In Michigan, cases of whooping cough hint at post-pandemic comeback
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) Michigan health officials are noting an increase in cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in several counties 鈥 an increase that may tick back cases to pre-pandemic levels. As of June 15, 113 cases had been detected statewide 鈥 three more than the 110 cases seen for all of last […]
Rite Aid sends mixed messages as Michigan braces for more closures
by Paula Gardner聽 (Bridge Michigan) Communities across Michigan are bracing for the impact of a wave of Rite Aid closings 鈥 which may affect all聽185聽stores in the state 鈥斅燼s one of the largest pharmacies in the U.S. cuts costs in a fight for survival. The drugstore chain this week disclosed聽12 Michigan stores聽slated to close as […]
Michigan medical students fight to make climate change part of curriculum
by Gabrielle Nelson, Bridge Michigan Climate change is no longer a 鈥渂ackburner鈥 issue for medical students like Sierra Silverwood. It essential to understanding human health when聽new and greater health threats聽are emerging because of climate change. But integrating climate topics into an already 鈥減acked medical education鈥 isn鈥檛 easy, said Michigan State University fourth-year medical student Silverwood. […]
Michigan braces for a heat wave. Here how to stay safe and cool
by Jenelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is in the midst of experiencing its first heat wave of the year, as the first day of summer approaches. High temperatures, reaching the mid-to-upper 90s in some parts of the state, and humidity may cause it to feel like temperatures are nearly 100 degrees. The upcoming heat […]
Severe weather costs Michigan millions. Can funding meet demands?
by Jordyn Hermani聽 (Bridge Michigan) LANSING 鈥 When tornadoes rolled through Kalamazoo County last month, Portage City Manager Pat McGinnis鈥 home was spared the worst of it. That couldn鈥檛 be said for the rest of the city, however, which bore the brunt of a聽135 mph聽tornado, according to the National Weather Service. By the time winds […]
Why Michigan cows may hold key to stopping bird flu spread
by Jordyn Hermani聽 (Bridge Michigan) LANSING 鈥 As bird flu continues to spread among Michigan dairy and poultry farms, state agriculture officials say tackling the spread in cattle has proven difficult due to an initial lack of biosecurity measures. But the state is stepping up those efforts as 鈥渁 matter of business at this point,鈥 […]
Michigan officials mull more access for e-bikes on state trails
by Gabrielle Nelson (Bridge Michigan) Electric bicycle use is expanding, welcoming a new group of riders to the bicyclist community. But under current Michigan state park policies, the bikes are banned from many trails. That could soon change. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has proposed a year-long pilot program that would open 3,000 miles […]
Prosecutor won’t charge hunter in southern Michigan wolf kill
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) No one will face charges for the January killing of an endangered gray wolf in southern Michigan. Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert聽told Bridge Michigan he聽is declining to file charges after concluding that the hunter and guide involved in the killing聽honestly believed they had legally shot a coyote. Hundreds of miles […]
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan won鈥檛 cover popular weight-loss drugs
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan)聽& Sneha Dhandapani (Michigan Health Watch) Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda, which have recently gained popularity, will no longer be covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Starting Aug. 1 the state largest health insurer will begin phasing out coverage for large group commercial insurance plans and […]
Drugs, microplastics, forever chemicals a growing concern in Great Lakes
by Fatima Syed, The Narwhal (Bridge Michigan) Rania Hamza calls it 鈥渁 coincidence鈥 that an engineer, a biologist and a lawyer at the same Toronto university were independently worrying about the harmful substances and chemicals being flushed down Ontario toilets. Three years ago, after figuring out they were all interested in the same thing, […]
