Michigan school leaders: We need answers from Lansing now to open
by Ron French (Bridge) Frustrated by inaction in Lansing and with the opening of school just weeks away, Michigan education leaders Thursday gave legislators an ultimatum: Cut a deal with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to make schools safe and financially sound during the pandemic, or we’ll ask the governor to take action on her own. Four […]
Poll: 3 in 10 in Michigan reluctant to take a free COVID-19 vaccine
by Robin Erb (Bridge) If a COVID-19 vaccine were approved and available for free, 3 in 10 Michiganders would probably take a pass, according to a new survey. That’s a concern for health officials who say Michigan can’t beat the potentially deadly virus until the state develops herd immunity against it. Residents surveyed who said […]
Edenville Dam owners file for bankruptcy, blaming regulators for floods
by Mike Wilkinson, Kelly House (Bridge) Companies that operate a mid-Michigan dam that failed in May have filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming the regulators for the tragedy and nearby homeowners for failing to help pay for repairs. Facing a host of class-action lawsuits after massive floods damaged 2,500 homes around Midland, Boyce Hydro LLC and […]
Voter fraud? Here’s the reality in Michigan.
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) On the eve of the most contentious election in decades, millions of Michigan voters will have the chance to vote by mail. But Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s decision to send ballot applications to 7.7 million registered voters ahead of Tuesday’s primary has prompted partisan discord, with backers hailing it as […]
Are Michigan schools safe to reopen? Here’s what science and doctors say
by Ron French (Bridge) School leaders in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Lansing have decided it’s unsafe to bring students back to classrooms. But Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says kids generally don’t get sick from the coronavirus and should return to school. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order capping attendance at in-door social […]
Postal delays could cause trouble for Michigan’s primary election
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan is one of 13 states with an absentee ballot request deadline close enough to the election that there’s a “high risk” ballots won’t be delivered to voters before the election, according to an audit by the U.S. Postal Service’s internal watchdog. The findings came shortly before a national policy change […]
Michigan gym owners: Keeping us closed amid COVID harms public health
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Michigan gym owners fighting for their livelihood amid a continued closure order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer argue they could reopen safely – and help fight COVID-19 at the same time. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent underlying medical conditions such as obesity and high blood […]
Supreme Court: Flint residents can seek damages from state in lead crisis
by Kelly House, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) A class-action lawsuit targeting state officials for their role in the Flint water crisis can move forward, and residents may ultimately deserve monetary compensation for their alleged injuries, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. A majority of the six-justice panel (a seventh justice recused herself) agreed that the named […]
Michigan hospitals test if plasma from recovering patients can curb COVID-19
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Some Michigan patients mildly sick with COVID-19 may soon help determine whether plasma from recovered patients can curb the infection before it becomes life-threatening. “If you can neutralize the virus in your system early, before the damage to organs, that will give you the best chance of early recovery,” said Dr. […]
10 years later, Kalamazoo River spill still colors Enbridge pipeline debate
By Kelly House (Bridge) MARSHALL—Dr. Kenneth Kornheiser, a retired Plainwell veterinarian, avid canoeist and longtime river advocate, marks the passing of time since the disastrous Kalamazoo River oil spill by the summers he couldn’t paddle his home river. There were the months following the July 25, 2010 spill, when the river ran black after Enbridge’s Line […]
