VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE VACCINES

Pushback challenges vaccination requirements at US colleges

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The quickly approaching fall semester has America’s colleges under pressure to decide how far they should go to guard their campuses against the coronavirus while navigating legal and political questions and rising infection rates. Hundreds of colleges nationwide have told students in recent months they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before classes begin. California State University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University joined the list last week, citing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant. Yet many more colleges have held off on vaccine mandates. In many Republican-led states, governments have banned such requirements, or school leaders face political pressure to limit their anti-virus actions.

DETROIT CHARTER

Detroit voters consider major changes to city's charter

DETROIT (AP) — Voters in Detroit are deciding a ballot proposal that calls for the creation of some new city departments, restructuring the police and fire departments, and linking water rates and public transportation fares to income. Changes to the city charter being considered Tuesday with Proposal P have been opposed by some who say it could increase spending by the city. Detroit has to carefully monitor its finances that for several years had been under state oversight following its historic 2013 bankruptcy. Supporters have said the proposal addresses concerns raised by Detroit residents about social justice and other issues in the majority Black city. They took the measure to the courts to keep it on the city's primary election ballot.

DETROIT PRIMARY-MAYOR

Detroit mayor faces primary field in bid for 3rd term

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Duggan is seeking his third consecutive term as Detroit’s mayor, facing off in the city’s primary against a group that includes several challengers familiar to city voters. Joining Duggan on the nonpartisan ballot Tuesday were Anthony Adams, Tom Barrow, Kiawana Brown, Myya Jones, Jasahn Larsosa, Charleta McInnis, Danetta Simpson, Art Tyus and D. Etta Wilcoxon. The top two vote-getters will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot for the 4-year term. Adams, an attorney, served for a time as the city’s deputy mayor under disgraced former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Barrow, a certified public accountant, has run unsuccessfully for Detroit mayor five times.

MICHIGAN STORMS-EMERGENCY DECLARATION

Whitmer declares emergency for Detroit suburbs after storms

LANSING. Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for three suburban Detroit cities after they requested state aide for damage caused by severe thunderstorms and high winds on July 7. Whitmer issued the declaration Monday for the cities of Farmington, Farmington Hills and Southfield. With the declaration, Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts. The declaration authorizes the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what it has provided in conjunction with local agencies.

FATAL SHOOTING-BOY

Boy, 5, fatally shot by another child in northern Michigan

RAPID RIVER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 5-year-old boy who was shot at his home in northern Michigan. The Kalkaska County sheriff says the boy was shot by another child Monday at a rural home in Rapid River Township, about 30 miles east of Traverse City. Sheriff Pat Whiteford believes the shooting was accidental. Parents were elsewhere at the time. Whiteford says there were eight children at the home.

OBIT-SHIPWRECK SURVIVOR

Service held for last survivor of '58 Great Lakes shipwreck

ROGERS CITY, Mich. (AP) — A memorial Mass has been held in northern Michigan for the last remaining survivor of a Lake Michigan shipwreck that killed 33 people in 1958. Frank Mays was one of two people who survived the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley. The freighter was on its way to Rogers City, Michigan, to pick up a load before the shipping season ended. The 89-year-old Mays died on Jan. 7 in Zephyrhills, Florida, but a memorial Mass was held Monday in Rogers City, his hometown. In 2018, Mays spoke at a Detroit museum, recalling how he and Elmer Fleming survived after the Bradley split in two during a storm. They were in the water for 15 hours.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WAYNE STATE

Wayne State University will require COVID-19 vaccinations

DETROIT (AP) — Wayne State University in Detroit is joining the list of Michigan schools and others nationwide requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall. WSU President M. Roy Wilson cites the highly transmittable delta variant of COVID-19 as a contributing factor in making the mandate. Proof of vaccination must be submitted by Aug. 30. Wilson's letter says members of the campus community who knowingly come to campus unvaccinated will face unspecified consequences. Until the university can get a feel for how much of the campus is vaccinated, there will be an indoor mask mandate through at least Sept. 15.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN

More Michigan counties enter higher risk virus threat

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Nearly half of Michigan residents live in counties where the federal government is urging even the fully vaccinated to wear masks in public indoor settings because transmission of the coronavirus is “high” or “substantial.” The guidance affected 33 counties Monday, including large ones such as Oakland, Macomb and Ingham. That's up from 10 mostly small, rural counties when the recommendations were issued last week. The counties are home to over 4.5 million residents. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer doesn't plan to reinstate a mask requirement but has urged people to get vaccinated and be masked when inside and among groups.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Central Michigan orders masks at least through September

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Central Michigan University joined the ranks of schools to require people on campus to wear masks when students to return to campus this fall. In a letter to students on Monday CMU President Bob Davies said that students, faculty and staffers must wear masks in class at least through the end of September. The letter, the school’s president announced Monday. CMU is one of several universities and colleges across the state to take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 at a time when the virus is spreading rapidly in some areas. CMU stopped short of ordering that students be vaccinated.

DETROIT POLICE-PUNCH

Chief: Video 'looks bad,' shows Detroit cop slugging man

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit police chief says he has “serious concerns” after seeing video of an officer slugging a man in the popular Greektown nightlife area. A 45-second video posted on social media shows a man falling to the ground after being slugged in the face. There appeared to be commotion at the time with many officers patrolling Greektown on foot and on horses. James White, Detroit's interim police chief, says the video “looks bad.” He says the department is investigating. The incident apparently occurred over the weekend. The officer and the man are Black.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021