Kent County residents can call Kent County DHS at 1-844-464-3447 to get their questions answered. Or, you can access MiBridges at michigan.gov/mibridges from a phone or any computer to:
Kent County residents can call Kent County DHS at 1-844-464-3447 to get their questions answered. Need a new Bridge Card? Call 888-678-8914. You can also access MiBridges at michigan.gov/mibridges from a phone or any computer to:
Check benefits
Apply for benefits – food, cash, Medicaid, SER, etc.
We also ponder how far this country has to go before racism is finally overcome. When Barach Obama was elected, many of us thought the U.S. had finally entered its post-racist era. Today’s current events show how wrong we were.
Our brown neighbors are being torn from their homes, schools, and workplaces and crated away in the backs of rental trucks to profitable private prisons, waiting for deportation to lands that many of them have never set foot in. Our Muslim neighbors fear for their safety in our own streets. Our government has abolished DEI and erased Black American heroes from history. Our poor are seeing their health care and food access stripped away.
The staff of OKT prays that 2025 may yet mirror Juneteenth, that all Americans may resist and find liberation from the machinations of an administration bent on dominating power and the brutal enrichment of the 1%.
We are partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to raise awareness about the vital resources and services available to help prevent and address substance use disorder in our communities. For information or to get a free naloxone kit, visit the MDHHS “Find Help” web page.
We are partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to raise awareness about the vital resources and services available to help prevent and address substance use disorder in our communities. For information, visit the MDHHS “Find Help” web page.
MLBC Responds to Dismissal of Charges Against Christopher Schurr
Following the mistrial related to the second degree murder charge against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced todaythat he will drop the case.
“It is deeply disappointing that the family of Patrick Lyoya and our community will not see a verdict and receive closure in this case. My heart remains with the Lyoya family as they continue to carry an unimaginable burden, and my community as we work to forge a path forward. This moment is a stark reminder of the urgent need for every level of our community — from law enforcement to elected leaders to residents — to come together to demand accountability, improve procedures, and ensure real protection for communities that remain disproportionately vulnerable to violence and injustice. The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus stands united in this call and remains committed to supporting the work of local leaders as we continue to push for true systemic change and justice,” said state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids).
The initial trial against Schurr ended with the jury deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial after nearly four days of deliberation.
“This choice is the definition of injustice,” said state Rep. Amos O’Neal, (D-Saginaw), chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. “This is just another example of how the system has failed Black and Brown people — we need reform in our criminal justice structure. I will continue my efforts to bring more justice within our state.”
“The whole state has been watching this case,” said state Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield). “The frustration felt by everyone rings true throughout our communities across the state. We must stay committed to the ongoing work of strengthening accountability and building a justice system that serves everyone with fairness and integrity.”
“We should not condone impunity, and that is what this decision is,” said state Rep. Jimmie Wilson, Jr. (D-Ypsilanti). “This is a failure on the part of our system. I am frustrated and disappointed with this decision that leaves many with heavy hearts and unanswered questions. I am holding the Lyoya family in my thoughts as they continue to navigate this unimaginable grief.”
Across the nation, 456 people have been killed by police this year. This reality is particularly acute for Black individuals, who are almost three times more likely to be killed by police than white people in the U.S.
“The decision to not retry is difficult and felt by many. My heart is with the Lyoya family as they continue to carry this tremendous loss. Moments like this call us to reflect, to listen and to keep pushing for a legal system that is fair, transparent and worthy of the trust our communities can place in it,” said state Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit).
“When I heard the news, my stomach dropped,” said state Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint). “A man was killed, and his family and friends are not seeing the justice they deserve. This moment is a solemn one — for the Lyoya family, and for all who are seeking clarity and justice. We owe it to every family to keep pushing for a justice system that truly serves us all.”
“The U.S. House Republicans who voted for this unconscionable budget bill have effectively turned their backs on the people they are supposed to represent and are putting millions of lives at risk — all to further line the pockets of the wealthiest among us.”
The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement today denouncing the U.S. House Republicans’ passage of a budget bill that could strip health care and food away from millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Michiganders, in order to offset the cost of major tax giveaways for the wealthiest U.S. households and corporations. The statement can be attributed to League President and CEO Monique Stanton.
“This is ‘one big beautiful bill’ for millionaires and billionaires…not the rest of us. There is nothing beautiful about taking away food and health care from over half a million Michiganders and millions more around the country. Celebrating this bill means celebrating the loss of jobs, economic security and essential support systems in communities all around our state. People in our country, including those who call Michigan home, deserve so much better than this.”
“The cuts to Medicaid will strip essential care away from an estimated 740,000 people in Michigan through harsh work requirements, while making it more difficult for many more of the 1 in 4 Michiganders who rely on Medicaid to afford the care they need through a plan to impose co-pays. And beyond these very real human costs, the cuts will more than likely force hospitals and other health care facilities — especially those in rural areas — to close their doors, resulting in accessibility issues and major job losses within our already-stretched-too-thin health care system. And our state economy will suffer as a result of reduced federal revenue, additional administrative costs due to new and unnecessary red tape requirements and restrictions on how Michigan raises money to pay for Medicaid. The far-reaching impact of these cuts will be felt not just by those who participate in Medicaid, but by every person in our state.
“Members of our Congressional delegation have heard loud and clear that the vast majority of Michiganders across political views and party affiliations — 83% — don’t want cuts to Medicaid, yet they are forging ahead with this reckless plan. Today’s vote was a huge slap in the face for their constituents. Lives will be put at risk as a result.
“Food insecurity among families in Michigan will also continue to spike as a result of the cuts to SNAP at a time when food banks are already struggling to keep up with community needs. More than 300,000 Michiganders could see their benefits reduced or taken away entirely as a result of the expanded work requirements, which will do nothing to help people who are out of work find jobs faster. Taking food away from those who need it most, including children, will only result in worse outcomes in health, education and overall well-being. SNAP cuts will also impact grocery stores and Michigan’s agriculture industry— one of our state’s largest economic drivers.
“House Republicans have shown where their loyalty lies and it is not with the everyday, working people in our country. It’s with wealthy individuals, businesses and large corporations. Under this bill, the average tax filer earning $1 million or more would receive about $90,000 in tax breaks at the expense of life-saving programs like Medicaid and SNAP, while families earning less than $50,000 would get under $300 in tax cuts in 2027, amounting to less than a dollar a day. The tax cuts that families with low incomes will receive are negligible and will do nothing to help them considering the increased costs they will face if more tariffs are enacted and their health care and food is stripped away. And the expanded Child Tax Credit leaves 17 million children behind whose families earn too little, while the bill takes the credit completely away from 4.5 million citizen or legal permanent resident children by requiring both parents to have a Social Security number.
“The U.S. House Republicans who voted for this unconscionable budget bill have effectively turned their backs on the people they are supposed to represent and are putting millions of lives at risk — all to further line the pockets of the wealthiest among us.”
The Michigan League for Public Policy is sounding the alarm on three bills that advanced yesterday. Congressional House Republicans set the stage for the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the history of those programs, threatening the health and economic security of Michiganders.
The budget bills passed by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, and the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means include:
At least $625 billion in cuts to Medicaid through work requirements for people who receive coverage through the Medicaid expansion, various other red tape requirements that will reduce coverage and restrictions on how Michigan raises money to pay for Medicaid, among other changes.
Roughly $300 billion in cuts to SNAP through harsh work requirements for older adults and parents of school-aged children, as well as a requirement that states, for the first time in the 50-year history of the program, pay for a share of food benefits. Michigan would need to come up with over $760 million each year. To put that into perspective, that is about 80% of the entire annual budget for the Michigan State Police.
A tax plan that would increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over 10 years, providing an average tax cut of $65,000 for people with incomes in the top 1%, while doing little for low- and moderate-income families.
“We’re gravely concerned that House Republicans have put aside the needs of their constituents and of their states’ economies by passing these harmful bills out of committees yesterday. To put life-saving programs like Medicaid and SNAP on the chopping block in order to create tax cuts that mainly benefit the wealthy is egregious,” says Monique Stanton, MLPP CEO. “All this is coming on top of a slew of executive orders designed to intimidate and threaten large swaths of the country, and sweeping, senseless cuts to federal jobs, public education, nonprofit services, crucial research projects and more. We are calling for lawmakers to put their constituents—and their country—first and put a stop to this reckless behavior.
“Michigan’s economy grows when families can afford the basics and incomes are strong. This does the exact opposite—gutting food and health care assistance and leaving people who are already hungry or sick to fall even further behind as prices and tariffs climb.
“More than 2.6 million Michiganders—1 in 4 people in our state—depend on Medicaid for essential care.
“But under this plan, 740,000 Michiganders who gained coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan might lose it again if House Republicans enact work requirements. Those requirements would create more red tape, which could take away coverage from children, seniors and people with disabilities. Even if people keep their coverage, they might not be able to afford even basic medical treatment due to a plan to impose co-pays. We could also see hospital closures and job losses, resulting in economic losses in communities, especially rural areas.
“And cuts to SNAP threaten the nutrition of over 300,000 Michiganders who could see their food assistance benefits cut or taken away entirely under the House Republicans’ plan to expand work requirements to older adults and parents of school-aged kids. Taking away benefits from parents harms kids, too. Kids won’t get enough to eat, and their health and school performance will suffer.
“Most SNAP participants who can work, do. In fact, 3 in 4 SNAP households in Michigan have at least one adult working. And for those who don’t have jobs, taking food away will do nothing to help them find work more quickly. Instead, it punishes many who are working, burdening them with red tape and time-consuming documentation.
“Everything that we know is critical to Michigan’s growth — bringing down maternal mortality rates, making sure older folks can afford their prescriptions, making sure kids and families have the nutrition they need — that’s all at stake now.
“And for what? To make sure more wealthy people get a tax cut.
“Pushing through $1.5 trillion in cuts to basic needs programs to pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy is short-sighted and shows that these lawmakers aren’t thinking about the people they serve. In Michigan, rural and northern counties have a higher percentage of folks who rely on Medicaid and SNAP and a higher percentage of folks living in poverty than most other counties. People living in these areas already have more limited access to the things they need, and taking food off their tables and health care away from their kids is not the answer.
“And guess what? The cuts won’t help with the deficit. Even with the dismantling of federal funding for food assistance and health care, the current plan would still increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over 10 years.
“Plus, working families with lower wages will see next to nothing from the tax cut provisions. The proposed expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) leaves out up to 20 million children in working families nationwide. They won’t get the full credit because their families’ incomes are too low. And millions of people will see tax increases if tariffs are enacted. The tariffs would likely erase a large portion of forthcoming tax cuts for low-income households, those making less than roughly $13,840.
It’s important to note that many of these purported ‘tax cuts for working families,’ including removing the tax on tips and overtime, and the increase in the CTC are only temporary, all set to expire at the end of 2028. But many of the tax cuts for upper-income households will remain permanent, keeping the money flowing to those who already have more.
It’s time for our leaders to remember who they’re working for.”
This year’s Southeast Area Farmers Market will take place at Grand Rapids’ Joe Taylor Park. The market not only provides our Grand Rapids neighbors with fresh local produce but also provides other community organizations an opportunity to share their resources.
We are thrilled to have New City Farm join our community of market vendors this year. They will provide fresh produce grown right here on their farm in Grand Rapids. We welcome other local farms and growers to come vend as well.
If you would like to be a vendor at the 2025 Southeast Area Farmers Market, email SEAFM@OKTjustice.org.
Our Kitchen Table 