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 […]
Northern Michigan University: Campus open in fall despite coronavirus fears
By Ron French (Bridge) Northern Michigan University students will return to campus and in-person classes in September, with the Marquette campus becoming the first state public university to announce a plan for a traditional semester despite the coronavirus pandemic. NMU’s board of trustees approved a plan for students to return to campus late Thursday. The plan, for […]
As coronavirus ravages nursing homes, Michigan records spotty at best
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) When Michigan last week released its first list of nursing homes with coronavirus patients, Cathy Wilson scanned it quickly, looking for the facility where her aging mother lives in Royal Oak. It wasn’t on the list, even though just two days before, Wilson said facility operators told her that seven residents had died […]
Patients at 1 in 3 Michigan nursing homes have coronavirus, records show
Search list of Michigan nursing homes for COVID-19 cases here. by Ted Roelofs, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan released records on Friday confirming fears that the coronavirus is raging in state nursing homes, with 2,108 confirmed cases and dozens of homes with more than 20 cases apiece. The records show nursing home patients account for at […]
Coronavirus cases rising again in Michigan. That may not be bad news.
by Robin Erb, Mike Wilkinson, Brie Zeltner (Bridge) Michigan’s coronavirus cases climbed again Friday for the fourth consecutive day, but health experts say that may not be cause for serious concern. “The more you test, the more you’ll find,” said Dr. Peter Gulick, an infectious disease expert at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic […]
