When residents say ‘no’ to aerial mosquito spraying
By Michael Schulson/Undark (for Bridge) On a Friday afternoon in late September, Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford announced that aircraft would mist much of the county with an insecticidal spray. Intended to kill mosquitoes, the emergency plan quickly turned into a public relations battle. Hundreds of calls and emails — and even some threats […]
The ABCs of CBD: What you should know before buying in Michigan
by Robin Erb (Bridge) SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The shipping boxes arrive several times a week at Mother Earth Natural Health with trial products from suppliers trying to break into Michigan’s flourishing CBD business. Shop owner Arianna Welsh said she turns nearly all of them away, choosing to limit her stock to those oils, gummies, bath […]
Michigan lawmakers want to expand tax break before it’s created a single job
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Debate is intensifying over plans to expand a $200 million tax incentive program for big businesses that proponents say has helped Michigan land planned investments, but not yet created a single job. The state has so far committed $168.3 million in future tax captures to five firms under the […]
Costs drop for Michigan Obamacare insurance. But only after crazy increases
By Robin Erb (Bridge) Obamacare insurance enrollment in Michigan opens Friday with good news — premiums costs are down 2.5 percent. But costs still are above the jaw-dropping, double-digit price increase two years ago. “It’s not where we should be, but it’s certainly better than it was,” said Marianne Udow Phillips, executive director of the […]
Beyond term limits: 5 ‘good government’ ideas eyed by Michigan reformers
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — An unlikely coalition eyeing changes to the state’s term limits law is working to break a legislative logjam on government reform proposals in a state notorious for failing grades on ethics and transparency. Voters Not Politicians, the grassroots group that successfully pushed an anti-gerrymandering ballot proposal last fall, is discussing a suite of reform ideas […]
John Conyers Jr., champion of Detroit and civil rights, dies at 90
By Joel Kurth (Bridge) Former U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., a liberal stalwart, champion of Detroit and one of the longest-serving members in Congress, died Sunday at his home in Detroit. He was 90. Elected in 1964 at the height of the civil rights movement, Conyers served 53 years and was the longest-serving African-American in […]
Michigan judge rules Enbridge Line 5 construction is constitutional
By Jim Malewitz (Bridge) LANSING — A state judge on Thursday handed Enbridge Energy a victory in its quest to build a tunnel around its Line 5 oil and gas pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Michael J. Kelly ruled that the Republican-led Legislature did not violate the Constitution when […]
U.S. high court kills Michigan gerrymandering case ordering new districts
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday formally put to bed a lower court’s order for Michigan lawmakers to redraw gerrymandered state and congressional political district lines. The ruling was no surprise: The Supreme Court decided this summer that federal courts had no place deciding partisan gerrymandering cases, leaving the job to […]
Pure Michigan gets reprieve, but its future is cloudy amid budget showdown
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING – The Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign will continue through the end of the year – and the brand will live on even longer – despite a funding veto Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued amid an ongoing budget dispute with the Republican-led Legislature. The Michigan Strategic Fund, which Whitmer reshaped […]
Applications open for new Michigan redistricting commission. What to know.
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING — The process to seat the 13-member Michigan commission responsible for redrawing the state’s voting district lines has officially begun. Michiganders who are registered voters can apply to be on the commission from now until the end of May 2020, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Thursday. “This is a […]
