawa County library is one of several around the state embroiled in culture war fightsJAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP — A few feet away from the children’s section of the Patmos Public Library, adults argued Monday over who are the better Christians.

1 month ago | bridgemi.com | Ron French

Michigan universities and hospitals are likely to lose at least $200 million in research funding due to federal cutsSuch cuts leave at least one cancer researcher feeling ‘gutted.’Universities have pitched in to help researchers but that help is inadequate and temporaryAt Michigan State University, researcher Jamie Bernard is trying to prevent some of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of breast cancer.

1 month ago | bridgemi.com | Ron French

Tens of thousands of federal employees, including some in Michigan, are on administrative leaveThe administration of President Donald Trump hopes to fire the workers to trim the government payrollFor now, those employees are getting full pay and benefits while not allowed to go to their officesLeslie Desmond is a financial analyst for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, with an office in Detroit’s McNamara Federal Building. Or at least she used to. Or maybe she still does.