Data & Investigative Analysis
122 storiesReaders will see records-based investigations, data stories, methodology-backed analysis and accountability projects; trend analysis and pattern detection provide recurring context. Data & Investigative Analysis distinguishes an isolated event from a continuing process.
Fall Foliage Travel Builds Across New York, Colorado and Michigan
Fall color is extending the 2026 travel season across New York, Colorado and Michigan. Travelers must check road access, elevation forecasts and vehicle rules before leaving.
How Did a Gun Reach a Battle Creek Elementary School?
Police responded to Ann J. Kellogg Elementary School after a gun discharged inside a third-grade student's backpack on Sept. 22. No one was injured, but the key question remains unanswered: how did the child get the firearm?
Michigan School Spending Rises While Third Grade Reading Falls
Michigan now spends over $23,000 per student in public schools, but the latest state test results show third grade reading proficiency has declined since 2019 despite new laws and increased investment.
Federal judge throws out Michigan antitrust suit against oil giants
A federal judge in Michigan has tossed out the state's antitrust case against BP, Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute, ruling the alleged impact on energy prices is too distant to support damages or an injunction.
Michigan water utilities face new cybersecurity risks after recent attacks
Michigan's water utilities are under the microscope after a cyberattack hit operational technology nationwide. State agencies are now offering free cybersecurity risk checks to help utilities shore up defenses and protect residents.
Michigan State Board of Education race could shift policy direction
Michigan voters will pick two members for the State Board of Education on November 3. The results could change the board's partisan split and shape public school policy for the next eight years.
Michigan third grade reading scores hit record low on state test
Sixty-two percent of Michigan third graders failed to meet grade-level reading standards on the latest M-STEP exam. The results raise urgent questions about state education policy and the future of student achievement.
Michigan Faces Twenty Year Water and Sewer Upgrade Funding Gap
A new report says Michigan needs to spend $85 billion on water and sewer systems over the next two decades. Recent main breaks and aging pipes show the urgent need for a statewide funding plan.
Michigan State professor helps shape new climate assessment priorities
Steven Gray from Michigan State University has joined 175 researchers to set new priorities for U.S. climate assessments, aiming to guide future decisions on adaptation, resilience, and risk management nationwide.
Michigan high school girls golf rankings: Northville, Bath, and more lead the fall season
The Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association has released its latest girls golf rankings for the week of September 22, showing which teams are out front in all four divisions as the season heats up.
Latino population growth reshapes Michigan towns and cities
Michigan's Latino population is nearing 600,000, bringing new challenges and opportunities in education, housing, health, and jobs across the state.
ACLU launches $2.3 million voter education push in Michigan races
The ACLU of Michigan and its Voter Education Fund are putting $2.3 million into informing voters about civil liberties at stake in Michigan House, Senate, and Supreme Court races ahead of November.
Hyperscale Data to spin off Patriot BTC for Bitcoin mining operations
Hyperscale Data plans to set up Patriot BTC as a separate company for its Bitcoin mining, splitting it from its Michigan AI data center business. The move aims to give each side clearer oversight and more options for the future.
Metro Detroit Luxury Market Pulse launches to track high end housing trends
Realtor Mo Thweny is rolling out a new report to give buyers and sellers a close look at luxury home sales and buyer activity in West Bloomfield, Novi, Birmingham, Northville, and other top Metro Detroit communities starting September 2026.
University of Michigan falls in 2027 national college rankings
Michigan's top universities saw their rankings shift in the latest U.S. News & World Report list, as new metrics changed how schools are measured and compared.
General Motors to bring smart transformer tech to Romulus plant
GM will install IONATE's Hybrid Intelligent Transformer at its Romulus facility. The goal: better power quality and stronger energy resilience as the plant's electricity needs grow.
Michigan Public School Attendance Reaches Highest Level Since 2022
Michigan public schools posted a 91.5% attendance rate for the 2025-2026 year, the highest in four years and part of a steady decline in chronic absenteeism across the state.
Michigan Pension Funds Shift Billions Toward Bonds and Private Credit
Michigan's largest pension systems are moving billions from equities into high-quality bonds and private credit, reshaping investment strategies for public funds and foundations across the state.
University of Michigan Launches $10 Million Histotripsy Research Center
The University of Michigan has opened a $10 million center dedicated to histotripsy research, aiming to advance noninvasive medical technology and expand its clinical use.
Michigan Governor Visits Taiwan to Strengthen Tech and Talent Ties
Governor Gretchen Whitmer led a Michigan delegation to Taiwan, meeting with local leaders and university alumni to discuss new opportunities for trade, technology, and workforce development between Michigan and Taiwan.
GM to Install Smart Transformer System at Romulus Plant
General Motors plans to bring IONATE's Hybrid Intelligent Transformer to its Romulus, Michigan plant, aiming to improve power quality and manage rising electricity demand at the facility.
Six Charged in Michigan COVID Loan Fraud Sweep Targeting $8 Million
Federal prosecutors have charged six individuals in Michigan with COVID-era loan fraud totaling $8.2 million as part of a national crackdown that has identified over $245 million in intended losses.
Chronic Absenteeism Still a Major Issue in Michigan Schools, Even as Rates Fall
More than a quarter of Michigan K-12 students missed at least 18 days of school last year. While chronic absenteeism has declined for the fourth year in a row, it remains a serious problem for schools and families across the state.
Sterling Heights Roundabout Has Most Crashes of Any Michigan Intersection in 2025
A roundabout in Sterling Heights saw more crashes than any other intersection in Michigan in 2025, according to new state police data. The report pinpoints where drivers are most likely to get into collisions.
Michigan Engineers Push Forward on New Nuclear Reactor Projects as Power Demand Rises
Michigan researchers and industry partners are developing smaller nuclear reactors and new ways to involve communities as the state looks for reliable, low-carbon energy to meet growing electricity needs.
Flint triples recycling with new carts and sets city record
Flint's recycling rate has reached an all-time high after the city gave out more than 68,000 free waste and recycling carts to residents in 2024, changing how people recycle and making it easier for everyone to take part.
Federal Court Orders Closure of Michigan Coal Plant After Illegal Extensions
A federal appeals court has ordered the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan to shut down, ruling that repeated emergency orders to keep it open were unlawful. The decision ends years of delays that left local families paying extra costs and exposed to ongoing pollution.
Michigan Health Department Issues New Suicide Prevention Guidelines
A new report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services outlines targeted strategies to address suicide, now the second leading cause of death for residents ages 10 to 34.
Saginaw and Homer intersection again leads Ingham County crash list for 2025
Three intersections near Frandor and US 127 in Lansing Township and Lansing top Ingham County's most dangerous list for 2025, with Saginaw Street and North Homer Street ranked first for the fifth year in a row.
Michigan Prisons to Add 870 High Security Beds in Major Expansion
The Michigan Department of Corrections is moving forward with projects to add 870 high-security beds across five facilities, aiming to improve safety, inmate placement and accessibility as part of its Safe Prisons Initiative.
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