The governor on Wednesday announced a plan to combat ‘range anxiety.by making Lake Michigan an electric vehicle-ready highway, and a separate initiative to train Michigan workers for new jobs.
Paula Gardner
As Bridge Michigan's senior business reporter, Paula Gardner covers Michigan's business landscape, focusing on topics such as the auto industry, electric vehicles and economic development. She came to Bridge in 2020 after covering business and environment for MLive.com and previously served as editor of the Ann Arbor News and news director of the startup AnnArbor.com.
A metro Detroit native, Paula moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan and has called it home for more than 25 years.
Posted inChildren & Families
$20 million housing fund may help Wayne County settle Afghan refugees
The funding is unique among Michigan’s resettlement efforts, but activists hope other counties will soon follow. There is a humanitarian and economic motivation to attract new refugees to the region.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
After two weeks and 1,100 evacuations, mishap tests Flat Rock’s loyalty to Ford
A chemical mishap forced residents of a company town out of their homes. They may be away for weeks. And answers are scant.
Posted inBusiness Watch
5 things on the minds of Michigan businesses eyeing Biden vaccine mandate
Already dealing with pandemic fallout, businesses now must navigate the tricky economic and political waters of a federal vaccine-or-test requirement.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
2 million Michigan workers may be impacted by Biden’s vaccine mandate
More than 6,000 businesses employing about half of the state’s workers are likely affected by the president’s rule requiring vaccines or weekly tests for companies with more than 100 workers.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Frustration and fear linger as Flat Rock confronts Ford factory's gas leak
The southeast Michigan city has been under a state of emergency while investigators try to understand the circumstances and lapses that led to the spill, and assess any lingering health risks from the chemicals entering Flat Rock’s sewer system.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan unemployment director, under fire, pledges ‘user friendly’ upgrades
You failed,’ a lawmaker tells the acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency, which has had a host of problems during the pandemic.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan appliance customers find delay and frustration. It won’t end soon.
“People are at their wits’ end” when they learn how the pandemic has impacted what refrigerators, washers or other products are available, and how soon the store can get them. Customer flexibility can speed the process.
Posted inBusiness Watch
500,000-plus jobless Michigan workers brace to lose unemployment benefits
Federal unemployment benefits are expiring Sept. 4 in the state, ending payments worth about a combined $283 million to workers not eligible for Michigan’s regular unemployment program.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan unemployment system still needs fixing, critics tell lawmakers
A June letter confused and terrified nearly 700,000 jobless residents who were told they might have to repay benefits, according to testimony Tuesday at a House Oversight Committee meeting. It’s just the latest misstep by the state unemployment agency.