Stateside Daily Archive

If you’ve ever driven down Scio Church Road in Ann Arbor, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a barn with “M GO BLUE” shingled into the side of its roof. The barn has long been a local Ann Arbor landmark. It's even gotten national attention with shots of it showing up on television during college football games. Now, the family that owns the barn is hoping to give it a...

Many Michigan hospitals are in crisis mode right now. Between COVID-19 cases and normal seasonal spikes of illnesses like flu, they are struggling to find space for patients. Some hospitals are postponing surgeries and shifting staff to deal with the overflow. Michigan Radio's Dustin Dwyer tells us about the view from inside a Grand Rapids hospital.  GUEST:  Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Radio...

Ahead of University of Michigan’s College Football Playoff clash against University of Georgia, we look back on previous matchups between the two states — a history embroiled with racial conflict. GUEST: Buddy Moorehouse, journalist and filmmaker behind the documentary, Black and Blue: The Story of Gerald Ford, Willis Ward and the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech Football Game. ---- Loo...

Years before educator and historian Jamon Jordan founded Black Scroll Network, History & Tours, taking a tour of Detroit with him was a must-do. And apparently, the City of Detroit agreed; Jamon Jordan has recently been appointed as its first official City Historian. It's an honorary role that is both ceremonial and educational. He will promote, research, and preserve information about Detroit...

The suspect in the deadly Oxford High School shooting last week is 15 years old. But he will stand trial as an adult. On one hand, we know the brain of a 15-year-old is neither fully developed nor making the rational decisions of an adult. But it's vital the law prevents future harm by a violent offender. Today, we talk with a juvenile defense attorney about the legal rights Ethan Crumbley is affo...

When we talk about building generational wealth in the US, we’re mostly talking about property ownership. But often, the conversation is far more complex: there's grief and estate management when someone dies and wealth is passed on. And for Black Americans, holding onto something like a family home can be slippery. In Detroit, the gains Black families made over generations have been eroded...

Last week's shooting at Oxford High School is the latest in a long line, nationally. Does it change the longstanding conversation around gun reform in Michigan? In its wake, two members of the Michigan House of Representatives — from different ends of the aisle — share their views on Michigan’s gun laws and preventing the next tragedy. GUESTS: Matt Koleszar , Michigan House Repre...

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald filed four counts of Involuntary Manslaughter against both Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Oxford High School student and shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley. The details of McDonald's investigation allege Ethan had unfettered access to a gun bought for him as a gift by his parents. Prosecutor McDonald shares more details on today's Stateside. GUEST...

Students at Oxford High School had their world turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Two days later, it is still hard to know where to begin with the aftermath. Today, a former school superintendent talks about managing community mental health response, and an expert weighs in on the psychology behind why these shootings happen. GUESTS:  Darienne Driver Hudson , president and CEO of Unit...

What do you do when there's someone outside your classroom door, and they have a gun? Today, the unspeakable tragedy of a fatal shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County. GUESTS: Dave Coulter, Oakland County executive Dylan Morris , junior at Oxford High School  Looking for more conversations from  Stateside ?  Right this way . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider&n...

Michigan is on pace to top the national record for COVID hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic. And Kent County may not have as many cases as, say, Oakland or Wayne County. But per capita, it is not far behind. Today, we hear how Michigan's surge is largely occurring among the unvaccinated. In this case, that means children. GUEST: Dr. Adam London , health officer for the Kent County He...

On Friday, the World Health Organization announced that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a “new variant of concern.”  Omicron has not been detected in the US...yet. But it has been found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and right over the border from Michigan—in Ontario, Canada. Today, what you need to know about the Omicron variant. GUEST:  Emily Martin , epidemiologist with...

Are you as excited as we are to be back around the table with vaccinated friends and family this Thanksgiving? Last year, we did our best, but it just wasn't the same. At the same time, the holidays can also be a potent reminder of people we've lost and the grief left behind in their place. For Bon Appétit contributor Alex Beggs, the holidays are about holding our grief and joy in equal mea...

Thanksgiving brings frozen and farm-fresh turkeys to tables throughout the U.S.—but Michiganders, even in cities, have already been seeing wild ones wandering down streets and up driveways. Are we really seeing wild turkeys where we’ve never seen them before? And… are they tasty? On today's podcast episode, we're answering your turkey questions. GUEST: Al Stewart , director of t...

When you think about traditional Thanksgiving side-dishes in Michigan, you think mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casserole, right? But Michigan is so much more than a shelf-stable can of Campbells. We’re a multicultural state that has carried forward ancestral delights to the Thanksgiving table. Mark Kurlyandchik wrote about this very thing in a recent article for SEEN Magazine and...

With recent COVID increases in the state, parents are uncertain about the future and school districts are grasping for solutions, setting off a host of new problems for parents and kids. Today, we check in with two parents, in two very different school districts about masking, vaccines for kids, and other pandemic school year challenges.  GUESTS: Caitlyn Perry Dial lives in Brighton. Her son,...

This week, Michigan’s COVID infection numbers exploded into a fourth surge that has worried doctors, overwhelmed hospital systems and left the rest of us asking what could be next. Michigan is now leading the nation in COVID infections.  West Michigan’s largest hospital, Spectrum Health, on Tuesday reported more COVID inpatient cases than the hospital has ever had at any point in...

Today, PBS will premiere the new film "American Exile” about the lives of military veterans, deported from the United States after their service, because of their immigration status. The documentary was a collaborative effort between Burning Box Studio and WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University. Military service is such a huge part of the stories we tell ourselves about who belongs i...

On Friday, we considered the possible need for new tactics for the U.S. to secure the release of Michigan-born journalist Danny Fenster from his imprisonment in Myanmar since May. He had just been sentenced to 11 years of hard labor on alleged charges that included violating immigration law and encouraging dissent against the military. He also faced newly raised charges of sedition and terrorism,...

This morning we learned that a military court in Myanmar sentenced US journalist and Michigan native, Danny Fenster, to 11 years in prison. He’s charged with allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information. Today, Danny Fenster's story and how this happened to begin with. GUEST: Steven Butler , Asia Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists Looking for more conversations fr...

Today, we return to one of the most anticipated YA reads of the year. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Michigan’s Angeline Boulley is at once a a ripping thriller and a complex story of a girl finding her way in two cultures. Since our conversation in February, it hit the New York Times best-seller list.  GUEST:  Angeline Boulley is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa...

There's a steady uptick in COVID-19 cases in Michigan right now. And while we aren't seeing dramatic spikes like we did earlier in the pandemic, this slow autumn surge of cases is pushing Michigan healthcare systems to their limits. On this episode of the podcast, we'll talk to an emergency doctor about how this rise in cases is impacting hospital care for patients, whether or not they have COVID-...

The House recently passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, a massive $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill. Michigan is getting ready to spend a significant amount of cash. Today, we dig into what this bill will do for Michiganders and what may come next. GUESTS: Rashida Tlaib (D) is the representative for Michigan's 13th District in Wayne County. Zoe Clark is Michigan Radio’...

The American Rescue Plan, passed by Congress earlier this year, turned the annual child tax credit into monthly cash payments for families with kids. As Congress debates whether to extend the policy, Stateside digs into what the extra cash has meant both for individual households and the broader economy. GUESTS: Anita Cobb, mother of three living in Lansing. You can find more about Anita and other...

Love ‘em. Hate ‘em.  Either way zoos play a big role in nearly every city. And that’s especially true in Detroit. Dr. Hayley Murphy is the new director of the Detroit Zoo. And she's also the first woman to hold that position in the zoo’s 93-year history. On today's pod episode, we have Dr. Murphy to talk all about conservation, animal stress, and the impact of COVID. G...