As coronavirus cases rise, Whitmer halts plans to further reopen Michigan
by Jonathan Oosting, Robin Erb, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) With coronavirus cases upticking in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has abandoned plans to allow additional business reopenings by July 4 and said she is contemplating a “more conservative” approach. The first-term Democrat stopped short of promising to re-tighten rules, as governors in some southern and western states […]
Michigan bars worry as East Lansing bar’s coronavirus tally tops 70 cases
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) Not everyone had fun at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub in East Lansing when the popular bar near Michigan State University reopened this month. One customer complained on June 18 to the Ingham County Health Department. “Bar patron reported no one wearing a mask and little social distancing,” said Linda Vail, county health officer, […]
The painful truth: A wife with questions gets answers from a nurse who saw her husband die
by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press (Bridge) The anguish of not knowing what happened to her husband after she dropped him off at Detroit’s Sinai-Grace Hospital on the night of March 28 still brings fresh tears to Denise Chandler’s eyes three months after he died. She couldn’t be by his side at the hospital […]
Pool of 200 selected for new Michigan commission to end gerrymandering
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan officials on Wednesday drew a semifinalist pool of 200 applicants for the state’s first redistricting commission, marking one of the first steps in a new system designed to take the politics out of setting political districts. The pool was drawn from more than 9,300 who applied to be part of the commission. […]
Michigan judge orders temporary Enbridge Line 5 shutdown
by Kelly House (Bridge) Enbridge Energy must temporarily cease operations of the Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac, an Ingham County judge ruled Thursday. Circuit Court Judge James Jamo has granted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s request to temporarily shut down the pipeline after Enbridge Energy last week reported “significant damage” to an […]
AARP: To guard Michigan seniors from coronavirus, avoid nursing homes
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Shifting public funds from nursing homes to home- and community-based care services will do more than offer Michigan’s seniors independence. It may protect them against COVID-19. It’s one of the conclusions in a new report on inequalities facing Michigan residents over 50, written by AARP Michigan and Public Sector Consultants, a […]
Michigan GOP lawmakers claim Jocelyn Benson’s absentee ballot mailings illegal
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Republicans lawmakers on Wednesday excoriated Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for mailing absentee ballot applications to all registered voters ahead of the August and November elections. Benson’s predecessor, Ruth Johnson, who is now a GOP senator from Holly, led the charge during a Senate Elections Committee hearing, saying Benson’s “changes […]
Coronavirus outbreaks tied to migrant farm workers in Michigan
by Robin Erb, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Coronavirus outbreaks among migrant workers are contributing to an uptick in cases in Michigan, which experts blame on short growing seasons, crowded housing, tenuous income, and mistrust of government. In the past few weeks, health officials have identified outbreaks in Lapeer, Oceana, and Branch counties among workers tending to farms. […]
Last-minute ruling keeps Michigan gyms closed, hours before they could reopen
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Most Michigan gyms remained closed last Thursday, after a panel of three federal judges sided with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just hours before they were to reopen. The order reverses an order by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney on Monday, who had allowed fitness centers to remain open and refused to pause his […]
Michigan moves to pause standardized tests amid coronavirus
by Ron French (Bridge) Michigan students, homebound for months because of the worst pandemic in a century and facing a return to school with social distancing and possibly face masks, shouldn’t have to take standardized tests. That was the message of State Superintendent Michael Rice, a bipartisan group of legislators and school leaders from across […]
