Mail delivery delays up in southeast Michigan in weeks before election
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) Mail delays have increased in southeast Michigan for the weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election, a congressional investigation spearheaded by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters concluded in a report published Tuesday. About 70 percent of mail was delivered on time (within five days) in the Detroit region the week of Oct. 3, […]
Coronavirus sidelines veteran poll workers, adding to Michigan election stress
By Madeline Halpert (Bridge) This article is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. This article is available for reprint under the terms of our republishing policy. At 17, Tori Johnson is too young to vote, but the high school senior from Romeo in northern Macomb County still […]
Michigan voting 2020: masks, guns, ID, straight ticket, what you should know
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) The polls open in fewer than two weeks, but Michigan’s Nov. 3 general election is already under way. Election officials expect a record-breaking turnout of more than 5 million, nearly two-thirds of all registered voters. More than 1.5 million voters already have cast absentee ballots. As Election Day approaches, Bridge Michigan […]
Some Michigan Republicans propose local opt-out for COVID lockdown orders
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Seeking to influence Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, House Republicans on Tuesday outlined a plan to allow counties to opt out of statewide mask mandates, business rules, crowd size limitations and other public safety orders if local virus spread is low. Local health officials could relax regulations […]
Why it still matters whether Michigan K-12 students contract COVID
By Ron French When Michigan school districts forged plans this fall to open classrooms to students, there was little question it would lead to some spread of COVID-19. The question was: How much? And would it be manageable? More than six weeks into the school year, the answer, so far, falls somewhere between no problem […]
CRC continues to help Manchester through rain, snow ... and pandemic
Challenges abound, but the challenges often tend to bring new opportunities with them, observes Laura Seyfried, Director at the Community Resource Center (CRC) in Manchester. The CRC's mission is to "serve individuals and families in need by offering effective programs that improve their lives, promote volunteerism, and enhance the welfare of the Manchester community." By […]
Consumers Energy holds "virtual" open house to discuss Freedom Compressor Plant
A planned open house and tour of the newly expanded Freedom Compressor Station had to be switched to a virtual format last weekend due to a significant "uptick" in COVID-19 cases across the state and in Washtenaw County in particular. The stated purpose of the event was to improve communication between Consumers/CMS Energy, the owner/operators […]
GoFundMe set up for family affected by weekend house fire
On Saturday afternoon, Manchester and Chelsea Fire Departments responded to a house fire on East Duncan Street near Riverside Drive. It is suspected that faulty wiring in the attic of the historic home may have led to the fire, which caused extensive smoke and water damage to the home. Restoration specialists were on the scene […]
Bridgewater & Freedom join Sharon and Manchester Townships in offering free wifi in their parking lots
submitted by Lisa Moutinho, Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force Responding to the stay-at-home stay-safe era, the Washtenaw County Broadband Task Force (BBTF) is providing parking lot WiFi internet connections to seven township halls in under- and unserved areas of the county. The BBTF is grateful to the townships for their willingness to partner in helping […]
Washtenaw Conservation District asks for input from residents of the Upper-Middle portion of the Huron River Watershed
The Washtenaw Conservation District (WCCD ) announced last week that a new Watershed Management Plan is being proposed by the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) for the Upper-Middle portion of the Huron River. The Upper-Middle potion of the watershed includes the northeast section of Sharon Township and northern half of Freedom Township, including Pleasant Lake. […]
