State, feds suggest masks in classrooms. Michigan schools aren’t so sure.
By Ron French (Bridge Magazine) It’s likely that face mask policies will vary widely this fall among Michigan K-12 schools, despite recommendations from state and federal officials and pediatricians that children should continue to mask up. The American Academy of Pediatrics this week recommended that all students and staff in U.S. K-12 schools wear face masks […]
Yes, mosquitoes are worse in Michigan this summer. And it ain’t over
By Sophia Kalakailo (Bridge Michigan) You’re not imagining it — mosquitoes are bad right now. Rainfall preceded by drought-like conditions in April resulted in mosquitoes swarming the state this summer. The mosquitoes this year were even too much for Michigan State University’s mosquito expert to walk his dog in the daytime. MSU entomology professor Edward […]
Michigan vaccine lottery has first winners. But inoculation rates still flat.
By Jonathan Oosting, Makayla Coffee (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — A New Baltimore nurse, a Southfield resident, a Detroiter tired of wearing a face mask and a retired GM factory worker from Wyoming are the first four Michiganders to win money for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced initial $50,000 prize winners on Wednesday […]
Michigan juniors take a career readiness test. Most employers ignore it
By Tracie Mauriello (Bridge Michigan) The state spends about $45 per student for juniors to take a career readiness test that few employers consider and even fewer require. That’s $4.4 million a year of taxpayer money that is wasted, said state Rep. John Reilly, R-Oakland Township, a sponsor for a bill to make the WorkKeys test […]
Latest effort to reform Michigan’s mental-health system finds critics
By Robin Erb, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) SOUTHFIELD—Whatever their politics, whatever their role — parent or provider, lobbyist or lawmaker — on this they agree: Michigan’s complex mental health system needs fixing, fast. But two legislative proposals meant to transform the system are facing pushback from families and mental-health advocates. “It’s upside-down,” said Fred Cummins, […]
U.S. Canada border reopening set for August, a relief for Michiganders
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) Traverse City resident June Thaden had a simple reaction when she learned the border to Canada may open to U.S. visitors in just a few weeks. “Oh, goody,” she said Friday. “This would mean everything to my whole family.” Like a good number of Michiganders, Thaden, 89, has a family […]
Michigan forces 700,000 to re-qualify for unemployment benefits: What to know
By Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) The deadline was this past weekend for nearly 700,000 people in Michigan to once again validate their eligibility for federal unemployment benefits paid to them since April 2020. They learned in a recent letter from the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency that eligibility criteria has been changed, in some cases more than a year […]
Flush with money but still no Michigan budget deal: What you need to know
By Arjun Thakkar (Bridge Magazine) Ah, summer in Michigan, the season for barbecues, black flies … and budget problems in Lansing. Completing next fiscal year’s state budget should have been easier this year, with the state flush with federal dollars and the Legislature vowing to complete a deal by July 1. But that deadline is […]
Is the Michigan vaccine lottery working? Depends how you define success.
By Mike Wilkinson, Robin Erb (Bridge Magazine) As Michigan doles out $50,000 in daily lottery winnings to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, health officials across the state told Bridge Michigan they have seen no evidence of a surge in vaccine interest. Instead, vaccination rates continue to ebb, they said. “We did not see […]
Michigan Republicans to drop signature-matching provision in election bill
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) A proposal that would have required poll workers in Michigan to verify the signatures of every voter before casting a ballot will no longer be considered, the measure’s sponsor told Bridge Michigan Thursday. Last month, the Republican-controlled House passed legislation along party lines that would require the Michigan Secretary of State to provide […]
