Michigan locks up children for truancy, defiance, other noncriminal acts
by Jodi S. Cohen and Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica (Bridge) In Michigan, judges have sent children to locked detention centers for refusing to take medication or failing to attend online class. For testing positive for using marijuana. For repeatedly disobeying their parents. Even as other states move toward reforms focused on keeping nonviolent juvenile offenders in […]
‘Nobody’s coming.’ How COVID is changing everyday life in Bay City.
by Ron French, Paula Gardner, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) BAY CITY — The cars began arriving at 6:45 pm, driving slowly down Center Avenue and parking along the edge of Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the day after Thanksgiving is an annual event for families in this traditionally blue-collar […]
What COVID relief deals in Lansing, Washington mean for Michigan families
by Paula Gardner, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) With only days remaining until unemployment benefits would end for hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents, new state and federal legislation just needs to be finalized to send more money to jobless workers. Michigan’s Legislature on Monday approved a $465 million spending bill for coronavirus relief; it now moves […]
Did Michigan health orders slow COVID? Probably. But how much is debatable.
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) When Michigan’s health director, Robert Gordon, last week announced continued restrictions on some businesses and the relaxation of them on others, he touted continuing decline in case numbers statewide. Comparing COVID-19 numbers, he pointed out that Ohio’s case counts were substantially higher than those in Michigan, despite being almost identical in […]
What COVID stimulus plan would mean to Michigan’s jobless, cities and renters
By Madeline Halpert (Bridge) After months of stalemate, congressional leaders are closing in on a $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus deal that would provide support for businesses, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and direct payments to individuals. For some Michiganders, that might mean $600 stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, rental relief, eviction delays, money for schools, and small business loans. […]
Detroit police working to de-escalate confrontations with the mentally ill
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge) In an emergency room at Detroit Receiving Hospital in August 2018, a city police officer faced a choice: How to respond to a naked, unarmed, out-of-control mentally ill woman? As the 29-year-old woman flailed her arms and reportedly spit at him, Detroit Police Cpl. Dewayne Jones reacted with blunt force, in […]
What Jennifer Granholm’s appointment as energy secretary means for Michigan
By Kelly House (Bridge) University of Michigan professor Barry Rabe opens his environmental politics and policy class each semester by displaying a photo featuring former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. In it, Granholm stands with then-President Barack Obama, then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, then-Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and then-Vice President Joe Biden. They are commemorating Obama’s agreement […]
Whitmer extends Michigan indoor dining ban, allows other businesses to reopen
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced relaxed coronavirus restrictions on Friday that will allow high schools to resume face-to-face classes and movie theaters, bowling alleys, and casinos to reopen Monday with limitations. Pointing to the continued drop in coronavirus cases, test positivity and COVID-19 hospital admissions, Robert Gordon, director of the Michigan Department […]
Michigan may have missed COVID Thanksgiving surge sweeping nation
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan appears to have passed its first big holiday coronavirus test. Travel fell substantially over Thanksgiving, following warnings to avoid large gatherings, and state health officials say a slow but steady decline in new coronavirus cases may indicate Michigan has missed a feared surge. “We’re holding our breath, biting our fingernails right […]
With Line 5 closure, a ‘game of chicken’ over how to heat Upper Peninsula
By Kelly House (Bridge) If the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline shuts down next spring, Michigan has a matter of months to find a new way to deliver propane to Upper Peninsula residents who collectively use tens of millions of gallons from the pipeline annually to heat their homes. But one month after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced […]
