COVID school outbreaks skyrocket; more Michigan schools close
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) Nearly three dozen Michigan school districts have shuttered classrooms early in what was already a short holiday week, in hopes that a longer Thanksgiving break will tamp down COVID outbreaks and relieve staff shortages. The closures come as COVID-19 outbreaks and infections in Michigan schools rise sharply. There were 140 […]
5 million Michiganders are vaccinated and COVID is surging. Here’s why
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) A year ago, Michigan was averaging nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 cases a day and more than 3,700 people were hospitalized with the disease. “We are in the worst moment of this pandemic to date,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Nov. 15, 2020, before ordering sweeping restrictions in an attempt to stem […]
Child care as economic development? You bet. $1.4B in aid coming to Michigan
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) CHARLOTTE — Public policy advocates have argued for years that Michigan should do more to help provide child care to allow more people to work. That equation is clear in Eaton County, where workers have found fewer choices as they scramble to find safe, affordable child care that would allow […]
COVID testing is critical in Michigan. But how soon is too soon?
By Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) With holidays approaching and Michigan’s COVID infection rate soaring, there are plenty of reasons for all kinds of folks to get tested for the virus. So it’s important to do it right. But too often, doctors and health workers say, people are doing COVID testing wrong. They’re testing too early […]
No thanks: 45 conservative Michigan towns decline federal stimulus money
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Small towns in Michigan have plenty of needs — from water infrastructure to broadband access — but officials in 45 communities are saying no thanks to federal stimulus funds intended to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural and conservative, townships like Cambria in south Michigan, Broomfield in Isabella […]
‘Labor shortages are not going away’ in Michigan. Is automation the answer?
By Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan employers got a sign this month that the labor shortage that has left many scrambling to fill positions — and raise wages to attract workers — is improving, just in time for holiday hiring. Still more hires are expected over the next few months, based on the last two months’ […]
Ignore the buzz; here’s why Enbridge Line 5 won’t likely close anytime soon
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan), Lester Graham (Michigan Radio) Anyone following recent national and international news about the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline could be forgiven for believing the pipeline might shutter any day now, with major implications for winter fuel prices. But a year since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the pipeline shuttered over safety concerns, […]
As hunting wanes, fear of a southern Michigan deer invasion grows
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) On a residential street a mile from the nearest shopping mall, Matt DeLong parks his truck and slips into his hunting camo. Crossbow in arm, he trudges to a hunting blind that affords him a bird’s-eye view of dog-walkers, joggers, and the sizable deer herd that frequents this 34-acre natural […]
Reduce flooding from backed up sewers? There’s an app for that in Michigan
By Lester Graham, Michigan Radio (for Bridge Michigan) In areas where floods were once rare, now some neighborhoods are flooding repeatedly. Stormwater sewers are being overwhelmed by more intense storms. Most of the solutions call for big pipes and expensive construction. A group of researchers is instead helping cities use their current systems better. There’s […]
With billions in the bank, House GOP proposes $250M for Michigan police
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan House Republicans on Wednesday proposed a $250 million plan that aims to boost police recruitment and retention, their opening salvo in long-delayed negotiations on how to spend nearly $6 billion in federal stimulus funds still available to the state. “I think this is something we can start building some […]
