Health care reforms could cut Michigan costs for insulin, cancer treatment
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) The Michigan House passed a broad package of health reform bills Wednesday aimed at saving Michigan residents money and making it easier to see a doctor online. The 15-bill package received bipartisan support in the House and won praise from groups such as the Michigan League for Public Policy and […]
Michigan’s plan to get more resistant residents to take COVID vaccine
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) A recent Michigan poll was the latest red flag: Republicans and backers of former President Trump appear to be the biggest roadblock to getting Michigan to herd immunity from COVID-19. Public service announcements by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer aren’t likely to change minds. Ditto for the PSAs by former presidents, whether […]
No doubt: Third surge of COVID has hit Michigan. Can we vaccinate fast enough?
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is amid a third substantial wave of coronavirus cases, spurred by the opening of schools, easing of business restrictions, increased travel, and fatigue over the pandemic. The state reported 3,164 new cases on Wednesday — the most since Jan. 19 — and Michigan now has the fourth-highest rate of […]
Violence against Asian Americans prompts calls for vigilance in Michigan
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) After a spate of high-profile acts of violence against people of Asian descent across the United States, Laura Misumi says she’s found herself feeling anxious about venturing out in public. The Hamtramck woman said she runs through scenarios in her mind. “What would it mean for me if I went […]
Michigan ranks second in COVID variant cases as state hits ‘tipping point’
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) The latest outbreak of a more contagious coronavirus variant — one linked to middle- and high school basketball games in February in Grand Ledge — has now grown to 47 suspected cases. And while just two of the 47 cases were genetically sequenced to confirm the B.1.1.7. variant in this community northwest […]
Canadian officials to Michigan Senate: Line 5 shutdown would wreck economy
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Keeping petroleum flowing through the Line 5 pipeline is imperative to the economy and energy security of Canada and the U.S., Canadian government, business and union representatives told a Michigan Senate panel on Tuesday. During a 90-minute hearing that environmentalists decried as “political theater” meant to undermine Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s […]
Michigan communities turn to wetlands to prevent damage during floods
by Lester Graham (Bridge Michigan) Midland and other cities were hit hard by a flood caused by the failure of a weak dam. More than 2,500 homes were damaged. There was an estimated $245 million in property damage. If that flood happened a few years ago, the damage could have been worse. But there’s been […]
Beverage companies want cut of Michigan bottle bill windfall during COVID
By Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s government may receive tens of millions of dollars in extra revenue from the COVID-19 backlog of unreturned bottles and cans. The beverage distributors who handle those containers say they should get some of that cash to reinvest in bottle recycling infrastructure. For the second legislative session running, beverage industry […]
Michigan residents 16 and older eligible for COVID vaccine by April 5
by Robin Erb (Bridge) All Michiganders 16 and older, regardless of health status, will be eligible for a COVID vaccine beginning April 5, the state announced Friday. Some places have moved ahead already, in fact. Less than an hour after the state made its announcement, the LMAS District Health Department in the eastern Upper Peninsula […]
Too few farmers are curbing pollution in Lake Erie
by Kelly House (Bridge) WALDRON—The greenery peeked through a fresh blanket of snow on Jay Williams’ farm. Over the past few winters, Williams has added a variety of cover crops across his 1,350-acre operation near the Ohio border. There are peas, oats and radishes rising from soil that used to lay fallow through the cold-weather months. […]
