Gun ban at Michigan Capitol unlikely, despite urging from Dana Nessel
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Scenes of armed demonstrators towering over lawmakers during a protest at the Michigan Capitol two weeks ago have prompted calls to ban firearms inside the historic building and thrust a little-known commission into the middle of the debate. But Michigan Capitol Commission members, a majority of whom serve at the pleasure of leadership […]
Q&A with Brian Calley: 1 in 7 Michigan small businesses worry about survival
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) One in seven small businesses in Michigan may not survive the COVID-19 pandemic and related closure orders, their owners warn in a survey released this week. “Michigan small businesses are truly struggling to survive,” said Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan. The survey, conducted in late April of […]
‘There is no playbook’ for Michigan’s businesses to navigate COVID-19
by David Wilkins (Bridge) One statistic that does not show up in CMS Energy’s financial statement points to the unmapped road Michigan businesses are traveling due to the global pandemic. “At this time, we’ve experienced zero fatalities,” CEO Patti Poppe said during the utility’s first-quarter earnings call on April 27. She went on to cite […]
Treatment and trials go on, but Michigan doctors split on coronavirus drug
by Kate Wells, Michigan Radio; Robin Erb, Kelly House (Bridge) Thousands of people are being recruited to participate in southeast Michigan clinical trials — touted as among the largest in the country — to test the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in the battle against COVID-19. But since a 3,000-person Detroit trial was announced April 2, an increasing […]
Michigan roads still stink, and the coronavirus makes them harder to fix
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Michigan roads are still bad, its bridges are getting worse, and the coronavirus pandemic is poised to take a chunk out of the gas tax revenue needed to fix them. Annual road ratings released Thursday showed only minor condition improvements across the state between 2018 and 2019 after a modest bump […]
Whitmer extends Michigan emergency to May 28, as GOP threatens lawsuit
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — A dramatic standoff between Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican lawmakers over her emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic appears headed to the courts after a dizzying day at the Michigan Capitol. Late Thursday, Whitmer signed new declarations extending Michigan’s state of emergency until May 28, and continued the closure […]
Headache? Sore throat? Pay attention to these new coronavirus symptoms
by Brie Zeltner (Bridge) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week tripled its list of symptoms for COVID-19, reflecting a growing understanding of the novel coronavirus and how it presents in patients. The six new symptoms — muscle pain, chills, repeated shaking with chills, headache, sore throat and a new loss of sense […]
‘Scary times’ for Michigan restaurants won’t end when dining rooms reopen
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) Michigan’s battered restaurant industry wants to learn when it can reopen. But even as restaurateurs hope to rehire staff and rebuild confidence among customers scared of the coronavirus, they also say they’re bracing for the next struggle: making enough money to stay open. After losing more than $1 billion in […]
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to reopen construction industry May 7
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is planning to allow residential and commercial construction crews back to work by May 7 as part of her plan to restart the Michigan economy she shut down to battle the coronavirus pandemic, her office confirmed Wednesday morning. The governor signed an executive order Friday, a development first […]
As Michigan economy nears reopening, businesses scramble for protective gear
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — The new normal is coming for Michigan businesses, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to begin reopening the economy. And that means the hunt is on for masks. Like hospitals before them, businesses statewide face the prospect of having to compete for personal protection equipment that remains in high demand […]
