COVID outbreaks in Michigan schools already 8 times higher than last year
by Ron French, Robin Erb, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) One month into the new school year, there are more than eight times more COVID cases connected to outbreaks among students and staff in Michigan schools than at the same point last year. And that’s a conservative estimate, given that the state recently narrowed the definition of what constitutes an outbreak. […]
New redistricting map would give Democrats an edge in Michigan Senate
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING—Michigan’s redistricting commission on Friday approved draft Senate boundaries that could give Democrats a solid shot at capturing the chamber next year. Democrats would have an edge in 20 of 38 seats, according to a commission analysis of the past 13 elections. That would flip the majority, as Republicans now […]
Amid controversies, U-M President Mark Schlissel announces 2023 departure
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel will be leaving his position in 2023, a year before his contract ends, amid a swirling sex scandal involving a long-time doctor in the athletic department and reportedly turbulent relations with some members of the U-M Board of Regents. Schlissel made the announcement Tuesday […]
Unions win as Whitmer restores Michigan prevailing wage
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday that Michigan will again require contractors to pay union-level wages and benefits to workers on state-funded construction projects. In doing so, the first-term Democrat infuriated Republicans, who repealed a statewide “prevailing wage” mandate in 2018 and contend the policy inflates the cost of taxpayer-funded projects by […]
Michigan Senate passes bill to tighten election ID, absentee ballot laws
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING—The Republican-led Michigan Senate passed a bill Wednesday that seeks to tighten voting ID and absentee voting laws in the state. The controversial measure, SB303, requires, among other changes, that voters present a valid form of ID in order for their ballot to be counted on election day. Critics of the bill […]
Whitmer signs $70B Michigan budget: What survived, thrived, and died
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed what she called an “overwhelmingly bipartisan” budget plan, but also struck several controversial COVID-19 and abortion-related provisions inserted by Republicans. In doing so, the first-term Democrat balanced the state’s books two days ahead of the constitutional deadline to avoid a partial […]
Science says school masks work. Public opinion is another issue in Michigan
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) The science is clear: Masks in schools can prevent the spread of COVID-19, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has steadfastly resisted growing calls for a statewide mandate. That’s partly because of several other factors — the uneven spread of the virus among Michigan’s two peninsulas, divided public opinion and the belief that local […]
Michigan budget boosts ambulance services slowed by worker shortage
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) After years grappling with a shortage of emergency response workers, leaders in the Michigan ambulance industry are applauding a $12.9 million state funding increase they say should help close that gap. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed Michigan’s $70 billion budget, which includes the extra revenue for emergency services, which will […]
How Michigan State University helped 77 Afghans escape the Taliban
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) When Sara Qaderi enrolled in a Michigan State University program designed to train Afghan wheat researchers at Kabul University, she thought she was destined for a career helping farmers cope with Afghanistan’s arid climate. It’s important work in a country where wheat shortages are a leading cause of hunger and […]
Michigan Republicans propose ‘fix’ for state unemployment agency
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Describing jobless constituents driven to tears by bureaucracy and miscommunication, Michigan House Republicans on Tuesday outlined plans to improve customer service at the state’s unemployment insurance agency. The six-part proposal, which has not yet been formally introduced, is “just the beginning,” House Oversight Chair Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, promised in […]
