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371 Michigan schools report COVID outbreaks
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Monday that a total of 1,039,337 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 21,139 have died from the virus — an additional 8,704 cases and 62 deaths since Friday. The new numbers combine Saturday’s, Sunday’s and Monday’s recorded cases and deaths, with an average of […]
Local health depts. ax school mask orders amid state budget confusion
A wave of local health departments across Michigan are rescinding their school mask mandates after Republicans inserted boilerplate language into the state budget that threatens to cut funding from health departments if they implement mask orders for children. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said while signing the Fiscal Year 2022 budget this week that the GOP language […]
U.P. health dept. ‘regretfully’ rescinds school mask mandate
An Upper Peninsula health department announced Friday that it “regretfully” rescinded a school mask mandate nine days after implementing the measure meant to fight the spread of COVID-19. Officials said they feared keeping the order would result in the department losing future state funding. Dickinson-Iron District Health Department (DIDHD) officials said they issued the mask […]
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun to step down as Michigan’s chief medical executive
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun will leave her post as the state’s top doctor next week after more than a year and a half of leading Michigan’s ongoing battle against COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced in a news release Friday afternoon. Khaldun, the chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at the Michigan Department of Health […]
Foster care grads needed lawmakers’ help during COVID. That didn’t come until the last minute.
Michael Davis-Thomas has big plans. The 24-year-old from Bay City wants to run for office — at first, for the state House or Senate and, ultimately, for president. But before he can fully dedicate himself to a life in politics, Davis-Thomas has to figure out how he’s going to afford the $2,000 he needs to […]
After threats to Kent Co. health director, GOP officials won’t back statement condemning violence
After Kent County Health Department director Adam London detailed threats and acts of violence against him following his schools mask mandate, Kent County Board of Commissioners members denounced the aggression — but would not unanimously agree to sign a statement saying as much during their Thursday meeting. As first reported by the Michigan Advance this […]
Michigan surpasses ‘sobering’ milestone of 1 million COVID-19 cases
On March 10, 2020, the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Michigan. Eight days later, Michigan’s first death of the pandemic was reported. And now, a year and a half later, Michigan surpassed one million COVID cases. On Wednesday afternoon, the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported there have been […]
Despite PPO, Rep. Marino is still allowed in Capitol, House Office Building
After state Rep. Steve Marino (R-Harrison Twp.) allegedly told Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) that he was making it his “life mission to destroy you” and he hoped her car exploded on her way to work, the Democratic lawmaker said she is deeply concerned for her well-being and is terrified to be in the same building […]
‘What was left behind was a broken family’
Nelly Fuentes remembers the moment her entire life changed. She remembers how cold it was that morning in February 2008. How her husband’s voice shook when he told her he had been pulled over while driving home from work. “That’s when my nightmare began,” said Fuentes, who lives in Southwest Michigan. “Anyone who’s undocumented knows […]
Poll: Nearly 2/3 of Mich. voters want more state funding for kids and families during pandemic
State lawmakers should increase public funding for children and families to address the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly two-thirds of Michiganders said in a recent statewide poll from the Skillman Foundation and Michigan’s Children. Across the state’s geographical regions and demographic groups, there was an overwhelming consensus among the 800 likely voters surveyed that […]
Kent Co. health director tells commissioners after almost being run off the road: ‘I need help’
Updated 6:06 p.m., 9/21/21, with comments from Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office After a woman attempted to run Kent County Health Department director Adam London off the road just hours after he issued a mask mandate for some schools last month, the health officer issued a […]
Parents call for statewide mask mandate, blast pols who oppose it
Updated, 6:01 p.m. 9/15/21 with a response from DHHS As COVID-19 cases rise among students and staff throughout Michigan, parents from across the state issued a message for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Wednesday: It’s time for a statewide mask mandate in schools. The Michigan Parents Alliance for Safe Schools launched a […]