Cover Story
Why did Michigan get hit by the coronavirus harder than its neighbors?
The coronavirus was rapidly spreading across the U.S., with more than 1,000 confirmed infections in 35 states, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer got the call: The first two COVID-19 cases in Michigan had been confirmed. It was March 10, about an hour after the primary election polls closed. Whitmer headed to the State Emergency Operations Center…
Justin Amash officially exploring Libertarian Party presidential campaign
Self-described “lowercase ‘L'” libertarian Justin Amash is looking to become an uppercase “L” Libertarian. The Grand Rapids-based U.S. Representative announced on Tuesday that he has launched an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party’s nomination for president. “We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together,” Amash tweeted.…
Michigan reports 160 new coronavirus deaths, pushing total to 3,567, as hospital admissions decline
Michigan reported 160 new deaths from the coronavirus Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 3,567. Of those, 40 were older cases found in a review of backlogged death certificates. In the past week, the state has averaged 122 new deaths, down slightly from 133 a week ago. The state now has more than 39,000 confirmed…
Michigan is flattening the coronavirus curve and increasing testing capacity
Michigan’s stay-at-home order has one purpose: Stop the deadly spread of the coronavirus. And it appears to be working. The number of COVID-19 hospital admissions in Michigan has declined 34.2% since peaking at 3,986 on April 12. During the same period, the number of patients on a ventilator dropped 41.3%, from 1,365 to 801. The…
Detroit designer creates realistic face-sucking ‘Alien’ coronavirus mask
If you’re like us, you’ve used some of your, uh, newfound downtime to play a game where you are inevitably always in debt and do nothing but conduct hard labor for a family of Japanese raccoon dogs, re-binge The Office (U.S., duh), or, perhaps, revisit cinematic classics about being quarantined in space, like 1979’s sci-fi…
Canadian nurse tried to smuggle 150 lbs. of weed into Detroit
A Canadian nurse was stopped by agents at at the U.S.-Canadian border last week when it was discovered she was attempting to smuggle 150 lbs. of marijuana into Detroit. Clad in a nurse’s scrubs and a lab coat, Terri Lynn Maxwell, 48, of Amherstburg, Ontario, told authorities she was going to treat COVID-19 patients at…
Nicholas Proffitt, suspect in Islamic center arson, has a history of attacking mosques — including one in Dearborn
A Missouri man has been arrested for setting an Islamic center on fire in what authorities believe was a hate-fueled attack. Nicholas Proffitt, 42, of Cape Girardeau, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with felonies of first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, and first-degree property damage — a charge that could come with more serious penalties because investigators…
Detroit’s Science of Grief program goes virtual and global — with a focus on grief during coronavirus
Monday’s daily death toll revealed that 946 people have died in Detroit since the coronavirus outbreak began to ravage the country last month, adding to the state-wide total of 3,407 COVID-19 deaths. Due to state-imposed social distancing measures and restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people, funerals, memorials, and viewings look much different than…
Metro Times writer Biba Adams discusses losing three family members to COVID-19 on ‘CBS This Morning’
Longtime Detroit scribe Biba Adams had just started as a full-time staff writer at Metro Times, which she described as a “dream job,” when the coronavirus crisis hit Detroit. Unfortunately, she was one of the eight employees temporary laid off at the outset of the pandemic as the virus ground Michigan’s economy to a near…
Coronavirus swept through metro Detroit nursing homes, killing at least 700
As the highly contagious coronavirus swept through nursing homes in southeast Michigan, public health officials struggled to contain the deadly spread and protect the state’s most vulnerable residents. More than 3,200 residents of nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other residential facilities for the elderly have tested positive for COVID-19 and 700 have died in…
Michigan Supreme Court says state’s medical marijuana law doesn’t overrule local zoning ordinances
The Michigan Supreme Court said on Monday that the state’s medical marijuana law does not overrule local zoning ordinances, breaking from previous Court of Appeals cases. DeRuiter v. Township of Byron concerned a Kent County municipality that prohibited registered caregivers from growing marijuana at a commercial property. The Michigan appeals court said the ordinance conflicted…
Whitmer to reengage the economy based on coronavirus data
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday said she will begin reopening Michigan’s economy based on sector, geography, and data on coronavirus cases and hospital capacity. To help her decide where and when to reopen businesses, Whitmer created the Michigan Economic Recovery Council, chaired by Gerry Anderson, executive chairman of DTE, and Nancy Schlichting, retired CEO of…
Michigan’s coronavirus death toll reaches 3,407, with more than 38,000 positive cases
Michigan reported 92 new deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the state total to 3,407. In the past two weeks, the state has averaged 128 new deaths a day. The state now has more than 38,000 positive cases, up 432 in the past day. There are positive signs: Over the past two weeks, the…
Lobster rolls return to Birmingham’s Hazel, Ravines and Downtown on May 1
After closing in mid-March due to the coronavirus crisis, Birmingham’s fine-dining spot Hazel, Ravines and Downtown is reopening on Friday — and it’s starting by bringing back some items from last summer’s lobster menu, including lobster rolls. A limited menu of lobster rolls, lobster roll kits, soups, and sides will be available for curbside carry-out…
Michigan attorney general tells police to be lenient with businesses unable to supply masks to workers
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is asking law enforcement to consider “good faith efforts” for businesses that are not able to supply its workers with protective face coverings, a critical tool in preventing the spread of coronavirus. As of Monday, per Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s latest executive order, which extended the statewide stay-at-home order through May…
Detroit’s Punch Bowl Social permanently lays off 97 staff members due to COVID-19 crisis
It was announced Monday that Punch Bowl Social has laid off 97 staffers at its downtown Detroit location amid COVID-19 closures. Opened in 2014, the 24,000-square-foot bar, arcade, restaurant, bowling alley, and karaoke space on Broadway Street has been closed since mid-March after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all bars and restaurants to discontinue dine-in service.…
Kroger expands free drive-thru coronavirus testing sites into Michigan
Kroger Health has expanded its free COVID-19 drive-thru testing program into new locations in Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, and Tennessee. These states join Kentucky — which launched its sites in early April — to create a total of five states now offering free COVID-19 testing. (Tennessee had also launched some locations in early April.) Kroger says it…
Half of Detroiters fear they’ll run out of money within 3 months because of coronavirus lockdown, survey shows
About half of Detroiters believe they are likely to go broke in the next three months if the coronavirus lockdown continues for that long and there’s no financial assistance to families, according to a new survey from the University of Michigan’s Detroit Metro Area Communities Study. One in five Detroiters say they “definitely” will run…
Detroit techno pioneer Mike Huckaby dies at 54 from complications from a stroke and COVID-19
Mike Huckaby, a pillar of Detroit techno and an internationally renowned beatmaker, died Friday. He was 54 years old. Huckaby suffered a stroke early last month, after which point Detroit producer and friend Delano Smith launched a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses. The campaign raised $26,000, well beyond its $7,000 goal, thanks to contributions…
Michigan Gov. ‘Smokeshow’ Whitmer gets the ‘Saturday Night Live’ treatment
She’s been attacked by Trump’s Twitter finger, had protesters gather outside of her home in an event dubbed “Operation Queen’s Castle,” and has made national headlines for both her response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for landing herself on Joe Biden’s shortlist for vice president. She’s Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and according to Saturday Night…
Michigan state senator wore Confederate flag face mask to session over Whitmer’s emergency orders
Republican Sen. Dale Zorn is gaslighting us. On Friday, Zorn wore a Confederate flag face mask on the Senate floor during a session addressing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers and the coronavirus pandemic crisis. When asked about it by WLNS, Zorn said it wasn’t a Confederate flag, but even if it was, the Confederate flag…
Duggan requires COVID-19 tests for grocery store workers, estimates 1 of 10 Detroit residents are infected
Mayor Mike Duggan, estimating that a tenth of all metro Detroit residents have been infected with the coronavirus, is requiring every grocery store employee in the city to get tested. With the second-highest COVID-19 death toll in the nation, Detroit isn’t messing around. “We are going to expect them to have their employees tested ……
Michigan surpasses 3,000 coronavirus deaths and 36,600 positive cases
The Michigan death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Thursday, with 108 new casualties reported Friday. In the past two weeks, the state has averaged 131 new deaths a day. Michigan also reported 1,350 new positive cases, bringing its total to more than 36,600. Although the numbers are grim, the state is…
One metro Detroit pizza shop ‘mindfucked’ Barstool pizza reviewer
He may hate unions, but he absolutely loves a frozen pie from award-winning Detroit Style Pizza Co. in Saint Clair Shores. Of course, we’re talking about Davey Pageviews aka Barstool Sports co-founder David Portnoy. The controversial bro-culture site, which launched in 2003 as a humble sports blog, is now a $450 million media company. Portnoy…
Detroit hospitals are playing ‘Don’t Stop Believin” for coronavirus patients – it’s the anthem we need right now
I mostly avoid Facebook. It can be a discouraging, hopeless place — especially now that it’s awash with frightening headlines about COVID-19. But the other day, mixed within my timeline to a choir of likes, someone posted a video of a Detroit hospital staff celebrating the release of COVID-19 patients to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by…
Whitmer extends stay-at-home order into May but allows some businesses to reopen
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday extended her stay-at-home order through May 15 but lifted restrictions to allow some nonessential businesses to reopen. Activities like golf and motor-boating, which had previously been prohibited, are now allowed under the order, which went into effect at 11 a.m. Nonessential businesses are permitted to reopen for curbside pickup or…
Northern Michigan could have high coronavirus death rate
For now, southeast Michigan has been the region of the state hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with the vast majority of the cases in metro Detroit. However, experts warn that once social distancing measures are relaxed, the virus will continue to spread beyond the current hotspots — and it could infect a majority of…
Will this costume protect me against coronavirus? I asked a scientist
If it’s done nothing else of any use to anyone, at least the coronavirus has caused people to get creative. With a worldwide lack of personal protective equipment leaving even medical professionals — let alone average Joes — vulnerable to catching the virus, people have been coming up with increasingly interesting ways of keeping themselves…
Best CBD Gummies: Pain & Anxiety Relief (2020)
People all around the world are reaching for their bottle of CBD to help ease common complaints like anxiety, pain, sleeping difficulties, and much more. While CBD oils remain the most popular form of CBD, the tide is gradually shifting towards CBD gummies instead. Gummies infused with CBD offer the same benefits as CBD oils,…
Coronavirus has killed nearly 3,000 Michigan residents, infected another 35,000
Nearly 3,000 people with the coronavirus have now died in Michigan, a figure that has been increasing by more than 100 a day. The state reported 164 new deaths on Thursday, bringing its total to 2,977. Michigan also recorded 1,325 new positive cases to push its total more than 35,000. Although the numbers remain high,…
Good dude and rap god Eminem sends Mom’s Spaghetti to metro Detroit health care workers
Detroit rapper Eminem sent some much-needed sustenance in the form of “Mom’s Spaghetti” to support those local Detroit health care workers battling the coronavirus on the frontlines. Earlier this week, Henry Ford Health Care System received a healthy helping of Mom’s Spaghetti from Eminem, Shady Records, and Clarkston-based Union Joints as a gesture of gratitude…
Detroit students have fundamental right to literacy, appeals court rules
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed on behalf of Detroit public schools students, which argued the district deprived the students of their right to an education while it was run by state-appointed emergency managers. The 2-1 ruling was issued Thursday. The case could head to the U.S. Supreme Court.…
Detroit students will receive computer tablets as part of $23 million program to heal digital disparity
In mid-March Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all Michigan schools to remain closed through the academic school year in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus, forcing Detroit Public School Community District students to continue their classes from home — many without access to onsite resources, including technology. In an effort to tackle…
EXCLUSIVE: Audio shows Governor Rick Snyder’s ‘fixer’ lied about warnings Snyder and his administration received on ‘toxic’ Flint water, attempted to pay off sick Flint couple, and the mystery of the stolen Flint pipe
Two days away from what Attorney General Dana Nessel’s criminal prosecutors told Flint residents was the Michigan statute of limitations for new charges to be filed in relation to the Flint water crisis, Metro Times has obtained shocking audio from a February 2017 meeting between Governor Rick Snyder’s right-hand man and top adviser, Rich Baird,…
76% of Michigan restaurant workers are out of work due to the coronavirus, according to report
The coronavirus and the economic shut-down to stop its spread have had a massive impact on Michigan’s restaurant and bar employees, according to a new report. The report, from the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA), found that an estimated 76% of Michigan’s bar and restaurant employees, or more than 249,000 people, are out of…
The Gathering of the Juggalos has officially been postponed due to coronavirus
Now would be the time to let out a guttural and sorrowful “Whoop Whoop!” as this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos has officially been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Down with the clown, indeed. The annual Psychopathic Records-hosted event, dubbed “the biggest family reunion on the planet,” was slated to take place Aug. 5-8…
Biden’s lead over Trump in Michigan continues to grow, poll shows
Former Vice President Joe Biden has a significant lead over President Trump in Michigan, a new Fox News poll shows. The survey shows the presumptive Democratic nominee leading the president 49% to 41% in a state that Trump narrowly won in 2016. A Quinnipiac Survey in February showed Trump trailing Biden by 5 percentage points.…
Whitmer expects ‘short-term extension’ on stay-at-home order as coronavirus death toll reaches 2,813
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday to expect a “short-term extension” of her stay-at-home order as the state continues to report more than 100 new coronavirus deaths a day. “We’re starting to see the curve flattening,” Whitmer said at a news conference Wednesday. “We’re saving lives.” Whitmer said the social-distancing measures won’t go away anytime soon,…
Best CBD Oil: Top 3 Companies Reviewed (2020)
CBD oils are a popular supplement for its role in reducing pain, fighting inflammation, promoting healthy sleep, and much more. However, not all CBD oils offer these benefits. If you want to get all the amazing benefits of CBD, you need to order from a reputable brand offering reliable high-quality CBD extracts with plenty of…
Bandcamp will waive its revenue share, help Detroit bands impacted by COVID-19
It’s no secret that the shutdown of live music in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic decimated independent venues and the artists who play their stages. The carnage continues this week as those venues and artists mark a month of being out of the spotlight. And while buying music and merch like T-shirts, koozies, and…
Trump is wrong, Michigan faces severe shortage of coronavirus test kits
For Michigan to safely reopen the economy, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the state needs to “double or triple” the number of coronavirus tests it conducts every day. The state averaged 4,500 daily diagnostic tests a day over the past month. The Harvard Global Health Institute estimates that states need a daily minimum of 152 tests…
Study ranks Michigan among the top states for coronavirus response — despite being a hotspot
Though the coronavirus has claimed more lives in Michigan than neighbors Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois combined, one study ranks the state among the top in terms of speedy government reaction times to the COVID-19 crisis. The data analysis site Finder.com took a look at when states reported their first coronavirus case versus when state…
Gov. Whitmer cancels contract with firm for coronavirus contact tracing project connected to her re-election campaign
One way to stop the coronavirus is contact tracing, or tracking the spread of the virus by identifying infected people and finding who they have been in contact with. Asian countries have had some success managing the virus using smartphone-enabled contact tracing. In the U.S., states are rolling out contact tracing programs. But Michigan’s hit…
Brenda Jones violated campaign finance laws with donations tied to city contractor, according to report
Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones violated campaign finance laws that are designed to prevent pay-to-play politics, according to a new report. While running for re-election to city council in 2017, Jones accepted nearly $10,000 in campaign contributions from top officials at First Independent Bank, which has a contract to operate a loan program for…
‘Operation Gridlock’ organizers chide protesters for getting out of their cars, say there will be no more rallies
The organizers of “Operation Gridlock,” last week’s protest of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home coronavirus prevention efforts, have distanced themselves from those who got out of their cars and disobeyed social distancing guidelines. “We want to thank all of you who participated in Operation Gridlock and followed the rules of STAYING IN YOUR CAR,” the Michigan…
The legacy of the Detroit Poets
The short story, best as I can tell, is this: On April 12, 1974, Leni Sinclair photographed an amazing lineup of Cass Corridor poets wearing Detroit Poets baseball jerseys that poet Donna Brook had made for a reading. In the photo, three rows of poets and poets’ people smile and laugh, some looking at the…
The president who botched the pandemic is only interested in shifting blame
In 1933, at the height of the Great Depression — a year after the U.S. economy contracted by 10 percent and just before FDR’s New Deal took effect — American unemployment hit an almost unimaginable 24.9 percent, a record that stands 87 years later. It’s time to imagine it again. In the week that ended…
Horoscopes (April 22-28)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20: You can’t rush things. As much as it would feel better to get your show on the road, it will take time. It would be good if you could trust the fact that whatever you’re involved in has a life of its own, and none of this is beholden…
Savage Love: Big moves
I was raised in a religious home and didn’t lose my virginity until the embarrassing age of 26. I was told by the church to save it for marriage, and I was a virgin until I met the woman who would become my wife at a party. I said to hell with it — we…
