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-screen image showing a woman in a Milwaukee Brewers shirt standing with her arms crossed on the left, and a man in a Los Angeles Dodgers shirt speaking indoors on the right.

Ballgame Turns Ugly As Brewers Fan Targets Veteran With Racist ICE Threat

A night at the ballpark turned into a national outrage after a Milwaukee Brewers fan told a Latino Dodgers supporter and war veteran, “Let’s call ICE.”

Ballgame Turns Ugly As Brewers Fan Targets Veteran With Racist ICE Threat

A night at the ballpark turned into a national outrage after a Milwaukee Brewers fan told a Latino Dodgers supporter and war veteran, “Let’s call ICE.”

Group of stray dogs lying in the shade along a fenced concrete walkway, appearing tired.

Underfunded Spay and Neuter Programs Leave Shelters Overwhelmed Across the United States

Shelters are overflowing and too many pets never make it home. The fix is in our hands. Spay and neuter cut deadly overpopulation, protect pets from cancers, and curb dangerous...

Underfunded Spay and Neuter Programs Leave Shelters Overwhelmed Across the United States

Shelters are overflowing and too many pets never make it home. The fix is in our hands. Spay and neuter cut deadly overpopulation, protect pets from cancers, and curb dangerous...

Side-by-side image showing a brown tabby cat sitting under a rusty metal fence outdoors, with blurred cars in the background.

Trap Neuter Return Brings Balance To Communities, But Efforts Need Support

Outdoor cats aren’t a nuisance to remove—they’re lives to protect. Our latest blog follows the real playbook that cuts shelter deaths, quiets late-night fights, and keeps birds and gardens safer....

Trap Neuter Return Brings Balance To Communities, But Efforts Need Support

Outdoor cats aren’t a nuisance to remove—they’re lives to protect. Our latest blog follows the real playbook that cuts shelter deaths, quiets late-night fights, and keeps birds and gardens safer....

Side-by-side image showing a mother writing while holding a phone and comforting her sleeping child, next to the CDC headquarters sign at the Edward R. Roybal Campus.

Cancer Care And Outbreak Defense Jeopardized After Sudden CDC Purge

America’s disease watchdog just lurched through mass firings, walk-backs, and a leadership vacuum—right as respiratory season ramps up. Outbreak tracking, vaccine guidance, and the data that drive cancer screening programs...

Cancer Care And Outbreak Defense Jeopardized After Sudden CDC Purge

America’s disease watchdog just lurched through mass firings, walk-backs, and a leadership vacuum—right as respiratory season ramps up. Outbreak tracking, vaccine guidance, and the data that drive cancer screening programs...

Side-by-side image showing a brown dog sitting alertly outdoors on the left, and a close-up of a large black-and-orange insect perched on a yellow fruit on the right.

A Silent Parasite Is Taking The Lives Of Healthy Dogs Without Warning And It's Spreading

A nightly visitor leaves more than a bite. Kissing bugs can seed a parasite that hides for months, then shreds a dog’s heart. Coughing, fainting, a swollen belly—by the time...

A Silent Parasite Is Taking The Lives Of Healthy Dogs Without Warning And It's Spreading

A nightly visitor leaves more than a bite. Kissing bugs can seed a parasite that hides for months, then shreds a dog’s heart. Coughing, fainting, a swollen belly—by the time...

Three dolphins gliding beneath the ocean’s surface, illuminated by soft sunlight filtering through the water above.

Toxic Blooms Are Hijacking Dolphin Brains and Pushing Them Onto Beaches With Alzheimer’s-Like Symptoms

Dolphins washing ashore in Florida aren’t just lost—they’re showing Alzheimer’s-like brain damage.

Toxic Blooms Are Hijacking Dolphin Brains and Pushing Them Onto Beaches With Alzheimer’s-Like Symptoms

Dolphins washing ashore in Florida aren’t just lost—they’re showing Alzheimer’s-like brain damage.