Stateside
Stateside
Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids. To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfundFollow the podcast:
10 Years After the Flint Water Crisis
Ten years ago today a devastating water crisis began in the city of Flint, Michigan. Its water was tainted with lead, threatening tens of thousands of people. Suddenly the spotlight swung onto Michigan and on the quality of the nation’s drinking water. Today, we’re looking at what happened, what’s …
17:48
RFK Jr. On The Michigan Ballot
The politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on the presidential ballot in Michigan, as the nominee for the Natural Law Party. Will his run from the outside is a swipe at the binary choice of Joe Biden or Donald Trump, but the odds are stacked against him. GUESTS: Tyler Scott, reporter for Michi…
18:15
Titus Kaphar on the Meaning of the Missing
Kalamazoo-born artist Titus Kaphar's work is displayed in some of the premiere art museums, like MoMA, the Whitney, and the Met. But you can also find his work in a different kind of institution. One of his pieces features in his series "From a Tropical Place" is currently displayed at Grosse Poin…
21:41
No-Fault Reform Delayed Again
When changes to auto-no fault insurance in Michigan passed in 2019, lawmakers hailed it as a bipartisan win. But for many catastrophically injured survivors of auto accidents, it meant losing the care they’ve depended on for years. On this episode, we hear about the attempts to increase the caps on…
12:21
Lee Chatfield Charged with Embezzlement
A political legal drama is unfolding in Michigan. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed more than a dozen charges against former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield, alleging that he used a non-profit to amass kickbacks and to use a slush fund for personal expenses. GUEST: Craig Mauger, s…
14:30
A Disappeared Detroit Mom's Story
For 33 years, the story of Anita Wiley’s disappearance was unresolved. After firefighters found her remains in a vacant house in Detroit that had been set on fire, she was buried in a cemetery for the unidentified, and her case was named “Unknown Woman 1987.” In 2020, through a cemetery DNA program…
23:14
Is the Mackinac Bridge Vulnerable to a Freighter?
The Mackinac Bridge lacks modern protections around its piers in the Straits of Mackinac, making it vulnerable if a freighter veered off course as happened recently in Baltimore. In response to this question, a representative from the Michigan Department of Transportation sent this statement: "The…
17:30
In NFL Draft Week, Eyes Open For Trafficking Victims
The NFL Draft is happening in Detroit from April 25-27. With high volume events like this, there's a risk for human trafficking. So how are law enforcement and advocates preparing to protect people this NFL draft and what should you look out for if you attend? GUEST: Sarah Rahal, reporter for The…
17:26
A New Kind of Murder Mystery
Michigan born author Katie Williams' novel “My Murder” is the next Michigan Public Reads. The premise is a woman murdered by a serial killer and brought back to life as a clone tries to piece together the days and weeks leading up to her murder. GUEST: Katie Williams, writer ___ Looking for mo…
18:04
The Brief and Stinky Bloom of a Corpse Flower
Move over, solar eclipse, there's another stunning and fleeting natural phenomenon in Michigan... Corpsy the Corpse Flower. We get an up-close whiff of a pungent corpse flower grown at home by a Michigander. The endangered species is exceedingly rare, and blooms for about 36 hours, once or twice a …
18:00