Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination effort is expanding. Beginning Monday, those age 65 and older will be able to get their shots. So will some younger essential workers, including school staff, first responders, and jail and prison staffers. In a news conference yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that vaccine supplies are still …
Read More »Whitmer Acknowledges Veto Killed Unemployment Extension
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is admitting that her veto of a $220 million allocation for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund will limit unemployment insurance in Michigan to 20 weeks, and not the 26 weeks she wanted. Republicans in the state legislature were able to tie the financial allocation to the …
Read More »Federal Court Denies Another Legal Challenge to Michigan’s Vote
Yet another legal attempt to throw out Michigan’s November election results has been thrown out of court. Yesterday, US District Judge James Boasberg denied a request for a preliminary injunction in the case of Wisconsin Voters Alliance et.al. v Vice President Michael R Pence et.al. A group of Michigan voters …
Read More »Whitmer Signs Judicial Reform Bills
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a number of updates to Michigan’s judicial process. Among the changes…• Driver’s licenses will be suspended only for instances of unsafe driving. Suspensions based on situations such as unpaid tickets, failure to appear in court, or drug convictions will be ended. Proponents say …
Read More »Prison Health Care Workers Begin COVID Vaccines
The health unit manager at the Kinross Correctional Facility in Sault Ste. Marie became the first Michigan Department of Corrections employee to receive the COVID-19 vaccine yesterday. Cindi Jenkins received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at War Memorial Hospital. Kinross was the site of a major COVID-19 outbreak in November. 80 percent …
Read More »Whitmer Inks Student-Athlete Income Bill; Sinks MDHHS Order Limit
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signing pen was busy again yesterday. After approving more than 80 bills on Tuesday, the governor signed another batch into law yesterday. Notably, she approved legislation that allows college student athletes to use their own names, images, likenesses, and reputations for financial compensation. A student cannot enter …
Read More »State to Host “First Day Hikes”
Michiganders are being encouraged to stretch our legs tomorrow and Saturday. The First Day Hikes events typically sponsored at selected state parks are being done virtually this year. You can map out a route at any Michigan State Park or any non-motorized trail, and hike, ski, snowshoe or ride a …
Read More »Whitmer Signs COVID Relief, Unemployment Extension, 80+ Other Bills
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a $106 million COVID-19 relief bill. The measure will provide grants of up to $20,000 to small businesses across the state that need support this winter, and grants of up to $40,000 each for live music and entertainment venues. It also includes $45 million for …
Read More »State Mourns Christmas COVID Victims
Even though COVID-19 numbers have been moderating in Michigan, the pandemic did not take the holiday off. State figures report that 254 Michiganders died Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Saturday. 7,341 new cases were confirmed across the state. Since the pandemic began early this year, Michigan has 477,269 cases, with …
Read More »Nessel, Trump in Twitter Feud
A war of words has heated up between President Donald Trump and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The president began firing Twitter bombs early Sunday morning, reacting to Nessel’s threat to seek sanctions against attorneys that she believes used intentional misrepresentations in their attempts to overturn Michigan’s November election result. …
Read More »