Michigan scrambles to salvage school year in wake of coronavirus
by Ron French (Bridge) Government and school leaders are meeting to decide whether schools will reopen this spring, if instruction will be extended into the summer, what that would look like, and how it would be funded. Legislators, members of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, and officials from school associations had a conference call Wednesday to […]
Michigan has coronavirus testing supplies ‘through another week’
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Testing for the coronavirus in Michigan, which the state said has ramped up to nearly 2,000 tests a day, may soon slow again because of what the state’s medical chief calls a “dire need” for swabs, reagents and other testing materials. Based on current testing supplies in Michigan, “we could probably […]
Will Michigan classes stay closed, and other coronavirus impact on schools
By Ron French (Bridge) The closure of Michigan K-12 schools for three weeks, through April 6, raises a lot of questions for families and school administrators. Bridge answered a few more on Friday. Let us know if you have additional questions by sending them to rfrench@bridgemi.com and we’ll try to answer more. Is there a chance the three-week […]
Michigan strains unemployment system with most claims since Great Recession
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Like thousands of Michigan workers who lost their jobs Monday, Alicia Mason rushed online to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. And then she waited — and waited — for the website to work. What should have taken an hour took three days for the 40-year-old waitress at Sleder’s Family Tavern in […]
Parents urge Michigan to change rules about online learning during coronavirus
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan parents and educators are demanding that state officials change the law so online instruction during the coronavirus school closure counts. After Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice said Friday that state law forbids counting the time, it touched off a wave of confusion, the ire of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a […]
As coronavirus slams businesses, some small Michigan newspapers struggle
By Bridge Magazine Staff Lights are flickering in some Michigan newsrooms as the coronavirus crisis drains advertising revenue needed to pay journalists to report on the pandemic. C&G Newspapers, a chain of 19 weeklies in Oakland and Macomb counties — where virus cases are growing rapidly — announced Saturday it is temporarily suspending print newspaper […]
Michigan strains unemployment system with most claims since Great Recession
by Jonathan Oosting Like thousands of Michigan workers who lost their jobs Monday, Alicia Mason rushed online to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. And then she waited — and waited — for the website to work. What should have taken an hour took three days for the 40-year-old waitress at Sleder’s Family Tavern in Traverse […]
Charting Michigan’s coronavirus path, hoping for South Korea and not Italy
by Mike Wilkinson Michigan, like much of the United States and the world, has witnessed a startling climb in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus, prompting widespread restrictions on schools, businesses and people. But as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mulls a “shelter-in-place” edict to slow the pace of infections, residents and public officials can […]
Michigan coronavirus cases surge with more testing but shortage remains
by Riley Beggin In just 48 hours between Wednesday and Friday afternoon, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan grew almost fivefold, from around 110 to 549. That dramatic climb isn’t necessarily a result of an uptick in the virus’ spread. At least some of that increase is the result of testing done at […]
Michigan hospitals turn to quilting scraps, DIY videos to fight coronavirus
by Riley Beggin, Robin Erb One Michigan grandmother is sewing face masks for hospitals. A different Michigan hospital posted a video demonstrating how to make your own personal protective gear. With medical supplies running dangerously low and predictions of a surge of coronavirus patients, medical professionals are doing whatever they can to protect themselves — […]
