Coronavirus outbreaks tied to migrant farm workers in Michigan
by Robin Erb,聽Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Coronavirus outbreaks among migrant workers are contributing to an uptick in cases in Michigan, which experts blame on short growing seasons, crowded housing, tenuous income, and mistrust of government. In the past few weeks, health officials have identified outbreaks in Lapeer, Oceana, and Branch counties among workers tending to farms. […]
Last-minute ruling keeps Michigan gyms closed, hours before they could reopen
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Most Michigan gyms remained closed last Thursday, after a panel of three federal judges sided with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just hours before they were to reopen. The order聽reverses an order聽by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney on Monday, who had allowed fitness centers to remain open and refused to pause his […]
Michigan moves to pause standardized tests amid coronavirus
by Ron French (Bridge) Michigan students, homebound for months because of the worst pandemic in a century and facing a return to school with social distancing and possibly face masks, shouldn鈥檛 have to take standardized tests. That was the message of State Superintendent Michael Rice, a bipartisan group of legislators and school leaders from across […]
Judge: Michigan gyms can reopen Thursday despite Whitmer coronavirus order
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING 鈥 Gyms and fitness centers across Michigan can reopen June 25, a federal聽judge ruled Friday, saying Gov. Gretchen Whitmer administration failed to provide scientific evidence justifying the continued closure despite declining COVID-19 case counts. Whitmer plans an immediate appeal, according to a spokesperson, who argued keeping gyms closed longer than […]
Michigan jobs go unfilled when workers make more from unemployment
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) A curbside job fair near Grand Rapids on Wednesday tried to make it easy for 50 companies to fill open positions. Applicants could interview from their cars, and in some cases, might have been able to start work the next day. 鈥淩ight now we have 270 jobs that we could fill […]
In Michigan nursing homes, a no-win choice between infection and isolation
By Robin Erb (Bridge) Alzheimer disease has shrunk the world around him, but Jerry Zeiger 鈥 Vietnam veteran, former engineer, and hobby woodworker 鈥 is still soothed by the touch of the woman he took out on a first date over a simple cup of truck-stop coffee. 鈥淚 guess I was so enthralled by him, […]
Enbridge Line 5 shut down after anchor support incurs 鈥榮ignificant damage鈥
By Kelly House (Bridge) Enbridge Energy has shut down the Line 5 petroleum pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac following 鈥渟ignificant damage鈥 to an anchor support on the lakebottom pipeline, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday evening. In聽a letter Friday to the Canadian company CEO, Al Monaco, Whitmer expressed dismay about the damage, which Enbridge reported […]
Michigan colleges aren鈥檛 seeing coronavirus enrollment drops they feared
By Sophia Yoon (Bridge) Michigan colleges aren鈥檛 seeing the coronavirus enrollment drops they feared 鈥 at least not yet. Officials at many universities and colleges in the state聽had worried聽that students 鈥 particularly incoming freshmen 鈥 would take gap years or enroll in online courses at local community colleges rather than move into dorms in the […]
Jigsaw puzzles show off 鈥榣ove and pride鈥 in Michigan 鈥 and its history
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) Stay-at-home orders in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic left people wondering how to fill their time. The resulting聽national puzzle shortage聽proved fruitful for the state archivists entrusted with images of Michigan past. They鈥檙e not just preserving the state past at the Michigan History Center in Lansing. A group of state […]
Despite legal battle, Michigan tribe remains hopeful for recognition
By Meghanlata Gupta (Bridge) Lansing resident Paul Parkey聽knows he Native American, and the federal government isn鈥檛 going to change his mind. Parkey tribal community, the聽Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, has spent decades petitioning the United States to be formally recognized as a tribal nation, with no luck. There more at stake for […]
