After possible Ice Age discovery, group urges halt to Line 5 tunnel
by Kelly House (Bridge) As Michigan considers allowing Enbridge Energy to build a tunnel for its oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a group wants to halt the process, citing the possible discovery of archaeological artifacts near the pipeline. The recent discovery, first reported by Detroit Free Press, was made by a group, most […]
Proposal 1 ballot measure would change rules on Michigan parks fund
by Kelly House (Bridge) Lansing Parks and Recreation Director Brett Kaschinske is proud to oversee a system that boasts more parks per capita than almost every major U.S. city. But with 111 parks in the city’s ownership, he said, finding money to update and improve them has become a bigger priority than adding more land […]
Five men set to stand trial in the case in Whitmer kidnap case
by Mansur Shaheen (Bridge) Five men facing federal charges in the conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will stand trial in the case, U.S. Magistrate Sally Berens decided Friday in a second day of hearings. Berens determined there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial based on encrypted chats and the September […]
State of Michigan not releasing details of kids’ coronavirus deaths
by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press (Bridge) Michigan is among eight states nationally that have not released details about the number of children who’ve died from novel coronavirus since the pandemic began. The state Department of Health and Human Services told the Free Press on Tuesday that “fewer than five” children have died of COVID-19 or its complications […]
Wolverine Watchmen militia linked to Whitmer kidnap plot has Boogaloo ties
by Jonathan Oosting, Kelly House (Bridge) Michigan has deep ties to the militia movement, but experts say the Wolverine Watchmen group linked to plots to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, target police, and storm the state Capitol appears to be part of the increasingly extreme Boogaloo movement preparing for civil war. Alleged Wolverine Watchmen ringleaders charged […]
Michigan benefited from COVID stimulus and jobless aid. Now what?
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) Michigan emerged from the early days of the pandemic in better economic shape than many thought possible: Personal income increased, state tax revenue followed and state officials even were able to pass a budget with funding increases. Economists credit federal stimulus money and enhanced unemployment benefits among the reasons. But now […]
‘Liberate Michigan’: Months of angry rhetoric precede Whitmer kidnap plot
by Kelly House, Paula Gardner, Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan was still early into its coronavirus lockdown when tensions publicly flared between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump as coronavirus raged through southeast Michigan and the state fought for enough medical equipment to handle it. “Your Governor, Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer is way in over her […]
FBI claims Michigan militia group tried to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Note: This post contains explicit language by Jonathan Oosting, Kelly House (Bridge) LANSING — Federal officials say six armed men and others piled into three vehicles late Sept. 12, traveling in the dark from a militia member’s property in northern Michigan to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s cottage about a half-hour away. Those men, arrested and charged […]
As coronavirus spreads in Michigan, racial and age disparities shrink
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) The coronavirus is striking older Michigan residents disproportionately in the past few weeks, raising concerns that an increase in hospitalizations will worsen. From mid-August through mid-September, younger residents — including college students — made up the lion’s share of new COVID-19 cases, some 60 percent of new cases. During that time, […]
Health officials: Party on (safely) during rare Blue Moon Halloween
By Robin Erb (Bridge) After more than six months of canceled events and subdued holiday celebrations caused by COVID, Michiganders are ready to party on a rare Blue Moon Halloween. “People are going to celebrate harder because so much has been taken away from them this year,” said Dave Douglas, owner of Crypt Keepers Halloween Emporium […]
