Updates About Public Health

A study done by Michigan State University found that 89% of Michigan kids live in an area with insufficient childcare services, particularly in the rural areas and northern regions. The study also found that this severe scarcity costs the state $2.9 billion in lost productivity from parents who are forced to leave the workforce and instead care for their children at home. As demand continues to outpace supply, many are scrambling to find ways to address Michigan’s childcare crisis.

As a step toward alleviating this issue, the state has set aside a $400,000 grant for northern Michigan. The Leelanau County Early Childhood Development Commission plans to use the money to start a program that will provide financial and coaching support to local childcare providers. The commission hopes the investment will encourage new childcare startups and help existing providers expand through improved access to training.

Another innovative solution Leelanau county is testing includes investing in “micro-centers”, where home-based providers can partner with each other to offer childcare in a shared facility instead of their own home. These new locations lease their space for $1 a year, significantly lessening their overhead costs and lowering the barrier to entry for new providers.

It will now be illegal for any individual, including players, coaches, and stadium staff, to use smokeless nicotine products inside any Detroit stadium. Violators will first receive a warning, but refusal to comply will result in a misdemeanor and $100 fine. City Council Member Fred Durhall III, who spearheaded the ban, said he was motivated after hearing from high school students who believed tobacco use was a normal part of baseball, adding that adults’ unhealthy habits are influencing kids.

Back in 2016, Major League Baseball (MLB) banned new players from using any tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, which has been popular among players for decades and lead many to be diagnosed with oral cancer. This ban led many players to switch to tobacco-less nicotine products, such as Zyn pouches, which have seen a rise in popularity in recent years.

Supporters of the ban believe it’s prioritizing kids’ health while also discouraging the presence of addictive products in sports. Those in opposition to the ban, like Council Member Coleman Young II, argued that the city has no right limiting the freedom of adults to use legal products. Young pointed to the permitted sales of alcohol and unhealthy hotdogs as also having negative externalities. Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero also voted no, saying that since there are already nicotine bans at the stadium, the new ordinance will have minimal impact.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily pause the issuance of November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to funding limitations from the ongoing federal shutdown. This nationwide delay affects approximately 42 million SNAP recipients, including roughly 1.4 million Michiganders. State officials warn that even a short-term interruption could significantly impact families that rely on SNAP to purchase groceries and household staples.

SNAP plays a central role in Michigan’s food and economic ecosystem with nearly 13% of households in the state participating in the program. The average individual receiving SNAP stands to lose $173 per month once the pause takes effect. Beyond helping families afford nutritious meals, SNAP dollars circulate back into the more than 9,700 Michigan businesses that accept SNAP, including grocers, farmers markets, and retail workers. MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel noted that the delay threatens both family food stability and the broader economic benefits SNAP provides.

With the situation evolving at the federal level, the state has signaled it will continue working to minimize the impact on families. However, until funding is restored, many Michigan households will face renewed uncertainty about how to keep food on the table.