Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan’s emergency to May 28 and orders bars, restaurant dining rooms and casinos to close through that date. The order came shortly after Republican lawmakers refused to extend the emergency and authorized a lawsuit challenging her powers.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan is a deputy editor for Bridge Michigan. He helps plan and execute in-depth reporting and campaign coverage. As a longtime political reporter, Jonathan was named 2021 Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. He and a colleague shared that honor again in 2023, when they were also named Journalists of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter. Jonathan covered the state Capitol for The Detroit News and MLive before joining Bridge in September of 2019. He's from Grand Rapids, lives in Lansing and loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan roads still stink, and the coronavirus makes them harder to fix
New ratings show Michigan roads are still bad and its bridges are getting worse. The coronavirus pandemic has already decreased gas tax revenue needed to fix them.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Gov. Whitmer to GOP: I’m not going to negotiate reopening economy
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rejected a GOP offer to extend her emergency powers in exchange for a promise to work with lawmakers. “Michigan remains in a state of emergency regardless of the actions you decide to take,” Whitmer says. But she faces growing pressure and lawsuits to loosen her orders.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan's Justin Amash wants to be president. He faces super long odds.
Experts say U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, who left the GOP last year after backing calls to impeach President Donald Trump, faces almost insurmountable odds as he looks to upend a two-party system he has lambasted as ineffective and unresponsive.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to reopen construction industry May 7
An executive order is coming on Friday to allow construction crews to get back to work, as Gretchen Whitmer teases out parts of her plan to reopen Michigan’s shuttered economy. That’s not fast enough for some Senate Republicans.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gov. Whitmer to restart Michigan economy by regions, types of workplaces
Michigan will reopen in phases across eight regions and nine workplace types, depending on coronavirus case counts and the risk for continued spread. The process could start in the next two weeks with construction firms and other “outdoor enterprises,” Gov. Whitmer said Monday.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan poison control calls jump after Trump’s disinfectant remarks
Between Friday and Sunday, there were 65 calls to the Michigan Poison Center about exposure to household cleaning products, including 16 calls about bleach and nine calls about disinfectants, according to data from the center. That was up about 86 percent from the prior weekend and 55 percent over the same span last year.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan’s new stay-home order allows landscaping, boating and golf
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order through May 15 but relaxed rules for large retailers while allowing landscapers, plant nurseries, bike repair shops and other select businesses to resume operations.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to extend stay-home order until May 15
Gretchen Whitmer’s pending announcement comes as Republican lawmakers plan a meeting to review her handling of the coronavirus crisis, and to lobby to reopen the economy.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Republicans launch attack on Gov. Whitmer’s emergency powers
The GOP-led Legislature announced plans to vote on limiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers and form a panel to conduct oversight of her actions during the state’s economic shutdown.