Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday.

“Enough is enough. We cannot allow a public official to weaponize misinformation while cutting the very research that saves lives. It’s time today to impeach RFK Jr.,” says Stevens. 

She initially stated her intention to file articles of impeachment against the Make America Healthy Again Secretary in September.

Like many other Democrats, Stevens says Kennedy’s attempts to delegitimize vaccinations and promotion of pseudo-science makes him unqualified for the job.

Kennedy Jr. has taken heat from epidemiologists for turning anti-vaccination misinformation into policy, disregarding decades of research that points to the effectiveness of vaccines. Public health officials also condemn his promotion of conspiracy theories around autism.

Rep. Stevens says he has violated his oath, citing how how cuts implemented and supported by Kennedy Jr. have made insurance less accessible and hurt research institutions, like those at Michigan universities. “I’ve heard from Republican doctors in Michigan who’ve been calling me to thank me for standing up for science,” says Stevens.

Kennedy Jr. oversaw the firing of thousands of public health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health.

Stevens’ impeachment attempt likely won’t go far in the Republican-controlled U.S. House. It’s unclear whether the move is backed by Democratic leadership.

When asked if House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries backed the impeachment bid, Stevens said she’d let Jeffries speak for himself.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging people who can get this season’s flu shot to do so.

So far, the agency says about 20% of those eligible to receive the vaccine have been immunized.

New strain appears in the UK

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is the state’s chief medical executive. She says a new variant of H3N2 influenza is causing severe cases of flu in England.

“What’s happening in Europe and England is sometimes a harbinger of what’s to come in places like Michigan,” she says. “And what we’ve been seeing [there] is an early flu season and a more severe flu season.”

Early studies have shown that this season’s flu vaccine offers some protection against the new variant.

“In England, they’ve seen that in folks under 18, the vaccine is about 75% protective in terms of keeping them out of the emergency department and the hospital,” Bagdasarian says. “It’s about 40% effective in those over 18.”

While the vaccine does not prevent all cases, Bagdasarian says it does reduce one’s chances of getting really sick.

“What we’re trying to do here is not stop all cases of the flu, but we want to keep people out of the hospital, the ICU, and stop them from dying,” she says.

Vaccinations have been declining since COVID

As for the low vaccination rate this season, Bagdasarian says it’s a trend. Fewer people have been getting annual flu shots since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She worries that an outbreak of severe flu might overwhelm Michigan’s hospitals.

“When our health systems are full of people with influenza, that means there’s less care to go around,” she says. “None of us want to see a health system that’s overwhelmed with flu cases.”

Bagdasarian says fewer children are receiving routine vaccinations for other diseases such as measles and polio. She fears that recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could make that worse.

Skeptics turn health policy on its head

For example, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended that children should only receive the hepatitis B vaccine if their mothers have tested positive or their status is unknown. Decades of research have shown that immunizing newborns against the virus is safe and has drastically reduced childhood cases of hepatitis B and other liver disease.

Bagdasarian attended the ACIP meeting virtually. She questions the qualifications of many who spoke.

“There were not enough scientists,” she says. “There were not enough health professionals, pediatricians, physicians.”

Instead, Bagdasarian notes that some of the presenters had non-medical backgrounds and don’t understand health care. She says that jeopardizes America’s health policies.

“The recommendations they voted on are liable to cause increased confusion and hesitancy and maybe put obstacles in people’s place when they’re trying to get vaccines,” she says.

Bagdasarian’s specialty is infectious disease. She says she’s treated patients with end stage liver disease, measles, and other preventable illnesses. She does not want the U.S. to go back to the time when these things were common.

“Many of these vaccines are things that we took when we were kids,” she says. “To deprive our own children of these life-saving benefits is sad.”

Health isn’t just influenced by the choices we make. It’s also determined by public policy.

That’s the message of a new report that examines how health in Michigan is limping behind others around the country. On average, resident lifespans are shorter, infant mortality rates are higher, and Michiganders are more likely to suffer from cancer and other diseases. 

Why is this the case? And, what is the state’s role in getting us to move our bodies more, and to expand our minds so we can live longer, healthier lives?

Karley Abramson is a health policy research associate for the Citizens Research Council, which published the report. She spoke with host Robyn Vincent.

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In America, we have a lot of very big problems, including climate change, income and wealth inequality and hyper partisanship.

How should we tackle these problems? 

Paul Fleming is an associate professor of public health at the University of Michigan. He believes we need to focus more on preventing problems from occurring in the first place.

It’s that mindset, detailed in his book, “Imagine Doing Better,” that he hopes will help us get to the root of the problems we seek to resolve before they turn into crises.

WDET’s Sam Corey spoke with Professor Fleming. They began by talking about why policy is important to focus on at all.

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Birthing is a fragile process. That’s why, with new life coming into the world, it’s the responsibility of a lot of people — doctors and nurses and caregivers and family members — to ensure that such life is properly cared for. 

But in order to do that well, we have to care for pregnant women. In this state, we’re being told that we’re not doing a great job of that task, specifically for Black mothers. 

A new report shows that about 1 in 6 babies born in Detroit were born prematurely. And this issue is directly related to that of infant mortality and maternal health. Two years ago in our country, over 20,000 babies died before their first birthday, with the highest rates occurring in the South and Midwest regions. 

Why is maternal healthcare, particularly for Black mothers, so bad in the U.S. and worse in the Midwest? And what can we do about it?

Tamika Jackson is a reproductive justice and maternal health organizer for Mothering Justice. She spoke with Robyn Vincent.

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Thousands of women have been in the initial stages of a legal battle over hair products they believe made them sick.

In 2022, The National Institute of Environmental Health Science, found that women who use hair relaxers frequently increase their risk of developing cancer, and now over 10,000 women who have used the treatment are suing the manufacturers. The findings raise important questions about the risks associated with hair products—risks that are present everyday in a city dubbed the “Hair Capital of the World.”

Aisha Langford, a professor of public health at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine joined the show to explains the important takeaways for consumers and stylists who use relaxers.

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One of the biggest issues Detroiters face has to do with their homes. There are a fair number of homes in the city, but over 20,000 of them are in dire need of repairs. That includes leaky roofs, electricity issues, and asbestos in the walls. 

The problem is large, but one retired firefighter, Gary Ringer, is trying to chip away at it. The Detroiter, who mostly helps people on the West Side, has been spending a lot of his time going to peoples’ homes, and assisting them with repairs. 

What inspires Gary’s volunteerism? What are the repairs people need? And, with the mayoral election next week, what kinds of investments does he think the next mayor should make to facilitate more home repairs? 

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It’s flu season, and that means public health departments are promoting vaccinations. Over the past few years,  local vaccination rates have been down, and more people have become wary of vaccines. 

Before the pandemic hit, Oakland County’s approach to getting people vaccinated had been to focus on vaccine science and facts. In other words, tell people that vaccines are essential and encourage local pediatricians to maintain high vaccination rates. 

But in the last few years, the county has changed its approach to vaccine hesitance; it’s now trying to be more open, curious and empathetic towards those who have concerns. 

What else is different about Oakland County’s approach? And has it been working?

Oakland County Health Officer Kate Guzman spoke with Robyn Vincent about this and more.

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A few years out of the pandemic, overdose deaths continue to drop. 

A new report found that overdose deaths declined by 37 percent from 2023 to 2024. Local EMS calls related to drug overdoses dropped as well.

What are Southeast Michigan government officials doing to try to continue lowering addiction and overdose rates since the numbers hit all-time highs?

Narcan availability is a big reason for this drop. But local governments are making more investments in physical and mental health care too. Oakland County just opened its 360 Care Center, which offers same-day services for non-emergency medical needs. 

Why is addiction a big problem for so many people in the first place? And what can health professionals and everyday folks do to try to stop it from ruining peoples’ lives? Producer Sam Corey spoke with Deputy County Executive for Oakland County Madiha Tariq to learn more.

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On Sunday, a place of worship was turned into a scene of violence. 

In Grand Blanc, a former Marine and Iraq war veteran shot and killed at least four people at a Mormon church and allegedly set the building on fire. Officials say it was an act of targeted violence, though the motive remains unclear. Some victims are being treated at a local hospital. 

It’s no secret that gun violence is a big part of our culture here in the U.S. Gun deaths have increased over the last decade by 33 percent.

The United States is the rare wealthy nation with more guns than people.

Less than 14 hours before the attack in Michigan, another former Marine, Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient killed three people and wounded five others in North Carolina. 

These stories are about guns and access, but they’re also about veterans reentering civilian life, about isolation, grievance, trauma, and how people respond—or don’t—to warning signs. 

Erin Comartin is a social work professor at Wayne State University. She spoke with Robyn Vincent about the roots of gun violence and how people can try to help prevent the next possible shooting.

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In Southwest Detroit, 18-wheeled vehicles frequently rumble through streets that aren’t made for them. Heavy truck traffic has been more than just an inconvenience here. 

For years, it’s meant noise, pollution, and danger for neighbors. And the problem is significant. 

Detroit is one of the country’s busiest freight hubs. Per Outlier Media reporting, about 128,000 loaded containers entered the city in July alone. 

To improve the situation, the city of Detroit is creating new truck restrictions on certain streets. Samuel Krassenstein is the Chief of Infrastructure and the Deputy Director for Public Works for the City of Detroit. He tells The Metro that next week the city plans to make some of the biggest series of truck route restrictions yet.

Krassenstein spoke with Robyn Vincent about truck traffic in Detroit, the problems it causes, and how the city is working to alleviate the problem for residents who live near it.

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Suzanne McAtee has attended the classes offered through Munson Hospital’s Fruit and Vegetables Prescription Program since they began five years ago.

At 93, she credits the program — through which doctors prescribe diet education as a treatment for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure — with helping her manage her health.

“I have stage-five kidney disease. My next step is dialysis,” McAtee said. “I have controlled this through my diet, which is very important to me, and that’s the other reason I pay particular attention to everything I eat.”

Come month’s end, the class may not exist.

The class is led for free by educators who are part of the federally funded SNAP-Education program, which partners with more than 33,000 organizations nationwide to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and better food access. In Michigan, two agencies — Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Fitness Foundation — operate SNAP-Ed programs in places such as schools, senior centers, and food pantries.

Funding cuts

Congress slashed funding for SNAP-Ed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this year. More than 120 MSU Extension health educators will lose their jobs across Michigan this month, and the Michigan Fitness Foundation is in the process of sunsetting some of its programs into next year.

Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman, who supported the cuts in May, did not respond to a request for comment. In an email to constituents, he said that, while the SNAP-Ed initiative was “commendable,” the results were disappointing, citing rising childhood obesity rates. According to the Ballard Center for Social Impact, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s.

Sarah Eichberger, a Traverse City SNAP-Ed educator, disagreed that that was proof SNAP-Ed programs failed. Rather, she said, that highlights how large the American health crisis really is.

“How can you now say one underfunded federal nutrition program is responsible for not making our entire country healthy?” Eichberger said. “We live in a country where there are systems and structures that prevent people from being healthy.”

Michigan’s share of the SNAP-Ed budget

Of the SNAP-Ed budget — $536 million in fiscal year 2025 — Michigan received $27 million and relied on that funding more than any other state of its size — with only California, New York and Pennsylvania receiving more funding.

In 2024, the MSU Extension’s SNAP-Ed program reached more than 115,000 people across Michigan, with national SNAP-Ed outreach serving millions of low-income Americans.

Much of the work done by SNAP-Ed, according to Eichberger, is behind the scenes, like securing grants for its 1,000 community partners. Those partnerships allowed the program to stretch its budget further and reach more people.

How can you now say one underfunded federal nutrition program is responsible for not making our entire country healthy? We live in a country where there are systems and structures that prevent people from being healthy.

—SNAP-Ed educator Sarah Eichberger

Two years ago, Eichberger helped launch a program to deliver boxes of locally grown fruits and vegetables to daycares across 32 counties. That initiative, made possible through outside grants, relied on the network of SNAP-Ed staff working directly with child care providers to offer expertise and support.

The loss of SNAP-Ed, Eichberg said, is not just health and nutrition classes going away. It’s the loss of an entire network of people and partnerships working to create healthy systems and programs.

Making America healthy 

While the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again movement — which has focused on banning red food dyes and encouraged the fast food restaurant Steak ‘n Shake to switch from frying its food in seed oil to beef tallow — has made headlines, Eichberger said the work SNAP-Ed does to promote a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables along with exercise is even more important.

“If you can get people to be healthier, if you can prevent Type 2 diabetes, heart disease… that’s so much more impactful than some of these things the conversation has been moving more towards,” said Eichberger.

Loss of funding, loss of access

The loss of SNAP-Ed is part of a larger trend of cuts to public health funding. That includes increased work requirements for Medicaid and cuts to SNAP’s food assistance program through the Big, Beautiful Bill, along with long enough delays in US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding that local agencies have had to lay off staff.

Eichberger worries about the long-term effects, especially as fewer people will have access to food stamps and health care coverage.

“Less people are going to be able to access food stamps. There’ll be less access (to) health care coverage,” Eichberger said. “We haven’t fully seen the impact yet… but it will be significant.”

Hopes for new funding

Patti Tibaldi, the project manager for SNAP-Ed at Traverse City Area Public Schools through the Michigan Fitness Foundation, had to let go of four staff members when funding was cut earlier this year. However, she may be able to bring them back if new funding becomes available.

The US Department of Agriculture recently opened a new grant for SNAP-Ed programs, although with reduced funding. The grant is meant to sunset the program, Tibaldi said, and will only last until next summer. Many organizations, Tibaldi said, have chosen not to pursue it.

For now, Tibaldi and the few remaining SNAP-Ed programs are waiting to find out about that USDA grant — and see if they have just one year left.

“We’re going to try to hang in there — whatever little thing we can do to help these families and the kids,” said Tibaldi. “I think it’s very shortsighted to lose the focus on how important it is for kids and families to learn healthy habits.”

This reporting is made possible by the Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative, a project led by Interlochen Public Radio and Bridge Michigan, and funded by Press Forward Northern Michigan.

The University of Michigan is ending gender-affirming care for minors, leaving an untold number of families with fewer options and greater uncertainty.

Gender-affirming care for minors is legal in Michigan, and major medical and mental-health associations recognize it as best practice. Research links it to lower depression and suicide risk. 

But a Michigan Medicine spokesperson said in a prepared statement that the risks of offering this care are now too high. This comes after it received a federal subpoena as part of a criminal and civil investigation into gender-affirming care for minors.

“We recognize the gravity and impact of this decision for our patients and our community. We are working closely with all those impacted,” the statement reads.

The announcement represents a profound loss for families. For some young people, it means a place they felt safe and could trust is closing its doors. And the consequences are real: more anxiety, more depression, greater risk of suicide.

Equality Michigan’s Emme Zanotti joined Robyn Vincent to discuss the impacts on Michigan families. Zanotti, a trans woman, also took off her advocate hat to reflect on the personal reverberations she feels at this moment.

Michigan Medicine did not respond to an email request about the number of patients who will be affected and how the hospital plans to assist patients during this transition. 

Editor’s Note: After this conversation aired, Corewell Health, a major healthcare provider in Michigan, also announced the end of its gender-affirming care. 

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The state government faces a possible shut-down soon unless lawmakers come to an agreement on a new budget. The House and Senate are billions of dollars apart in terms of their spending and policy priorities, says Speaker of the Michigan House Matt Hall

Republican proposals align with much of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s agenda. But critics say the budget plan passed by House Republicans cuts too many programs.

It slashes funding for the Michigan State Police, hospitals and revenue shared with cities and counties among other cuts.

Without an agreement on a new budget, the state government will shut down in about a month.

Additional headlines from Tuesday, September 2, 2025

New restrictions on COVID vaccine access

It may be harder for many Michigan residents to get the new COVID vaccine this fall.

The Food and Drug Administration has limited shots to people 65 and older, and those with certain medical conditions. Others might be able to get the shot with a prescription.

The state health department encourages everyone over 6 months old to get the vaccine, including pregnant women and very young kids. 

Syphilis on the rise for infants in Michigan

Syphilis cases in Michigan are decreasing – for adults. But Bridge Michigan reports diagnoses for infants are up 38% since 2021.

Health officials estimate between 50 and 60 newborns will test positive for syphilis this year. 

Sphinx Organization releases album, holds applications for musicians of color

The Sphinx Organization released its latest album last week. “American Mirror” shares new works by Black, Indigenous and other composers of color.

The organization has also opened applications for the 2026 Orchestral Partners Auditions. The program offers classical musicians of color a chance to connect with a national professional network and to compete for up to 3500 in cash prizes.

Applications close on October 6^th and are followed by a round of recorded submissions in November and live auditions in Detroit in January. 

Wayne State hosts early childhood education conference 

The Project Launch Early Childhood Conference is later this month. The one-day seminar will focus on social emotional learning in early childhood education.

The event is free to educators and can be used to meet required training hours. The Centers for Family Development will host the conference at Wayne State September 20^th.  

In this episode

• Reasons behind the change with from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
• Supporters and Opponents share their thoughts on the change. 

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The Whitmer administration is moving forward with changes to Michigan’s behavioral health system. As part of the weekly series MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow discuss how the proposal is being received by supporters and opponents, including Daniel Cherrin and Robert Sheehan.

Daniel Cherrin leads the MI Care Council, the Michigan Association of Substance Addiction Providers, and the MI Behavioral Health and Wellness Collaborative. He supports the changes, arguing they will make the system more accountable and efficient.

“Right now there are too many layers of behavioral services in the state of Michigan and too many conflicts of interest,” he says. “We support the state’s efforts because now they are asking Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans if they want to be a service provider or a funder. We want them to make a choice.”

Cherrin says the changes would also remove unnecessary gatekeepers in the system.

Robert Sheehan, executive director of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, takes the opposite view.

He believes the fundamental structure should not be dismantled in the name of reform. “There is a lack of uniformity with Medicaid benefits. Uniformity has a cost,” he says.

“If a town is told to do it a certain way but they have an innovative practice, they won’t be able to pursue it.” Sheehan argues the state needs a balance of uniformity and innovation.

Roth and Gorchow also spoke with Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, who explained the reasoning behind the changes.

The goal is to have the new system in place by October 1, 2026.

More from WDET:

• Detroit Evening Report: Michigan families, caregivers prepare for possible Medicaid cuts
• MichMash: Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO says protecting Medicaid protects Michigan
• Slotkin talks Medicaid cuts in GOP’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ voting against California EV mandate

The Trucks Off Our Streets coalition urged the Detroit City Council on Tuesday to enforce existing truck regulation laws while waiting for a route ordinance to pass. 

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Detroit was named one of the worst cities to live with asthma in 2024, and activists says a leading cause of that is the trucks driving through residential areas.   

Activist Simone Zagovac says a truck census in 2024 on Livernois counted 1,000 semi-trucks passing in one day on a road without any industry on it.   

“So every day, yesterday, today and tomorrow, 1,000 semi trucks are driving down those streets. In the last two years since we toured city administration staff, that means one million semi trucks have driven down Livernois,” she said.  

Zagovac told city council simple enforcement of existing laws against speeding, parking, and route restrictions of semi-trucks can greatly improve the health of residents.   

She advocated for the council to also consider zoning amendments to better separate industry and residential areas.  

Other headlines for Wednesday, July 23, 2025:

• A Detroit man is suing the city of Detroit and its police and fire departments for $100 million in damages over his wrongful conviction in 2013.
• Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey will be kicking off early voting with a block party celebration this weekend. The Block Party for Democracy will be held on Saturday, July 26, on Grand Boulevard between Second and Third streets to mark the opening of Detroit’s Early Vote Centers.  The party will feature DJs, local vendors, food trucks, and dog adoptions from the Michigan Humane Society.  Primary election day is Aug. 5.  
• Temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 90s on Thursday, July 24. Detroit is reopening their cooling centers. Residents can visit any Detroit recreation center or Detroit library during normal hours to beat the heat. The Northwest Activities, Patton, and Heilmann recreation centers will have extended hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Health care in Michigan is about to get more expensive.

According to a recent report from the health policy research group KFF, insurers offering plans through the Affordable Care Act will increase premiums by 15% next year, with some even proposing 20% hikes. Medicaid is set for $1.2 trillion in national cuts, including work mandates and higher fees.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also announced last week that she joined a multi-state coalition lawsuit challenging a Trump administration rule that would “create significant barriers to obtaining health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.”

So, what does all this mean for you and your family’s health care costs?

Thomas Buchmueller, a health economist at the University of Michigan, joined The Metro on Tuesday to break down what’s changing, who will feel it first, and what Michigan can do to soften the blow.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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A recent survey of Wyandotte’s water system by state regulators has identified “significant deficiencies” that they say “pose a significant health risk” to water consumers in the city.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) survey, released in April, reported deficiencies in four specific areas, including water treatment plant maintenance, distribution maintenance, finished water storage, and management and operations.

Additionally, the survey suggests that 40% of Wyandotte’s water system has “significant deterioration.”

“As a result,” the report said, “the city is not demonstrating the technical, managerial and financial capacity necessary to own and operate a water system.”

Paul LaManes, general manager for Wyandotte Municipal Services, says the city is currently working to address the issues highlighted in EGLE’s survey, but insisted that the water is safe to drink and poses no health risk to the public.

He joined The Metro to share more details about the survey and how the city is responding.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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Heat is now the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. — with 12,000 lives claimed annually — and this number is expected to increase significantly by the turn of the century.

In large cities, temperatures in the summer can reach even higher than normal due to the “urban heat island” effect. 

New data compiled by the nonprofit American Forests and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation identifies areas in cities across the United States that lack enough protection from the sun.  These areas are known as “shade deserts.” 

The new shade map covers more than 100 of the country’s biggest urban areas, including Detroit.

One effective way to stay cooler is by increasing shade, especially through planting trees, which can reduce the effects of high temps significantly. But according to American Forests a lack of shade in Detroit — especially at bus stops and along roadways — is harming thousands. 

Less than 60% of households in Detroit have air conditioning, said Chris David, vice president of GIS & Data Science at American Forests. Additionally, he says those using public and alternative transit are even more at risk of heat-related illness and death. 

“I think there’s about 5,000 bus stops in Detroit,” David said. “About 90% of those 5,000 bus stops have poor shade.” 

He says bus shelters provide “very little” sun protection, with only about 5% of bus stops in the city covered.  

“That means we estimated about 85,000 daily transit riders in Detroit….they’re left exposed to the sun when they’re waiting for the bus… and that can have dire effects,” David said.

David says Detroit will benefit from a strategic plan to increase the tree canopy, with groups like the Greening of Detroit working toward that goal in partnership with city government. 

You can view the American Forests/UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation shade map here. 

This story is part of WDET’s ongoing series, The Detroit Tree Canopy Project.