On Hand

After a months of hospital overcrowding and wide community spread of the omicron variant, public health indicators are showing some turnaround. And one by one, Michigan's county health departments in populous areas have dropped mask mandates for schools. Could omicron finally be letting up? Mileage in your school, workplace, or congregate care setting may vary, but today we go over the basics with a health officer and a reporter covering COVID cases.

GUESTS:

Linda Vail, health officer for Ingham County Health Department

Mike Wilkinson, Bridge Michigan reporter

——

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan-born playwright Noah Haidle’s Broadway debut was just about to happen — in 2020, the year COVID doused the stage lights. But now, Birthday Candles, is back, and he’s here to tell us about it.

GUEST:

Noah Haidle, playwright, screenwriter

——

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Team USA’s forward Abby Roque made her Olympic debut last weekend in Beijing. She grew up in the UP, and she’s the first Native American to play for the US women’s team, a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation. But she’s not the first Native player to be part of the US team. That player was one Taffy Abel, and today on Stateside, his nephew talks about his life and many athletic achievements.

GUEST:

George Jones, Taffy Abel’s nephew

----

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have heard about the ongoing trucker protests in Ottawa, Canada because of vaccine mandates. Now protestors have a new target in sight: the Windsor-Detroit border crossing. Today on Stateside, the mayor of Windsor talks about the Ambassador Bridge being shut down, and what the overall protests mean for the two cities straddling the border. 

GUEST: 

Drew Dilkens, mayor of Windsor, Ontario

----

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm X was a son of Lansing, where he spent some of his most formative years before becoming the iconic activist we know of today. So why aren't his the quotes and legacy we teach in Michigan schools or during Black History Month? Today on Stateside, we explore Malcolm X's family history and controversial legacy in the struggle for Black empowerment. 

GUESTS:

John Aerni-Flessner, associate professor for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University

Kidada Williams, associate professor of African American and American history at Wayne State University

Herb Boyd, Detroit writer, journalist, and activist

----

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years now Michigan Democrats have wanted to remove the Lewis Cass statue in the U.S. Capitol. But the question has always been: who do we replace it with? A new proposal in Lansing suggests the next statue should be of former Detroit mayor, Coleman Young. Today, why Democrats want a Coleman Young statue in Washington, and the hurdles they face to make it happen.

GUEST:

James Dickson, reporter for The Detroit News

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the new district maps, there are two wide open congressional seats in Michigan. There's the 13th District in Detroit, and there's the 10th district in parts of Macomb County. The 10th is a largely suburban metro Detroit district that both parties think is competitive. Today, a look at the political landscape of the 10th Congressional district.

GUESTS:

Jeff Payne, news editor of the Macomb Daily

Michael Taylor, mayor of Sterling Heights

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend is the I-500 — a 500 mile snowmobile race in Sault Ste Marie. It’s a test of endurance for everybody involved, from racers to pit crews to spectators trying to keep their beer from freezing. The race was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. But this year, the sleds are back in town, and the race is expected to be bigger than ever.

GUEST:

Ric Federau, chairman of the I500

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Detroit Lions have never played in any of the 55 previous Super Bowls. But this year, Lions fans are, in a way, the closest they’ve ever been. That’s because former Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is Super Bowl bound with the Rams. Some Michiganders have mixed feelings watching Stafford find so much success in another city. Today, a Michigan football update.

GUEST:

John Niyo, sports columnist at the Detroit News

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, General Motors announced that they will invest $7 billion to build electric vehicles and batteries in Michigan. In turn, General Motors is receiving an $820 million state incentive. Today, what this announcement means for Michigan and the future of electric vehicles.

GUEST:

Chad Livengood, Senior Editor at Crain’s Detroit Business

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.