Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell is a West Michigan native and with a background in journalism, data analysis, cartography and design thinking. He likes to learn new things and solve old problems whenever possible, and enjoys bicycling, spending time with his daughters, and coffee.

Articles by Matthew Russell

Split image: child floating on their back with a pool noodle in an indoor pool; child concentrating on a blue flotation aid while practicing swimming.

Swimming Lessons Could Save Autistic Children Drawn to Water

For many autistic children, water can offer calm, joy and sensory relief. It can also pose a deadly risk when a child wanders from safety. Families and instructors are responding...

Swimming Lessons Could Save Autistic Children Drawn to Water

For many autistic children, water can offer calm, joy and sensory relief. It can also pose a deadly risk when a child wanders from safety. Families and instructors are responding...

Close-up of a raccoon walking across grass with a raised leg, showing an uneven or distinctive walking motion.

'Jimothy,' Seattle’s Strangest Raccoon Becomes a Viral Neighborhood Celebrity

A raccoon with a tiny torso and an unmistakable silhouette has appeared in Seattle backyards, trees, and balconies. Residents named him Jimothy, and the internet quickly fell for the elusive...

'Jimothy,' Seattle’s Strangest Raccoon Becomes a Viral Neighborhood Celebrity

A raccoon with a tiny torso and an unmistakable silhouette has appeared in Seattle backyards, trees, and balconies. Residents named him Jimothy, and the internet quickly fell for the elusive...

Split image: a man in camouflage clothing listening during a session on the left; on the right, a small group in military attire supporting an emotional woman.

Tens of Thousands of Veterans Had Their Medical and Financial Data Exposed

Two major data breaches — one hitting 90,000 CPAP patients including active-duty troops, another exposing Social Security numbers of nearly 12,000 TRICARE beneficiaries — have put a spotlight on a...

Tens of Thousands of Veterans Had Their Medical and Financial Data Exposed

Two major data breaches — one hitting 90,000 CPAP patients including active-duty troops, another exposing Social Security numbers of nearly 12,000 TRICARE beneficiaries — have put a spotlight on a...

Split image of a puppy behind a cage and a calico cat confined in a blue wire enclosure.

Hidden Breeder Records Leave Pet Buyers Without Critical Animal Welfare Facts

The puppies may appear healthy. The license may even be current. But what did inspectors find during their last visit? 

Hidden Breeder Records Leave Pet Buyers Without Critical Animal Welfare Facts

The puppies may appear healthy. The license may even be current. But what did inspectors find during their last visit? 

Split image showing two women at a computer on one side and a teen boy wearing headphones seated in a booth on the other.

Autistic Teens’ Brains Follow a Different Path as New Voices Enter Their World

Teenage brains usually become more interested in voices beyond the family as friendships take center stage. New scans show that this shift may follow a sharply different path in autistic...

Autistic Teens’ Brains Follow a Different Path as New Voices Enter Their World

Teenage brains usually become more interested in voices beyond the family as friendships take center stage. New scans show that this shift may follow a sharply different path in autistic...

Split image showing goats grazing on a hillside and a close-up of a brown-and-white goat in a field.

California’s Wildfire Goats Face Slaughter After a Shocking Wage Spike

California relies on goats to clear the brush that can carry flames toward homes. Now, an expired labor provision has pushed the estimated cost of one herder to $240,000 a...

California’s Wildfire Goats Face Slaughter After a Shocking Wage Spike

California relies on goats to clear the brush that can carry flames toward homes. Now, an expired labor provision has pushed the estimated cost of one herder to $240,000 a...