VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN

Michigan passes 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has recorded more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. That figure comes from the state health department. The state crossed that threshold by reporting 6,000 new cases over the last two days. There have been more than 20,000 deaths in Michigan linked to COVID-19. Nearly 58% of eligible Michigan residents are fully vaccinated. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan told The Detroit News that he believes a “major wave” of cases is coming to Michigan this fall. When coupled with staff shortages in hospitals, Duggan predicts that Michigan is “going to have a major problem.”

MICHIGAN BUDGET

Lawmakers OK $55B budget bills; $7.5B in virus relief left

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers who have finished passing the state budget will next turn to allocating an unprecedented amount of federal COVID-19 rescue funding — money that largely is flexible and can be spent however the state decides. For months, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been proposing ways to allot $6.5 billion in discretionary funds approved by Congress and President Joe Biden. About $5.7 billion remains after budget negotiations and the enactment of two spending bills in July. In recent talks, legislators also left unspent $1.8 billion in nondiscretionary federal coronavirus aid and $3 billion in state revenues.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-RESTAURANT

Diner reopens months after owner was jailed over virus rules

HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — The doors at a western Michigan restaurant were open before sunrise as the owner welcomed diners for the first time since she spent four nights in jail for ignoring orders related to COVID-19. Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria in Holland had been closed since March. But Marlena Pavlos-Hackney now has recovered her food license. Kris Simmons was one of the first customers Tuesday. He says Pavlos-Hackney is a “hero.” Pavlos-Hackney last winter allowed indoor dining, despite state prohibitions, and ignored other rules aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19. She said her customers’ health was up to them. Now Pavlos-Hackney says it “feels so good” to see customers.

MICHIGAN WEATHER

Long-duration storm drops 1-4 inches of rain on Detroit area

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (AP) — No major flooding problems were reported in the Detroit area following a nearly daylong steady rain that was the latest batch of wet weather to roll through parts of Michigan and other Midwestern states. National Weather Service meteorologist Trent Frey says that by Wednesday morning between an inch and 4 inches of rain had fallen with another 1 to 1 1/2 inches expected later in the day. The long duration of the storm, however, allowed rainfall runoff to enter storm drains, rivers and streams more slowly starting Tuesday afternoon, which helped the area avoid levels of flooding that submerged thousands of basements, dozens of streets and even freeways this summer.

HOSPITAL-NURSES

Henry Ford Health looking overseas for nurses

DETROIT (AP) — A major Michigan heath care provider says it is looking overseas for hundreds of nurses. Henry Ford Health System is working on a plan to bring nurses to southeastern Michigan, especially from The Philippines. Chief executive Wright Lassiter III talked about hospital labor challenges at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island. Henry Ford Health last week said it had dropped 120 beds from five hospitals due to staffing shortages. Beaumont Health said it was idling 5% of its beds. Lassiter says some hospital workers are simply worn out after more than a year of COVID-19 patients.

GUN THREAT-STUDENT ARRESTED

Student, 15, found with gun after threat to security officer

TAYLOR, Mich. (AP) — A 15-year-old Detroit-area high school student who had a gun has been arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot a school security officer. Taylor police say officers found the loaded gun in the teen’s fanny pack Wednesday morning at Taylor High School. The gun’s serial number had been filed off. The teen was expected to be held at Wayne County’s juvenile detention center. Police say no students or other staff members at the school were threatened. Taylor is southwest of Detroit.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TEACHER SHORTAGES

COVID-19 creates dire US shortage of teachers, school staff

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Schools have welcomed students back to classrooms but face a new challenge: a shortage of teachers and staff the likes of which some districts say they have never seen. Public schools have struggled for years with teacher shortages, but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem. One school official in California calls it “the most acute shortage of labor" he has ever seen. Similar scenarios are playing out across the country as schools cope with a spike in retirements and a need to hire more teachers, counselors, tutors and aides to help children recover make up for learning losses.

BOY KILLED-FATHER CHARGED

Detroit man charged in connection with son's fatal shooting

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit man has been charged in connection with the January death of his 5-year-old son, who was fatally shot by another child who found a gun inside his home. Twenty-seven-year-old Colby Vaughn Hardy faces one count each of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree child abuse and a felony firearm violation. Prosecutors say Hardy’s 18-month-old nephew found an unsecured handgun on Jan. 20 and fired it, striking Hardy’s son in the face. The 5-year-old boy was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say that at the time of the shooting, Hardy was at home along with the boys’ grandmother and a 1-year-old girl. He was arrested the same day.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-THREATS

Health officer 'broken' after threats tied to mask order

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The public health officer in the Grand Rapids area says he’s a victim of “brute mob hatred” after ordering masks in schools in Kent County to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Adam London told county commissioners that a woman tried to run his vehicle off the road in August immediately after the mask order. He's no longer making public appearances because of concerns about violence. Angry residents have expressed their disgust over the mask order at public meetings. County commissioners can’t overrule London. London says there's a “sickness in America far more insidious” than COVID-19.

MICHIGAN WEATHER

Flood-weary SE Michigan braces for another big storm

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. (AP) — Residents in southeastern Michigan are still upset over a summer series of storm-related floods. Now they're being warned to prepare for as much as 6 inches of rain by Thursday. The National Weather Service has posted a flood watch for much of the region. Rain fell sporadically Tuesday but was expected to become steady Wednesday and stretch into Thursday morning. The Great Lakes Water Authority has a blunt message: Get your valuables out of the basement. Basement drains in parts of Detroit and the first ring of suburbs backed up with water and sewage in late June. Some GLWA pumping stations couldn’t handle an extraordinary storm. The mess was repeated a few weeks later.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021