Michigan governor hopefuls John James and Jocelyn Benson sparred in their first televised debate. We checked their facts.
Political and Public Policy Information
Posted inElection 2026, Political and Public Policy Information
20K Detroit absentee ballots are already back. What voters need to know
The Detroit City Clerk’s office is “very encouraged” by having about 20% of all absentee ballots returned four weeks ahead of Election Day, Matt Friedman, a spokesperson for Detroit Votes, said in an email to BridgeDetroit.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Political and Public Policy Information
Detroit is drafting data center rules. One council member wants a pause first.
District 6 Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero said she’s directing the council’s legal staff to draft an interim zoning ban that would effectively achieve the two-year moratorium that council members urged Mayor Mary Sheffield to put in place in the spring.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Explainers, Political and Public Policy Information
How is Detroit using AI? We dug into the city’s policy
Given all the debate around the safety, ethics, efficiency and pitfalls of AI, we wanted to dig into the city’s policy on artificial intelligence technology.
Posted inEducation, Election 2026
Voter guide 2026: Are Detroit students better off under DPSCD? School board candidates weigh in.
Chalkbeat asked school board candidates to reflect on the district’s challenges and successes 10 years later.
Posted inEducation, Election 2026, Michigan Government
How to fix Michigan’s literacy crisis? Start with poverty and housing solutions, experts say
Nearly 36,600 school-aged children, or almost 3 percent of pre-K through 12th grade students, experienced homelessness during the 2024-25 school year, a steady rise since the pandemic, state data shows.
Posted inEducation, Election 2026
5 Detroit school board candidates running as ‘anti-fascist’ slate calling for Vitti’s firing
All five BAMN candidates for the DPSCD school board want to oust Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. They all want to stop the district from closing small schools.
Posted inEducation, Election 2026
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
Two Republicans are trying to get onto the Democratic-dominated board. The board makes recommendations for education policy but does not determine the state budget or pass laws.
Posted inElection 2026, Michigan Government
Who’s running for Michigan Supreme Court? 6 candidates compete for 2 seats
Six candidates are running for two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court, where Democratic nominees currently hold a 6-1 majority.
Here is who’s running, why and what experience they’d bring to the bench.
Posted inEducation, Election 2026
Should parents be held accountable for their children’s chronic absenteeism? Board candidates weigh in.
Chalkbeat asked candidates their thoughts on whether parents should be held accountable for their children’s absences. Of the 34 candidates, 31 are running for four seats with four-year terms, and three are running for a partial two-year term.