As the war in Iran drags on, grocery prices are still brutal, and for a lot of Michigan families, every trip to the store comes with new sticker shock.

But as a mom of five on a teacher’s salary, The ’Gander’s Chaunie Brusie has become an expert at stretching a grocery budget as far as possible.

Today, she’s sharing the Michigan grocery stores, wholesale clubs, hidden gems, and shopping tricks that can actually help you save serious money.

Plus: We chat with Stephanie Johnson of LeRoy, Michigan, who just won the ‘Oscar of Teaching.’

Blue Cross warns Michigan Medicine patients to find new doctors (The Detroit News): About 250,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield patients could face out-of-network charges at Michigan Medicine starting July 1 if the two sides fail to reach a new contract. The dispute centers on reimbursement rates, with Blue Cross accusing UM Health of demanding major price hikes while the hospital system says the insurer wants deep payment cuts.

Michigan Congresswoman introduces child tax credit bill (Michigan Advance): US Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet is proposing a new federal tax credit aimed at helping working families cover soaring childcare costs. Her plan would give families earning $100,000 or less up to $5,500 annually for each child age 3 and younger.

Michigan cities rethink ‘No Mow May’ (Bridge Michigan): Cities across Michigan are scaling back “No Mow May” programs as concerns grow over ticks and whether taller grass actually helps pollinators.

Aisles at a grocery store in Michigan. (Marques Thomas/Unsplash)

By Chaunie Brusie

As a family of seven, including four teenagers, with a high school teacher’s salary as our starting budget, it’s no exaggeration to say that affording groceries is a major challenge for us. And I don’t mean to sound like a grumpy Boomer, but have you seen the cost of grapes these days? And coffee? 

Back in my day, coffee and grapes didn’t feel like exorbitant luxuries, but here we are. Like many families, we are forever on a hunt for innovative ways to save on groceries, so we did some digging. Here are the Michigan grocery stores where you can find the best deals, some money-saving ideas you may not know about, and a few hidden gems along the way. 

After being named the 2025-26 Milken Educator Award, Stephanie Johnson of LeRoy says she’s donating her prize money to create a scholarship for local students. (Milken Family Foundation)

By Lucas Henkel

Stephanie Johnson isn’t your typical teacher, and that’s not just because she’s this year’s recipient of the Milken Educator Award, otherwise known as the “Oscar of Teaching.”

As a seventh-grade English teacher at Pine River Middle School in LeRoy, Johnson does what she can to capture students’ interest with her lesson plan—whether that’s dressing up as historical figures during a unit on Shakespeare or giving students opportunities to listen to stories of Michiganders with family members who were Holocaust survivors at the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills. 

“We really have to make it relevant to them. Motivation dips in middle school for students—reading and writing is not always at the top of their priority list when they’ve got other activities and things to engage them,” said Johnson. She says she wants to teach students to find the human element within literature and give them the tools to learn about time periods and people who matter to them, which has helped students become more engaged in class. 

“Anything that I can do to make what we’re doing in class meaningful and go beyond seventh-grade English, something that they can take with them after my classes, is always a goal for me,” she said. 

Johnson’s passion for student success extends beyond her classroom. She also serves on several school improvement committees across her district and volunteers to mentor new teachers—all to ensure that students have the tools they need to succeed. 

The Detroit Pistons’ conference semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers is currently underway.

While the team’s regular season was incredibly promising, they were nearly knocked out by Orlando in the first round of the playoffs before making a major comeback.

It’s all led me to wonder how Michiganders are feeling about the team. That’s why earlier this week, I asked readers:

How far will the Pistons go in the playoffs?

I tallied up the results from nearly 300 votes, and here’s what you thought (winner in bold):

Conf. Semifinals: 23%

Conf. Finals: 28%

NBA Finals: 20%

NBA Champs: 29%

So, when the Pistons go all the way, don’t forget that you heard it here first!

Thanks to everyone who sent in their vote.

And if you have a question you’d like me to ask our community, send it my way. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

*Responses may be edited for conciseness or clarity.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Chaunie Brusie and Lucas Henkel. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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