Gov. Whitmer urges Michigan schools to offer in-class learning by March 1
by Ron French (Bridge Michigan) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday urged Michigan schools to offer all K-12 students an option of returning to classrooms by March 1. The guidance was not an order — local school districts will continue to be allowed to make their own decisions about what is best for their communities — […]
After chaos, democracy affirmed, as challenges to Michigan, other states fail
by Jonathan Oosting, Madeline Halpert (Bridge Michigan) President Donald Trump’s desperate campaign to overturn the Michigan election failed again late Wednesday in Congress, where Senate Republicans refused to join a House objection to the state’s Electoral College count. Shortly before midnight, after the Capitol was secured following violent riots, more than 70 House Republicans formally […]
Michigan’s $3.5B road plan on track despite pandemic, state official says
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — The coronavirus may leave Michigan with less tax revenue to fix local roads, but it isn’t slowing down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s $3.5 billion bond plan to rebuild state highways and bridges, according to Department of Transportation Director Paul Ajeba. Traffic volumes plummeted precipitously in the early days of […]
At nearly 12K deaths, COVID to be No. 3 cause of death in Michigan in 2020
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) By month’s end, the death toll from COVID-19 will approach 12,000 in Michigan, making it the No. 3 cause of death this year behind heart disease and cancer. It’s a staggering number, especially since the coronavirus wasn’t attributed to any deaths in the state before March 16. The novel coronavirus moved […]
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 […]
