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.
Michigan families would have had access to $1,000 scholarships for outside-of-school tutoring to help elementary reading skills. School leaders questioned whether the scholarships would help students most in need, or those with the resources to find tutors.
State officials on Tuesday approved petition signatures to repeal a 1945 emergency powers law, and the GOP-led Legislature could begin voting this week to adopt the measure from Unlock Michigan.
This year’s state budget likely will look different because of the infusion of federal COVID relief funds, but budget negotiations are still a struggle.
The review, revealed Wednesday, follows months of scrutiny by GOP legislators, who have questioned whether seniors were put in harm’s way under an early pandemic policy from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that created regional “hubs” for infected patients.
Since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a $5 million lottery pool for those getting the COVID-19 vaccine, she’s touted that 1 million have signed up for the lottery — but the state cannot say if it’s luring more people to the shots. Several local health officials say it hasn’t.
In his first “political speech” since retiring as Detroit police chief, James Craig described himself as an anti-abortion and pro-gun conservative who twice voted for former President Donald Trump.
Prizes like a college scholarship and $2 million jackpot will be awarded by Aug. 4 to anyone vaccinated, as long as they register for the chance to win. It’s an attempt to spur more vaccinations, which have slowed since spring.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer partners with Meijer, other agencies to follow the lead of Ohio, California, Illinois, Maryland and several other states that offer cash lotteries and scholarships to those that get vaccinated.
The Legislature misses a self-imposed deadline to adopt a budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Gov. Whitmer says that puts $10 million in flood aid in limbo.
Working late Thursday, the Michigan House advances a $70B funding plan for schools and state government. But a self-imposed deadline is looming for the Senate.
The federal agency announced plans to thoroughly review the project’s potential environmental impacts on the Straits of Mackinac. The process also requires the agency to consider alternatives to the tunnel project.
Needy families, local governments and more benefit from a truce in a months-long standoff in Lansing over federal aid. Another $4.4 billion for schools is stalled.
Employers outside of health care settings now can choose whether to keep mask requirements, social distancing measures and plastic barriers to protect workers.
Business groups say the enhanced benefits make it harder to find employees. Democrats disagree, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is not expected to sign the legislation.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says restaurants and venues can return to 100 percent capacity on Tuesday. Businesses say restrictions should have been lifted weeks ago.
The nation’s top mental health and medical associations oppose the practice, saying it is associated with depression, and puts youth at risk of suicide. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order cuts off government funding but the legislature would have to pass a law to ban the practice.
