Judge: Michigan gyms can reopen Thursday despite Whitmer coronavirus order
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Gyms and fitness centers across Michigan can reopen June 25, a federal judge ruled Friday, saying Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration failed to provide scientific evidence justifying the continued closure despite declining COVID-19 case counts. Whitmer plans an immediate appeal, according to a spokesperson, who argued keeping gyms closed longer than […]
Michigan jobs go unfilled when workers make more from unemployment
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) A curbside job fair near Grand Rapids on Wednesday tried to make it easy for 50 companies to fill open positions. Applicants could interview from their cars, and in some cases, might have been able to start work the next day. “Right now we have 270 jobs that we could fill […]
In Michigan nursing homes, a no-win choice between infection and isolation
By Robin Erb (Bridge) Alzheimer’s disease has shrunk the world around him, but Jerry Zeiger — Vietnam veteran, former engineer, and hobby woodworker — is still soothed by the touch of the woman he took out on a first date over a simple cup of truck-stop coffee. “I guess I was so enthralled by him, […]
Enbridge Line 5 shut down after anchor support incurs ‘significant damage’
By Kelly House (Bridge) Enbridge Energy has shut down the Line 5 petroleum pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac following “significant damage” to an anchor support on the lakebottom pipeline, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday evening. In a letter Friday to the Canadian company’s CEO, Al Monaco, Whitmer expressed dismay about the damage, which Enbridge reported […]
Michigan colleges aren’t seeing coronavirus enrollment drops they feared
By Sophia Yoon (Bridge) Michigan colleges aren’t seeing the coronavirus enrollment drops they feared — at least not yet. Officials at many universities and colleges in the state had worried that students — particularly incoming freshmen — would take gap years or enroll in online courses at local community colleges rather than move into dorms in the […]
Jigsaw puzzles show off ‘love and pride’ in Michigan — and its history
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) Stay-at-home orders in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic left people wondering how to fill their time. The resulting national puzzle shortage proved fruitful for the state archivists entrusted with images of Michigan’s past. They’re not just preserving the state’s past at the Michigan History Center in Lansing. A group of state […]
Despite legal battle, Michigan tribe remains hopeful for recognition
By Meghanlata Gupta (Bridge) Lansing resident Paul Parkey knows he’s Native American, and the federal government isn’t going to change his mind. Parkey’s tribal community, the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, has spent decades petitioning the United States to be formally recognized as a tribal nation, with no luck. There’s more at stake for […]
For now, Michigan is a success story in flattening the pandemic curve
By Robin Erb (Bridge) Once one of the hardest-hit states, Michigan has – at least for now – managed to flatten the coronavirus curve in a way that is drawing national attention. And while health officials warn that the deadly virus could come roaring back if residents let their guard down, the trends are encouraging. […]
Pandemic may mean big profit to Michigan insurers, tiny rebates for drivers
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) In the past few months, Sean Bertolino has made the occasional trip to the hardware store, but leaving home has been “exceedingly rare” amid the pandemic. Like many Michiganders, the Williamston resident is working from home, virtually eliminating personal travel since late March and, in the process, eliminating almost all risk […]
400K unemployment claims now flagged in Michigan fraud investigation
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) Michigan’s fraud investigation into unemployment benefits has restored payments to 41 percent of the people initially affected — and it’s turned up at least 200,000 new potential cases. That leaves at least 400,000 accounts going unpaid while the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency continues to seek accounts that may have been set up […]
