State News

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

One of President Donald Trump’s latest rounds of pardons included a former Michigan U.S. Representative. Mark Siljander served three full terms and one partial term in the House, representing southwest Michigan. He lost his seat when he was upset by current Congressman Fred Upton in the 1986 Republican primary. The …

Pure Michigan is back. After a hiatus caused by budget cuts, a $1.2 million campaign to promote winter tourism was launched yesterday across the upper Midwest. The video ad features the tagline “Still Pure Michigan.” Target markets include Minneapolis and Green Bay, along with Fort Wayne, Toledo, Detroit, Flint, Grand …

Some COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed in Michigan beginning Monday, but the ban on inside restaurant service will continue. This afternoon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that progress in bringing infection rates down across the state warrants the resumption of some activities – but only those in which masks can be …

 A recount of presidential votes in Antrim County has resulted in no appreciable difference in the result. Antrim County has been in the national spotlight after a clerical mistake on election night caused an erroneous vote total to be reported. The error was quickly corrected, but conspiracy theorists latched on …