Michigan has an incredible beer scene, with some of the best breweries in the US. And with 2023 behind us, we’ve compiled the best beer releases of the past year. Whether you prefer indulging in an IPA or sipping on a stout, read on for the best beers the Mitten has to offer.

Plus—for Michiganders living in rural areas, getting access to healthcare can be incredibly hard. We’ll introduce you to a medical student working to address that shortage.

P.S. We’re working to better tailor our content to become your go-to resource for Michigan news and information, and we’d love to hear from you. Please take a few moments to answer this survey to help us better serve you.

MI STUDENTS LOST NEARLY HALF A GRADE LEVEL IN MATH, READING SINCE PANDEMIC
(link
): A new report from researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities finds that Michigan students have experienced pretty major educational setbacks since the pandemic—with losses of 44% of a grade equivalent in average math and reading scores between 2019 and 2023. The report’s authors emphasize that this data is particularly crucial to consider as federal pandemic relief dollars dry up.

SECRETARY OF STATE WANTS DRIVER’S ED TO RETURN TO SCHOOLS (link)
: Many drivers in Michigan have public schools to thank for getting them a driver’s license. Unfortunately, most school-based driver’s training programs were shuttered after they stopped receiving state funding in 2004. But this week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced a push to bring driver’s ed back to public schools through the creation of new state grant programs. The plan already has support from the Michigan Education Association—the state’s largest teachers union.

WHO RUNS THE MICHIGAN GOP (link
)? The Michigan Republican Party continues to be embroiled in a leadership dispute after the group ousted Kristina Karamo as chairwoman and elected former Rep. Pete Hoekstra. While Ex-President Donald Trump endorsed Hoekstra, Karamo denies the legitimacy of the move and insists she’s still in charge. In the meantime, two distinct entities claim to be the Michigan Republican Party—complete with separate emails, websites, and social media accounts. A lawsuit to determine control of the party is set for a hearing in March.

Image via Canva

2023 was a great year for beer in Michigan, with notable breweries like Bell’s and Old Nation continuing to innovate and bring us new brews.

Writer Lisa Green has assembled a list of Michigan’s best 2023 beer releases, using rating data from Untappd—a social media platform for beer aficionados. The info is based on rating and popularity of both the beer and the brewery among users.

Whether you’re a big fan of beer already or looking for something new, this list has Michigan’s latest must-try releases. Favorites include:

Oberon Eclipse – Citrus Wheat Ale (Bell’s Brewery)

No Rules Double Barrel – Vietnamese Imperial Porter (Perrin Brewing Company)

MI, MI, MI – Triple New England IPA (Old Nation Brewing Co.)

KBS Blueberry – Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (Founders Brewing Co.)

Detroit Hustles Harder – Double IPA (Atwater Brewery)

Click here for the full article.

Almost two million Michiganders live in rural communities, and it’s no secret that the residents of those communities often need help connecting to good healthcare.

The good news? There are Michiganders working hard to close that disparity.

‘Gander multimedia reporter Lucas Henkel spoke with Eneka Lamb, a student in Michigan State University’s Leadership in Rural Medicine Program, to learn about her work helping rural communities. Click here, or the image below, to watch the video.

Image via The ‘Gander Newsroom

To learn more about MSU’s Leadership in Rural Medicine Program, click here to read the full story.

Image via worldofwintergr.com

Where: Grand Rapids

When: Feb. 3, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Price: Free

From January through March, Grand Rapids transforms into the “the largest winter festival in the US” during World of Winter—a two month initiative featuring outdoor activities and art installations. This Saturday, head to Rosa Parks Circle for a free walking tour around Grand Rapids. No registration is necessary.

Last week, we asked: “Do you think the Lions will make it to the Super Bowl?”

Unsurprisingly, most of the community (hundreds of comments!) said “Yes!” Of course, we all know the Lions’ season sadly came to an end on Sunday.

But I did want to highlight this comment from one reader, that helps us remember that Michiganders have so much to be proud of:

“I’ll be the odd one out and say no. But that’s ok! They’ve come SO far SO quickly- there shouldn’t be any disappointment from here on out this season!” – Laura Phillips

This week, we’re lending a helping hand to new Michiganders:

Image via The ‘Gander

What do you think, ‘Ganders? Let us know by clicking on the image above and leaving a comment, or by replying to this email. I’ll share some of my favorite answers next week.

This email is written by Karel Vega, community editor at The ‘Gander. Have a question or comment? Reply back to this email!