Teacher retirements soar in Michigan schools amid COVID pandemic
by Ron French (Bridge) In the span of a few weeks last fall, Alaiedon Elementary in Mason Public Schools lost two of its three first-grade teachers. First to resign was Jackie Lyons, who came from a family of teachers and loved being around kids. She left in mid-October. A colleague turned in paperwork to leave her […]
Michigan warns of PFAS contamination in Lake Superior smelt
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Bad news for Michigan anglers who plan to net and fry a mess of fish during Lake Superior’s spring rainbow smelt run: The fish could be contaminated with PFAS. On Wednesday, Michigan regulators urged residents to limit consumption of smelt from the northernmost Great Lake to no more than one […]
Michigan GOP unveils election reforms. Most would make voting harder.
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Senate Republicans on Wednesday introduced a sweeping election reform plan that proposes strict photo identification rules for Michigan voters, new limits on absentee ballot drop boxes, and a ban on prepaid return postage. Critics lambasted the package as a “voter suppression” effort that will make it harder to […]
Health care reforms could cut Michigan costs for insulin, cancer treatment
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) The Michigan House passed a broad package of health reform bills Wednesday aimed at saving Michigan residents money and making it easier to see a doctor online. The 15-bill package received bipartisan support in the House and won praise from groups such as the Michigan League for Public Policy and […]
Michigan’s plan to get more resistant residents to take COVID vaccine
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) A recent Michigan poll was the latest red flag: Republicans and backers of former President Trump appear to be the biggest roadblock to getting Michigan to herd immunity from COVID-19. Public service announcements by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer aren’t likely to change minds. Ditto for the PSAs by former presidents, whether […]
No doubt: Third surge of COVID has hit Michigan. Can we vaccinate fast enough?
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is amid a third substantial wave of coronavirus cases, spurred by the opening of schools, easing of business restrictions, increased travel, and fatigue over the pandemic. The state reported 3,164 new cases on Wednesday — the most since Jan. 19 — and Michigan now has the fourth-highest rate of […]
Violence against Asian Americans prompts calls for vigilance in Michigan
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) After a spate of high-profile acts of violence against people of Asian descent across the United States, Laura Misumi says she’s found herself feeling anxious about venturing out in public. The Hamtramck woman said she runs through scenarios in her mind. “What would it mean for me if I went […]
Michigan ranks second in COVID variant cases as state hits ‘tipping point’
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) The latest outbreak of a more contagious coronavirus variant — one linked to middle- and high school basketball games in February in Grand Ledge — has now grown to 47 suspected cases. And while just two of the 47 cases were genetically sequenced to confirm the B.1.1.7. variant in this community northwest […]
Canadian officials to Michigan Senate: Line 5 shutdown would wreck economy
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Keeping petroleum flowing through the Line 5 pipeline is imperative to the economy and energy security of Canada and the U.S., Canadian government, business and union representatives told a Michigan Senate panel on Tuesday. During a 90-minute hearing that environmentalists decried as “political theater” meant to undermine Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s […]
Michigan communities turn to wetlands to prevent damage during floods
by Lester Graham (Bridge Michigan) Midland and other cities were hit hard by a flood caused by the failure of a weak dam. More than 2,500 homes were damaged. There was an estimated $245 million in property damage. If that flood happened a few years ago, the damage could have been worse. But there’s been […]
