Missing 8-year-old boy found safe in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains

Missing 8-year-old boy found safe in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains

Nante Niemi, 8, of Wisconsin was found Monday by a volunteer in the Porcupine Mountains in the western U.P.  He had been missing since Saturday afternoon when he was separated from the family campsite  Police report he was found 2 miles away hiding near a log, seemed in good shape and was reunited with family […]

BB gun bill requires minors to have adult around when shooting off property

BB gun bill requires minors to have adult around when shooting off property

A House bill would require adult supervision for minors who use BB or similar guns off their property Democrats say nearly 10,000 Americans are injured by BB or pellet guns annually, the majority are minors BB guns, like the Daisy Red Ryder from ‘A Christmas Story,’ are a learning tool for many children first experiencing […]

Surgeon general warns about social media, teens: Will Michigan listen?

Surgeon general warns about social media, teens: Will Michigan listen?

The surgeon general put out an advisory on the dangers of social media usage in adolescents in May 95 percent of youth ages 13-17 use social media, and one-third report that they use the platforms ‘almost constantly.’ The average teen spends three and a half hours on social media every day Those who use social […]

In rural Michigan, need is great, but summer food programs are scarce

In rural Michigan, need is great, but summer food programs are scarce

Much of Michigan is rural geographically, but rural counties account for 20 percent of summer meal sites  Expired pandemic benefits compounded the need for food assistance, research shows Experts: Lack of transportation, staffing constraints limit rural participation in summer meal programs LANSING — In the small northern Michigan village of Lincoln, a local food pantry shut […]

56,000 Michigan kids could lose child care as federal COVID funding ends

56,000 Michigan kids could lose child care as federal COVID funding ends

Michigan received more than $1 billion in federal pandemic funds to provide financial relief for child care providers and families  That funding is about to end, likely forcing many providers to close  Child care providers already face worker shortages Thousands of Michigan families are expected to face a child care crisis beginning this weekend as federal […]

Michigan moms get cash each month to ease financial troubles. Does it work?

Michigan moms get cash each month to ease financial troubles. Does it work?

What happens when families have extra cash on hand each month — no strings attached? Hundreds of moms in two different cities are finding out. Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi, may be separated by more than 900 miles, but their similarities have driven a new approach to fighting child poverty. Both have high rates of […]

Cash for moms experiment expands in Michigan, where lawmakers see promise

Cash for moms experiment expands in Michigan, where lawmakers see promise

A cash-assistance program for expectant moms and babies, which first began in Flint more than a year ago, is growing its reach to hundreds more families across Michigan. Rx Kids, led by Flint pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna, began taking applications in Kalamazoo this week and will kick off in the eastern Upper Peninsula next month. So […]

Mourners say goodbye to siblings who died in Detroit casino parking garage

Mourners say goodbye to siblings who died in Detroit casino parking garage

Darnell Currie Jr. was a football player at heart and a curious third grader. A’millah Currie loved watching the children’s cartoon, Bluey, and playing hide-and-seek. Their funeral on Thursday captured their childhood. Stuffed animals surrounded 2-year-old A’millah in her pink casket, much smaller than the one carrying 9-year-old Darnell Jr. Bluey characters, a football helmet […]

Michigan wants to grow its population, but more adults say no thanks to kids

Michigan wants to grow its population, but more adults say no thanks to kids

The percentage of non-parents who don’t want children doubled between 2002 and 2023 Michigan is struggling with flat population growth, hobbling business expansion The Trump administration has considered a $5,000 ‘baby bonus’ to incentivize having children Like many women growing up in Allendale, Kim Bode was raised with a set life plan: go to college, […]

Michigan program aims to expand benefits for child care workers

Michigan program aims to expand benefits for child care workers

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential announced $4.4 million to pilot the Nurture Benefits program Child care providers can enroll through the Small Business Association of Michigan for health, life and retirement benefits  The program aims to address critical shortages in the child care industry  Emma Knode is exactly the kind of […]

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