People ignore drowning warnings, so Michigan may close Great Lakes beaches
by Makayla Coffee (Bridge Michigan) Red flags fly above the sand of Michigan’s Great Lakes beaches warning when the waves are dangerous, but that’s not always enough to stop swimmers from entering the risky water. Now state officials may increase pressure on people who ignore their warnings: Closing the beaches and ticketing anyone who steps into the […]
At Michigan SOS, walk-up service does not mean you can walk in
By Jonathan Oosting, Sergio Martínez Beltrán (Bridge Magazine) LANSING—Amid continued customer complaints and confusion, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Wednesday announced extended branch hours in an attempt to clear a pandemic-related service backlog by October. But there still is no guarantee that “walk up” customers will be able to take a new photo […]
Expanded outdoor dining ‘here to stay’ in Michigan restaurants after COVID
by Arjun Thakkar (Bridge Michigan) Winter is normally a busy season for Laine Van Dyken, general manager of Uccello’s Ristorante in downtown Grand Rapids, as celebratory dinners, holiday parties and wedding celebrations keep the restaurant full. All of these events had to be cancelled last year as indoor dining capacity at Uccellos was drastically cut […]
Delta variant is increasing in Michigan, prompting coronavirus surge fears
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s top public health officials worry that rising numbers of the Delta coronavirus variant may spark another surge of COVID-19 cases. The variant, which has triggered waves of new cases in India, the United Kingdom and southeast Asia, has increased in Michigan for the past three weeks, with cases detected […]
A child mental-health fix takes early action, more help. Here are 7 ideas.
By Robin Erb, Carter Barrett (Bridge Michigan, Side Effects Public Media) In most ways, Symone is like any other 17-year-old looking forward to her senior year in high school and what life may bring after — college and a career in music therapy or entertainment law, she hopes. Her teenage years have included some notable […]
GOP, Democrats agree: Return walk-ins at Michigan Secretary of State branches
By Sergio Martínez-Beltràn (Bridge Michigan) LANSING— Besides Republican lawmakers, who else wants the Secretary of State to bring back the walk-in options for services? Democrats. On Wednesday, they reached across the aisle to join Republican lawmakers in passing a trio of bills that would require the Secretary of State to re-open the branches to walk-in services. The […]
Can Michigan become a climate haven? Duluth is already planning.
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) DULUTH, Minn. — When Mayor Emily Larson first heard the hype about her city’s potential as a so-called climate haven — a place people will flock to as rising seas, drought, heat and wildfire make other regions less hospitable — “I thought it was bananas.” But in the years since, […]
Michigan hopes $5 million vaccine lottery inspires more people to get shots
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s vaccinated residents will get the chance to win up to $2 million under details of a vaccine lottery rolled out Thursday. The “MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes” will include a $2 million grand prize, a $1 million prize and 30 separate $50,000 daily prizes to those who have gotten […]
Michigan lawmakers leave for summer break without passing budget
By Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Despite agreeing to a historic spending plan for schools, Michigan lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on the state budget before their self-imposed deadline Wednesday. On Wednesday, the Michigan Senate opted for passage of a narrow spending plan that only allocated funding for the Department of Health and Human Services and the […]
For Michigan’s long-haul COVID survivors, pandemic is far from over
by Olivia Tucker (Bridge Michigan) As much as a year or more after they survived COVID, they still have trouble thinking straight or tasting their food. Some struggle to work like they did in the past. Some have headaches, stomach aches and joint swelling — and they are the lucky ones, compared to others who have […]
