Michigan launches coronavirus contact tracing. Here’s what you need to know.
by Kelly House, Riley Beggin (Bridge) Successfully reopening Michigan’s economy requires government officials to know who has COVID-19 — and to whom they could have spread it. Without that, health experts say, reopening the state may be a major gamble marked by waves of new infections spread by people who don’t yet know they’re sick. As […]
GOP-led Legislature sues Michigan Gov. Whitmer over emergency powers
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Republican legislators filed suit against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday alleging her attempt to unilaterally extend emergency declarations amid the COVID-19 crisis is illegal, “absurd,” unconstitutional and “nonsensical.” GOP leaders are asking the Michigan Court of Claims for an immediate ruling declaring that Whitmer’s emergency orders, including her stay-at-home and business closure […]
Tribal casinos may be headed for clash with Whitmer, Nessel over reopening
by Meghanlata Gupta, Ron French (Bridge) Some Michigan tribal casinos are making plans to open as early as May 16, setting up a possible showdown with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who fear crowds at slot machines could spread the coronavirus. How the state will respond to the planned openings isn’t known yet; […]
Gun ban at Michigan Capitol unlikely, despite urging from Dana Nessel
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Scenes of armed demonstrators towering over lawmakers during a protest at the Michigan Capitol two weeks ago have prompted calls to ban firearms inside the historic building and thrust a little-known commission into the middle of the debate. But Michigan Capitol Commission members, a majority of whom serve at the pleasure of leadership […]
Q&A with Brian Calley: 1 in 7 Michigan small businesses worry about survival
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) One in seven small businesses in Michigan may not survive the COVID-19 pandemic and related closure orders, their owners warn in a survey released this week. “Michigan small businesses are truly struggling to survive,” said Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan. The survey, conducted in late April of […]
‘There is no playbook’ for Michigan’s businesses to navigate COVID-19
by David Wilkins (Bridge) One statistic that does not show up in CMS Energy’s financial statement points to the unmapped road Michigan businesses are traveling due to the global pandemic. “At this time, we've experienced zero fatalities,” CEO Patti Poppe said during the utility’s first-quarter earnings call on April 27. She went on to cite […]
Treatment and trials go on, but Michigan doctors split on coronavirus drug
by Kate Wells, Michigan Radio; Robin Erb, Kelly House (Bridge) Thousands of people are being recruited to participate in southeast Michigan clinical trials — touted as among the largest in the country — to test the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in the battle against COVID-19. But since a 3,000-person Detroit trial was announced April 2, an increasing […]
Challenges and successes with virtual meetings
It's far from "business-as-usual," but business is still getting done each month in Manchester's four rural townships, the Village of Manchester, on the school board, and on the Manchester District Library board of trustees. After the Governors’ Executive Order allowing public meetings subject to the Open Meeting Act (OMA) to include participation by remote access […]
Manchester welcomes new football coach for fall season
With no spring sports to watch this year, what is a sports-minded family to do? Well, you could watch a simulated Kentucky Derby on television, or relive the glory days of the Detroit Tigers or the Red Wings through the magic of re-runs. But, there's something to look forward to on the horizon--and it's high […]
Acorn Farmers Market opening Thursday. New ordering system!
submitted by Ruth VanBogelen, Acorn Farmers Market Board May 7th Acorn Farmers Market will reopen to sell a good variety of food items to prepare healthy meals at home. For safety reasons, the market will operate curbside only. No customers will come into the store. While curbside is a different way of shopping for food […]
