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Michigan’s largest insurers had waived patient cost-sharing for COVID testing and treatment as COVID tore through the state beginning last year. Now, with readily available vaccines, that financial help is about to stop.

Parents against mask mandates in schools have grabbed most of the attention in school board meetings and protests. Now, parents who favor mask mandates to protect against COVID’s spread are organizing.

Some campuses went for mandates. But others tried prizes to increase the number of vaccinated students and parents on campus as the fall semester begins.

Check out the latest on rules set by colleges across the state as they prepare to start their fall semesters while the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads, mostly among the unvaccinated.

A competition for free rent attracted 58 applicants seeking to open businesses in downtown Lansing. Now the winner is preparing to open this fall, bringing a new business model — kids cooking classes — to the business district.

As pressure increases on businesses, schools and universities and governments to take stronger action, Friday’s crowd in Lansing said vaccine mandates go too far.

Shelters emptied last year. Now one mid-Michigan shelter is near capacity. Officials say owners are having to give up their pets because they can’t afford them.

Wildfires consuming the west coast and Canada are troublesome and destructive, but they are also producing stunning panoramas through the hazy skies.

The state has permission to kill up to 9,650 birds and destroy up to 1,400 nests, a move state wildlife managers hope will reduce pressure on fish populations valued by anglers. Opponents say the birds are scapegoated for a fish collapse they didn’t cause.

One of the state’s signature crops is facing its second year of decline. Growers weighed whether the work of the small harvest would be worth it and experts are wondering what it means for the industry.

The state is considering closing beaches and issuing fines, noting that some swimmers are ignoring danger conditions. But surfers and other sports enthusiasts live for rough waves, and want the state to more narrowly tailor any order.

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces four $50,000 winners, health officials say they’re not seeing a rush for shots. Michigan’s vaccination rate is up less than 1 percentage point.

Red flag alerts and other safety measures aren’t enough to keep people out of the water, state officials say, so they want to amp up the rules. They’re looking at drowning totals and the danger to rescuers, and say ticketing violators may help.

It’s unclear how many families in the state will receive up to $300 per child every month through year-end. Officials hope it makes a dent in child poverty rates.