After Oxford shooting, Michigan Dems seek to bar high-capacity magazine sales
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Every second matters in a mass shooting and limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines could save lives by slowing shooters and forcing them to reload more often, Michigan Democrats argued Thursday as they proposed new regulations. Legislation set to be introduced in the state House and Senate would prohibit the […]
Bloody drawings, a cry for help, and Oxford’s choice before school shooting
By Kelly House, Ron French (Bridge Michigan) In the eyes of Oxford Community Schools, it was a judgment call. Fifteen-year-old Ethan Crumbley had been scrolling online for ammunition at school, drew a disturbing picture of a gun, a bullet and someone bleeding, and wrote that his “thoughts won’t stop, help me,” and “the world is […]
Rising cost of water in Michigan leads to affordability problems
by Brett Walton, Circle of Blue (Bridge Michigan) The rising cost of water and sewer service in Michigan is consuming a larger share of household income, leading to mounting financial burdens for both families and communities, particularly those with high poverty rates, a new report finds. The growing affordability problem spreads beyond publicized examples in Detroit and […]
Michigan House panel approves changes to state child abuse and neglect list
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge Michigan) A Michigan House committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday intended to make it more difficult for innocent people to be added to a state registry of adults deemed a serious risk to children. The Central Registry, maintained by the Children’s Protective Services program within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, […]
Michigan hospitals at COVID-induced capacities, as moods turn angrier
by Robin Erb, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Nearly one-in-four Michigan hospital patients has a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, packing the state’s health systems to unprecedented levels Friday. Some hospitals said they’ve flown past near capacity levels and are now “beyond capacity” in some units. The number of daily COVID-19 deaths in Michigan’s hospitals has […]
The case against the parents of Oxford shooting suspect: Gun was Xmas present
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — The parents of a 15-year-old accused of killing four classmates at Oxford High School bought the gun for him days earlier and failed to keep it secure despite alarming behavior by their son, according to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. McDonald on Friday charged James and Jennifer Crumbley […]
Prosecutor: Oxford suspect shouldn’t have been allowed back in class
by Ron French, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) Hours before he allegedly opened fire on his Oxford High School classmates on Tuesday, Ethan Crumbley was summoned to a school meeting along with his parents. According to authorities, a teacher had spotted a school assignment that morning on the 15-year-old’s desk that included a drawing of a […]
15-year-old suspect in Oxford school shooting recorded threat to kill classmates
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) A 15-year-old accused of murdering four classmates at Oxford High School Tuesday recorded a video the night before the shooting “wherein he talked about killing students the next day,” an investigator said Wednesday. Ethan Crumbley, the suspected shooter, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to various terrorism and murder charges but […]
Michigan’s water systems in line for $3.3 billion. Much more is needed.
by Sergio Martínez Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING— The Michigan Senate this week unanimously passed a $3.3 billion supplemental spending bill that lawmakers say would help address the state’s crumbling water infrastructure. The spending bill allocates $1 billion for the replacement of lead services lines in Michigan. It also provides $400 million to upgrade drinking water. […]
Michigan redistricting panel opts for secrecy, won’t release voting memos
by Sergio Martínez Beltrán (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan’s redistricting panel voted Thursday to keep secret two memos that helped members justify the reduction of majority-minority legislative districts. Members of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission kept the records secret over numerous objections, including those from residents in Flint who are upset they are losing […]
