In Michigan, politics amid a pandemic has candidates scrambling to get signatures during a state lockdown. One is promising to deliver toilet paper to top donors. Another has delivered meals to needy residents. But no one is kissing babies.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan Oosting is a deputy editor at Bridge Michigan, helping plan and direct in-depth reporting and political coverage. A longtime Capitol reporter, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association in 2021 and shared the honor again in 2023, when he and a colleague 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 2019. He earned a master's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
From Grand Rapids and based in Lansing, Jonathan loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Whitmer strongly hints she'll extend coronavirus stay-home order in Michigan
With the state still roughly five weeks from hitting its peak in cases of the coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the threat to human life remains too perilous to loosen restrictions anytime soon.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan unemployment surges; record 1 in 10 workers have filed claims
More than 300,000 Michigan residents filed unemployment insurance claims last week, an unprecedented surge amid the coronavirus pandemic that has forced business closures, prompted mass layoffs and overwhelmed the state filing system.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan Gov. Whitmer asks Legislature to extend emergency powers 70 days
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature to extend her emergency authority by 70 days amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The House is developing a plan to hold a session next week without violating social distancing guidelines.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Facing shortages, Michigan asks feds for experimental coronavirus drugs
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is “pursuing a request” for hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine from the federal government’s Strategic National Stockpile
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan axes $80M in pork spending, shifts spending to fight coronavirus
Bracing for what could be a multibillion dollar loss in state revenue, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders on Monday agreed to cancel $80 million in special project spending as they focus dwindling state resources on the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan, United States set records for weekly unemployment claims
Nationally, more than 3.2 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week. That was more than four times the previous recorded high of 695,000 initial claims in October 1982.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Coronavirus complaints overwhelm Michigan unemployment, law enforcement
Attorney General Dana Nessel says she’s overrun with complaints about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, while unemployment claims burden state systems. The confusion is even causing suburban police to investigate clothing stores to ensure they’re closed.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Police: Don’t expect us to enforce Michigan’s confusing coronavirus lockdown
Flouting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order is a misdemeanor. But some police say they’re unlikely to wade into the confusion of who is an essential worker. ‘Good luck with that,’ one lawyer says.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
What jobs are exempt from Michigan coronavirus lockdown? You may be surprised.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Michigan to stay home, but allowed ‘essential’ employees to keep working. Her exemptions include more than a dozen industries employing 1 million workers.