Michigan retailers worry COVID spike will keep customers away. Again.
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) Bright-red cardinals herald the holiday season at Sass in downtown Adrian, where a new line of pottery, tableware and wall art soon will fill displays in the gift shop. Owner Diane Rauser said she invested in the boxes of inventory because cardinals were her mother’s favorite bird, and they “brighten my […]
Appeals court sides with gun advocates in ban on firearms at Michigan polls
By Riley Beggin, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Michigan still can’t ban guns at polling places on Election Day, the state Court of Appeals effectively ruled Thursday. The court denied an appeal from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel asking them to reconsider a Court of Claims ruling in favor of a guns rights group […]
Michigan revamps K-12 schools website to make comparisons easier
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan parents and educators wanting to learn more about the state’s K-12 schools, from test scores to enrollment trends, have a revamped online data tool. Michigan’s Center for Educational Performance and Information has updated its web portal for the first time since 2011. The site allows for easier comparison of schools — both […]
Michigan hospitals turn to $15 minimum wage to fill job openings
By Paula Gardner, Robin Erb (Bridge) Thousands of Michigan’s lowest-paid hospital workers received pay increases this month when two of the state’s largest hospital systems set a new $15 per hour minimum wage, a nod to increased competition for entry-level workers as the state faces a resurgence in COVID-19 and hospitalizations. The move “is a […]
COVID outbreaks slowing at Michigan K-12 schools, dropping at colleges
By Ron French (Bridge) Coronavirus outbreaks in Michigan K-12 schools continue to rise, but at a slower rate, according to a state report released October 25. On college campuses, active outbreaks dropped this past week, with only the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor recording a significant rise in cases, according to the Michigan Department […]
Months after COVID, 1 in 4 Michiganders studied have yet to recover
By Robin Erb (Bridge) Months after being infected by COVID-19, 1 in 4 Michiganders surveyed reported they had not fully recovered. Rather, COVID survivors report facing lingering illness, heightened anxiety, and economic uncertainty, according to a joint study led by the University of Michigan and made public Wednesday. “We knew that the pandemic has caused a lot […]
Mail delivery delays up in southeast Michigan in weeks before election
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) Mail delays have increased in southeast Michigan for the weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election, a congressional investigation spearheaded by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters concluded in a report published Tuesday. About 70 percent of mail was delivered on time (within five days) in the Detroit region the week of Oct. 3, […]
Coronavirus sidelines veteran poll workers, adding to Michigan election stress
By Madeline Halpert (Bridge) This article is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. This article is available for reprint under the terms of our republishing policy. At 17, Tori Johnson is too young to vote, but the high school senior from Romeo in northern Macomb County still […]
Michigan voting 2020: masks, guns, ID, straight ticket, what you should know
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) The polls open in fewer than two weeks, but Michigan’s Nov. 3 general election is already under way. Election officials expect a record-breaking turnout of more than 5 million, nearly two-thirds of all registered voters. More than 1.5 million voters already have cast absentee ballots. As Election Day approaches, Bridge Michigan […]
Some Michigan Republicans propose local opt-out for COVID lockdown orders
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Seeking to influence Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, House Republicans on Tuesday outlined a plan to allow counties to opt out of statewide mask mandates, business rules, crowd size limitations and other public safety orders if local virus spread is low. Local health officials could relax regulations […]
