Michigan strains unemployment system with most claims since Great Recession
by Jonathan Oosting 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 Traverse […]
Charting Michigan’s coronavirus path, hoping for South Korea and not Italy
by Mike Wilkinson Michigan, like much of the United States and the world, has witnessed a startling climb in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus, prompting widespread restrictions on schools, businesses and people. But as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mulls a “shelter-in-place” edict to slow the pace of infections, residents and public officials can […]
Michigan coronavirus cases surge with more testing but shortage remains
by Riley Beggin In just 48 hours between Wednesday and Friday afternoon, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan grew almost fivefold, from around 110 to 549. That dramatic climb isn’t necessarily a result of an uptick in the virus’ spread. At least some of that increase is the result of testing done at […]
Michigan hospitals turn to quilting scraps, DIY videos to fight coronavirus
by Riley Beggin, Robin Erb One Michigan grandmother is sewing face masks for hospitals. A different Michigan hospital posted a video demonstrating how to make your own personal protective gear. With medical supplies running dangerously low and predictions of a surge of coronavirus patients, medical professionals are doing whatever they can to protect themselves — […]
Can I get tested for coronavirus in Michigan and other questions answered
By Robin Erb, Ted Roelofs, and Kelly House (Bridge Magazine) It can be difficult to sort through the clamor of changing guidelines and mixed messages about coronavirus, or COVID-19. And let’s be honest: There are a whole lot of people talking without the facts. Bridge Magazine is partial to facts and experts, so we’ve worked […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: ‘We’re going to get through’ coronavirus
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Magazine) LANSING, March 11, 2020 — A day after confirming Michigan’s first two cases of coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday urged schools, community groups and businesses to consider cancelling gatherings or events with more than 100 people. (Update as of 7:48 pm Sunday, March 15: Michigan now has 45 cases […]
At Michigan State, deciding whether to go home or stay for the meal plan
By Kelly House (Bridge Magazine) EAST LANSING—Hours after Michigan State University stopped all in-person classes on Wednesday amid news of a coronavirus outbreak in Michigan, the 50,000-student campus had already begun to look like a ghost town. Almost immediately after university officials announced the closure and encouraged students to leave campus until in-person classes resume […]
How to make your own hand sanitizer during coronavirus shortage
By Kelly House (Bridge Magazine) As coronavirus bears down on Michigan, hand sanitizer is in short supply. After news of 16 confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan prompted prolonged school closures, canceled public events and work-from-home orders for many workers, shoppers began emptying store shelves of sanitary and medical supplies in hopes of protecting themselves against a more widespread outbreak. […]
How Michigan hospitals and businesses try to keep workers happy, healthy
by Catherine Shaffer (Bridge Magazine) Cameron Williams wasn’t expecting any surprises when he showed up for a wellness screening through his employer, Detroit-based Quicken Loans, in the summer of 2017. He was 31 years old and not feeling at all sick. His life changed when the nurse told him his blood pressure was extremely elevated, […]
Michigan clerks swamped as state rolls out voter reforms
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan’s first election with no-reason absentee voting and same-day registration Tuesday resulted in long lines at city clerk offices and an accusation of voter suppression from Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. More than 13,000 people registered to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson told reporters […]
