Coronavirus, an ‘almost perfect killing machine,’ hits Michigan nursing homes
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Michigan’s nursing homes and senior living communities are losing ground in their uphill battle against COVID-19. At least 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected at the Beaumont Commons in Farmington Hills, Beaumont Health spokesman Mark Geary told Bridge. Advantage Living Center in Roseville on Friday acknowledged multiple suspected cases. […]
For some recovering addicts, Michigan’s stay-home order sparks fear of relapse
by Ashley Wong (Bridge) Michigan’s stay-home order, meant to protect the health of state residents, could be a challenge to the health of recovering alcoholics and addicts who’ve found in-person support meetings canceled and services like methadone dispensaries modified. Now, they’ll have to navigate a world where many paths to recovery have become digital. Many […]
Michigan, United States set records for weekly unemployment claims
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Michigan and the United States set records for unemployment insurance claims last week as the global coronavirus pandemic prompted a spike in business closures and wreaked havoc on the economy. In Michigan, 129,298 residents filed initial claims for the week ending Saturday, up more than 2,300 percent from the 5,338 filed […]
Northern Michigan to downstate residents: Stay home during coronavirus!
by Bob Campbell (Bridge) The resort havens of Traverse City and Petoskey are among the jewels of Michigan tourism. But not this week. From the mayors in these lakefront towns, to a mother of two young children in Manistee County and members of a Facebook group in Leelanau County, the message to downstate Michiganders is […]
Michigan scrambles to salvage school year in wake of coronavirus
by Ron French (Bridge) Government and school leaders are meeting to decide whether schools will reopen this spring, if instruction will be extended into the summer, what that would look like, and how it would be funded. Legislators, members of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, and officials from school associations had a conference call Wednesday to […]
Michigan has coronavirus testing supplies ‘through another week’
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Testing for the coronavirus in Michigan, which the state said has ramped up to nearly 2,000 tests a day, may soon slow again because of what the state’s medical chief calls a “dire need” for swabs, reagents and other testing materials. Based on current testing supplies in Michigan, “we could probably […]
Will Michigan classes stay closed, and other coronavirus impact on schools
By Ron French (Bridge) The closure of Michigan K-12 schools for three weeks, through April 6, raises a lot of questions for families and school administrators. Bridge answered a few more on Friday. Let us know if you have additional questions by sending them to rfrench@bridgemi.com and we’ll try to answer more. Is there a chance the three-week […]
Michigan strains unemployment system with most claims since Great Recession
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Like thousands of Michigan workers who lost their jobs Monday, Alicia Mason rushed online to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. And then she waited — and waited — for the website to work. What should have taken an hour took three days for the 40-year-old waitress at Sleder’s Family Tavern in […]
Parents urge Michigan to change rules about online learning during coronavirus
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan parents and educators are demanding that state officials change the law so online instruction during the coronavirus school closure counts. After Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice said Friday that state law forbids counting the time, it touched off a wave of confusion, the ire of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a […]
As coronavirus slams businesses, some small Michigan newspapers struggle
By Bridge Magazine Staff Lights are flickering in some Michigan newsrooms as the coronavirus crisis drains advertising revenue needed to pay journalists to report on the pandemic. C&G Newspapers, a chain of 19 weeklies in Oakland and Macomb counties — where virus cases are growing rapidly — announced Saturday it is temporarily suspending print newspaper […]
