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 […]
Army Corps decision could tack years onto Enbridge Line 5 tunnel timeline
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Tack another delay onto the Line 5 tunnel construction timeline. Federal regulators this week announced they will thoroughly examine the potential environmental impacts of Enbridge Energy’s plan to encase the petroleum pipeline inside a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, a review that could take years. The decision by the U.S. […]
GOP investigation finds no Michigan vote fraud, deems many claims ‘ludicrous’
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) A months-long Republican investigation into Michigan’s 2020 election uncovered no evidence of widespread fraud and concluded Wednesday with a recommendation the attorney general investigate those who made false claims for “personal gain.” The 35-page report prepared by Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, dives deep to debunk conspiracy theories perpetuated by former President […]
Michigan schools in line for ‘historic’ spending increase under new budget
The Michigan House on Thursday approved a nearly $70 billion plan to fund state government, boost K-12 schools, close a decades-long funding gap between districts and send them a collective $4.4 billion in one-time COVID-19 relief funds. The series of current-year and fiscal year 2022 budget bills were negotiated with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and […]
Michigan unemployment agency resumes in-person office visits
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s jobless workers once again have a chance to talk to an unemployment agency worker in person, more than a year after the Legislature and workers rights advocates started pushing for the change. The offices will reopen on Wednesday, June 30, but only for people who make appointments online starting […]
Northern Michigan pushback to clean needle programs for drug users
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) About a dozen miles east of Traverse City, a tiny community in Kalkaska County confronted a specter many might expect in a big city. Local residents in Rapid City were finding used syringes in a city park or under a bridge, sure signs to some that injection drug use was out […]
This is it: Michigan to end gathering, mask restrictions on Tuesday
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, Mike Wilkinson, Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is lifting the remaining major restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, marking the first time in 15 months without limits on gatherings. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced that restaurants and venues can return indoor capacity to 100 percent on that day from 50 […]
U-M expands free tuition program to its Dearborn, Flint campuses
by Ron French, Arjun Thakkar (Bridge Michigan) Thousands more students may be able to attend college tuition-free next year, after the University of Michigan expanded its Go Blue Guarantee program to its campuses in Dearborn and Flint. In-state students from families with incomes under $65,000 and assets under $50,000 will be eligible to enroll at […]
Offshore wind could provide double the electricity Michiganders used in 2019
by Taylor Haelterman, Great Lakes Echo (Bridge Michigan) Coastal wind is a strong, consistent power source and Michigan’s more than 3,000 miles of coast could provide double the electricity residents used from all sources in 2019. That’s according to a recent report using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that evaluated the energy potential of […]
