Michigan hospital workers weary as public support fades, COVID cases rise
by Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Radio,聽Kate Wells, Michigan Radio (Bridge) Eric Kumor been a nurse for 10 years. But the last few weeks he finds himself having to gear up emotionally just to walk in the door to work. 鈥淎nd within 30 minutes, like two of our nurses are already just in tears,鈥 he says. Sparrow […]
Michigan GOP leaders meet Trump, promise 鈥榳e will follow law鈥 on election
聽by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING 鈥 Top Republicans in the Michigan Legislature met with President Donald Trump for nearly an hour Friday, but walked away from the White House meeting reaffirming their pledge to award the state electors to the winner of the popular vote. Trump is contesting Michigan results that show him losing to […]
Michigan upholds Nestl茅 permit to withdraw 576K gallons of groundwater daily
by Kelly House (Bridge) Michigan environmental regulators will not reconsider their decision to let Nestl茅 Waters North America increase groundwater withdrawals to support the company Ice Mountain bottling operation in Stanwood, state officials announced Friday. Instead, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has dismissed a complaint challenging the 2018 permit that […]
Judge won’t allow Michigan restaurants to immediately reopen dining rooms
by Paula Gardner,聽Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Michigan restaurant industry has lost its bid made 鈥渙ut of desperation鈥 to prevent a three-week closure of dining rooms due to COVID-19. A lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids sought a temporary restraining order against the statewide restrictions, which started at 12:01 am Wednesday, but an […]
With COVID everywhere, Michigan contact tracers losing control of spread
by Kelly House (Bridge) Michigan public health system is becoming overwhelmed as COVID-19 case rates continue to surge, outpacing efforts to contain the pandemic by finding and sequestering sick people before they spread the virus. In much of the state, that means health authorities are less likely to be able to call you if the […]
GOP wants audit before certifying Michigan election. Law won鈥檛 allow it.
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING 鈥 A key Republican on the Board of State Canvassers is threatening to refuse certification of Michigan election results until after an audit, but legal experts say he has no authority to demand a process that is not even allowed under Michigan law. Norm Shinkle, one of two Republicans on […]
Report: Michigan most vulnerable students have limited learning options during the pandemic
By Koby Levin, Chalkbeat (for Bridge) The students who need in-person instruction the most are among the least likely to get it, new Michigan data shows. Education leaders in the state have insisted since the beginning of the pandemic that virtual instruction simply can鈥檛 meet the needs of thousands of students 鈥 notably young readers, […]
Want a COVID test for your Michigan Thanksgiving? Expect 鈥 to 鈥 wait.
By Mike Wilkinson & Robin Erb (Bridge) Michiganders trying to get tested for COVID before seeing loved ones at Thanksgiving might find that a collective rush on testing labs will make that impossible. And if you are lucky enough to get tested, well, expect 鈥 to 鈥 wait for your results. Though Michigan doesn鈥檛 track […]
Whitmer orders Enbridge Line 5 shutdown, citing easement violations
by Kelly House, Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Following a state review that found the Line 5 petroleum pipeline is putting the Great Lakes at risk, Michigan has ordered Canadian petroleum company Enbridge Energy to shut down the pipeline that runs through the Straits of Mackinac by May. The Friday announcement followed a long-awaited review of Enbridge […]
Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is being made in Michigan
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) Two square miles in Portage, near Kalamazoo, on Monday became the epicenter of hopes that the United States will be distributing coronavirus vaccines by year-end. That property in southwest Michigan is home to the largest manufacturing site in the world for drug giant Pfizer Inc. On Monday, Pfizer [NYSE: PFE] and […]
