MIRS meets Joseph Pavlov, the retired English teacher who won a Republican primary of five candidates for Michigan's 64th state House district, covering Marysville and Port Huron (1:51). 

State assessments show young students struggling to reach proficiency levels in English. Policy Director Jen DeNeal and Government Affairs Director Jeff Cobb of The Education Trust-Midwest discuss what these scores mean, and why students should be screened early for traits of dyslexia (15:44). 

Should it become easier to transform unused commercial space into housing? MIRS talks to Executive Director Brooke Oosterman of Housing Next, who explains why her West Michigan-based group is proposing the "Kent County Corridor Strategy" (37:54).