Central Michigan started class Monday. By Friday: 38 coronavirus cases
by Ron French, Robin Erb (Bridge) By Friday, the end of the first week of classes at Central Michigan University, there were 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus connected to students, and the college was warning that the campus could switch to remote learning if “selfish” students keep throwing parties. The number of coronavirus cases connected […]
Despite FDA delay, Michigan to keep using convalescent plasma for COVID-19
by Kate Wells, Michigan Radio (Bridge) Michigan hospitals will keep using convalescent plasma to treat certain COVID-19 patients — they’ll just have to keep jumping through certain hoops to do it. That's after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reportedly delayed authorizing the experimental treatment for “emergency use.” That authorization — if it is eventually […]
Relief, optimism, and mistrust greet $600M Flint water lawsuit settlement
by Jonathan Oosting, Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING — Half a decade after LeAnne Walters helped expose the Flint water crisis, the mother of four says she and her children still suffer from rashes because of the stew of toxins they ingested through their tap. Her twin boys Gavin and Garrett, now 9 years old, […]
Feds OK extra $300 a week for Michigan jobless – but it may not last long
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Nearly a million Michiganders who have lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic will eventually qualify for $300 per week in extra unemployment benefits, but the payments could take weeks to arrive and may not last long. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday approved Michigan's application for the temporary […]
Whitmer wins another round over executive powers. On to the Supreme Court
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer does indeed have the legal right to continue extending a state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic without approval from the Legislature, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday morning. The 2-1 decision upholds a lower court ruling siding with Whitmer and affirming the constitutionality of the Emergency […]
Michigan to identify schools with COVID outbreaks. In a couple of weeks.
by Robin Erb, Ron French (Bridge) Michigan’s top health official said Friday the state will release the names of more than a dozen K-12 schools and colleges where there have been confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. But she said her office can’t do so for an undetermined number of weeks. The state first has to cobble together […]
Cityhood status stays on the horizon
Despite a lengthy delay due to extreme caution during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the move toward Manchester becoming a city is still on the minds of Village Council and administration. "Our petition language was approved by the state shortly before everything shut down last winter," explained Village President Pat Vailliencourt. "At that time, of course, […]
Official election results from August 4 Primary
Washtenaw County has posted its official election results from the primary held on Aug. 4. Figures were not finalized until after last week's publication. The four local townships, as reported in our August 5, 2020 print edition, had excellent voter turnout overall. Bridgewater had 37.88% turnout; Freedom Township, with a road millage on the ballot […]
What's in the river: PCBs
by Claire Pajka Buried in the clay and sediments of the lower River Raisin, a stubborn contaminant refuses to be degraded. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, have become a major issue for the River Raisin over the past few decades. PCBs were used in everyday commercial products as well as industrial processes, and were […]
Manchester Township discusses building repairs and more in conference call meeting
by Sybil Kolon, Community Reporter Corps The August 11 township board meeting returned to the conference call format due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. All board members were present, as well as fire chief Bill Scully. A few other members of the public were present, including Village Council President Pat Vailliencourt. Fire chief Scully reported the […]
