Elrick's 2015: Cush, Benson, Evans, Norm and more

There never seems to be a shortage for work for investigative reporters in Michigan, which is one reason Problem Solver ML Elrick had another busy year.

Elrick held public officials in Detroit, Wayne County and Lansing accountable, but it was his ability to tell that future that was most impressive.

If it seems like just a year ago he was updating you on all the big stories he did in 2014, there's a good reason for that - it was just a year ago. Now it's time to catch up on our big stories of 2015, but first, let's check in on Swami Elrick.

Elrick doesn't have nearly enough time to recap all the stories done on George Cushingberry. Will there be more "Cush" stories in 2015? All he can say is "Don't touch that dial."

But Detroit has more than one problematic public official. Of course, local lawmakers aren't the only ones who bear scrutiny.

Elrick revealed that Wayne County Executive Warren Evans collects the kind of cushy pension that he blames for putting the county in a pickle.

He also spent a lot of time holding lawmakers in Lansing accountable, like when Gov. Snyder appointed a former utility company to the commission that sets utility rates.

Then he exposed how a former sheriff and prosecutor were raking in campaign contributions from folks who make money growing marijuana.

But it wasn't all bad news, in 2013, Elrick introduced you to Norman Meyers, who filed a lawsuit against after colleagues hung a statute in the shop where he worked.

That case has been settled and Elrick is told Meyers is very satisfied with the outcome.

And then there's the case of the portrait of Farmhouse Steve, who was diagnosed with cancer shortly after becoming a feather bowling champion. Then his portrait was stolen.

Steve fought bravely, but it wasn't until after brain cancer claimed his life that his portrait returned. his friends and family would rather have the man back, but they took some comfort from the return of the artwork that made him so proud.

"I'm sure he's jumping up and down in heaven if he knows about it," said Julie Gosskie, Steve's mom.  "Because he wanted it back so bad, it meant so much to him."