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Michigan posts highest COVID-19 caseload since mid-May
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 15, 2020
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Wednesday that 71,197 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,085 have died from the virus — an additional 891 cases and four deaths since Tuesday. Wednesday’s daily case increase is the highest reported since mid-May. The surge follows a weeks-long trend of increased daily […]
A panel keeps delaying action to ban guns in Michigan’s Capitol. But supporters remain optimistic.
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 14, 2020
A panel in the midst of deciding whether to prohibit firearms from the Michigan Capitol delayed yet another meeting Monday — its second rescheduled meeting in less than a month — prompting concerns that it is dragging its feet on taking action. But one member of the Michigan State Capitol Commission (MSCC), who has been […]
Report criticizes prisons nationwide over COVID-19, Michigan DOC touts testing, PPE
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 13, 2020
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative has graded Michigan’s response to the state’s COVID-19 outbreak as a “D-,” although all other states besides Tennessee are ranked even lower than Michigan. The Michigan Department of Corrections (DOC) is pushing back hard against the report. A spokesperson says a good score would be virtually impossible […]
Nearly 70K Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 13, 2020
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Monday that 69,722 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,075 have died from the virus — an additional 384 cases and seven deaths since Sunday. DHHS also notes that an additional 7,476 Michiganders have been identified as “probable” cases for COVID-19, as well as […]
Nearly 450 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Michigan
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 9, 2020
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Thursday that 67,683 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,024 have died from the virus — an additional 446 cases and nine deaths since Wednesday. Thursday’s numbers continue a weeks-long trend of increased daily cases in the state, after a period of decline had […]
Tests show west leg of Line 5 pipeline isn’t damaged
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 9, 2020
Updated with comment from Oil & Water Don’t Mix, 3:49 p.m., 7/9/20 A court-ordered investigation on one of the dual Line 5 oil pipeline’s underwater segments found no indication of metal loss or deformation on an area of interest, according to court documents obtained by the Advance. Canadian oil company Enbridge had restarted the west […]
Is your water shut off? You can get it reconnected through 2020.
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 8, 2020
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took action Wednesday to extend water reconnections for Michiganders at least through the end of the year, while simultaneously urging lawmakers to hold water utilities accountable to the state. Executive Order 2020-144 extends protections that Whitmer originally put in place in late March. Those provide support for residents facing water shutoffs due […]
Which Michigan businesses got federal COVID-19 cash?
By: C.J. Moore and Laina G. Stebbins - July 7, 2020
About 121,000 Michigan businesses, nonprofit organizations and other entities received COVID-19 relief aid via Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Among the entities receiving money: colleges and universities, politician-owned firms and manufacturers, churches and parishes, art institutions and even an abundance of yacht clubs. […]
Anti-Line 5 activists buoyed by national pipeline victories
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 7, 2020
Indigenous activists and environmentalists scored two major victories over pipeline companies this week in quick succession. On Sunday, two major energy companies in Virginia and North Carolina announced that permitting delays, economic concerns and legal challenges have caused them to pull the plug on a $8 billion natural gas pipeline. The Atlantic Coast pipeline would […]
Michigan again at ‘high risk’ for COVID-19, reports 297 new cases
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 6, 2020
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Monday that 66,173 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 5,975 have died from the virus — an additional 297 cases and three deaths since Sunday. DHHS also notes that an additional 7,096 Michiganders have been identified as “probable” cases for COVID-19, as well as […]
Nessel, AGs push back on Trump environmental cutbacks
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 6, 2020
Along with the attorneys general of 13 other states and the District of Columbia, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition urging President Donald Trump to rescind an order that accelerates infrastructure projects without full environmental scrutiny. The executive order allows federal agencies to adopt emergency regulations that hasten the environmental review process […]
Judge opens part of Line 5, orders investigation
By: Laina G. Stebbins - July 1, 2020
One underwater segment of the controversial Line 5 pipeline will remain shut down Wednesday as another is allowed to restart, on orders from a circuit court judge that Canadian oil company Enbridge must conduct an investigation on that line and share its findings with the state. “Today’s Court decision allows the State to receive the […]