Backlogged surgeries from coronavirus shutdown could take months to reschedule
By Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press (For Bridge) Henry Ford Health System has a backlog of about 8,000 surgical procedures that were postponed when COVID-19 began to surge in metro Detroit. The University of Michigan Health System estimates it has 12,000 such surgeries waiting to be scheduled. At Beaumont Health, about 8,500 surgical procedures […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends Michigan stay-at-home order through June 12
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) One day after loosening social and business restrictions, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday afternoon extended the state’s stay-at-home order to curb the coronavirus pandemic through June 12. She also extended the state of emergency that enables the executive orders, including the stay-at-home order, through June 19, citing a recent Court of Claims […]
Judge sides with Whitmer in emergency powers standoff with Legislature
By Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is legally allowed to extend a statewide state of emergency without the Legislature’s approval, a Court of Claims judge ruled Thursday. The ruling is likely not the end of the legal battle between Whitmer and GOP leaders in the House and Senate, as the case is expected […]
Dana Nessel and Enbridge argue Line 5 pipeline shutdown to Michigan judge
By Kelly House (Bridge) Should the Line 5 pipelines under the Straits of Mackinac ever have been built? That was the central question Friday as lawyers for the state of Michigan and Canadian petroleum giant Enbridge faced off in oral arguments in Ingham County Circuit Court stemming from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s lawsuit challenging […]
Midland flooding highlights Michigan’s aging stockpile of neglected dams
By Paula Gardner, Meghanlata Gupta (Bridge) The rushing waters out of two failed dams near Midland highlight a flood risk that extends beyond the mid-Michigan city. In fact, the breaches are a wake-up call for the entire state as climate change, long-neglected infrastructure systems and a lack of funding all raise concerns about the condition (and investment into) Michigan’s dams. […]
When will Gov. Whitmer reopen Michigan? It’s complicated. And a bit vague.
by Riley Beggin, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Just over the Michigan border in Ohio and Wisconsin, shoppers again are going to stores after coronavirus stay-home orders ended. In Georgia, residents are not only eating out, but hitting the gym and swimming in public pools. Not so in Michigan, which is joined by just three other states, Washington D.C. and Puerto […]
Michigan’s $6.2B coronavirus budget gap ‘as bad or worse’ than Great Recession
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Michigan lawmakers need to dramatically slash spending, raise taxes or hope for a federal bailout to offset a projected $3.2 billion shortfall and balance next year’s budget despite what could be another $3 billion loss because of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s the word from state budget officials, who on […]
Coronavirus came to Michigan earlier than thought, records show
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer first learned the coronavirus had come to Michigan shortly after 8:49 p.m. March 10, with the confirmation of two cases in metro Detroit, internal emails show. Since then, state officials have learned there already were likely 500 infections in Michigan at that time. And nearly 10,000 people […]
Lots of rain, few fireworks at latest protest of Michigan’s stay-at-home rules
LANSING — Renea Knight stood behind cardboard prison bars on a sidewalk in front of the Michigan Capitol on Thursday to protest what she called the “tyranny” of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order. Knute Hill formed a counterprotest on the Capitol lawn, offering a lonely voice of support for Whitmer from inside a circular safe […]
Coronavirus is isolating children. How to help them thrive.
by Brie Zeltner (Bridge) In the Sterling Heights condominium complex where Mary Johnson lives with her 9-year-old son and husband, kids began playing together outdoors as soon as the weather improved. The sounds of shouting and giggling drift in through Johnson’s windows, a siren call to play that is nearly impossible for a child to […]
