Business & Economy

Undocumented new mothers need health care coverage for 12 months, advocates say

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POSTPARTUM: There’s a push to extend Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants from two months to 12 months after giving birth. The change in policy for the Maternity Outpatient Medical Services program would cost $6 to $10 million a year, says the Michigan League for Public Policy. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, with offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, and an NYU expert explain. By Theo Scheer. FOR DETROIT, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Education

Advocates work to fix shortage of mental health professionals, social workers serving rural schools

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K-12 MENTAL HEALTH: Michigan school districts face a shortage of social workers and other mental health professionals, and small rural districts have an even tougher time recruiting and retaining them. The Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency talks about the impact in that region. We also hear from the Michigan Association of School Boards, state Education Department, Michigan Association of School Social Workers and Michigan League for Public Policy. By Anish Topawila. FOR ALPENA, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, BIG RAPIDS, CLARE, GLADWIN, CHEBOYGAN, CRAWFORD COUNTY, MIDLAND AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture
The Huron River at Kent Lake in Oakland County. The river is under a state Do Not Eat Advisory for all fish species.

Scientists alarmed by high levels of toxic forever chemicals in fish 

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TOXICS IN FISH: Every fish studied in the Rouge River and Huron River watersheds contained at least one of a family of toxic and persistent health-threatening chemicals, say researchers at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor and Indiana University. We also talk to experts at MSU and the EPA. By Ruth Thornton. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, MONROE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Sen. Sue Shink is a Northville Township Democrat.

Push underway to restrict tobacco sales

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TOBACCO LEGISLATION: Pending legislation would toughen restrictions on flavored tobacco products and vapes, including allowing counties to adopt restrictions that are tougher than the state’s. We talk to a sponsor from Northville Township and the Michigan Municipal League. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Elections & Politics
Groves of bark-stripped cedars have been discovered in the St. Ignace district of the Hiawatha National Forest. Those responsible could be charged with a felony and spend up to a year in jail, according to state law.

Desecrated cedars lead to protections under Sault tribal code

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DESECRATED CEDARS: Less than 2 miles past the Mackinac Bridge are dozens of cedars stripped of bark and left to die in the Hiawatha National Forest. An elder of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians explains the cultural significance to the Anishinaabe of cedar, or giizhik, which also has important wetlands benefits.The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has written in protection for cedars in its tribal code. By Daniel Schoenherr. FOR BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, PETOSKEY, TRAVERSE CITY AND ALL POINTS.

Elections & Politics
Linda Vail is the former health officer in Ingham and Kalamazoo counties

Challenges, reduced public trust confront local health agencies

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RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH. Public health agencies and their employee in rural areas have been facing lower public trust in their work since the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk to the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, the district director whose agency covers Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola and Roscommon counties, and the former health officer for Ingham and Kalamazoo counties. Public health departments in the UP and Northern Lower Peninsula are funding TV and social media campaigns that portray their staff as everyday members of the community. Includes Ottawa County reference. By Alex Walters. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, BIG RAPIDS, MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, LANSING CITY PULSE PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GREENVILLE, CHEBOYGAN, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, WKTV, MONTMORENCY, ALCONA, ALPENA AND ALL POINTS.

Diversity Issues

State ramps up dental exams for kindergarteners 

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DENTAL: For the 2024-25 school year, the Department of Health and Human Services plans to expand statewide a pilot program that gives free dental examinations to children entering kindergarten. The Whitmer administration proposes to spend $4 million next year, but advocates say that’s not enough. The Michigan Oral Health Coalition, Michigan Association for Local Public Health and Michigan Dental Association explain. Includes references to Petoskey, Detroit and Grand Traverse, Chippewa, Oakland, Ottawa, Marquette, Leelanau, Mason, Emmet and Cheboygan counties. By Theo Scheer. FOR PETOSKEY, DETROIT, LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, SAULT STE. MARIE, LUDINGTON, HARBOR SPRINGS AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Schools adapt to free meals for all students

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SCHOOL MEALS: School districts are adapting to the mandate to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of income. The state is paying for the initiative. They say hungry students don’t learn well, and that students who can’t afford to pay for meals feel stigmatized. We talk to school lunch experts in Marquette, Oakland County and Traverse City. By Alex Walters. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.

Health
Christopher Friese is with the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

Michigan nurses’ burnout is a health emergency, study says

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NURSES BURNOUT: Nearly 94% of the state’s registered nurses surveyed report burnout from their jobs, including heavy workloads, long hours and unfavorable working conditions, according to a U-M study. Almost 10% have thought about self-harm. We learn more from a co-author of the study, a Jackson County public health official, the Sparrow Hospital chief nursing officer and an Oakland University nursing program director. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL AND ALL POINTS.