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.

AP-US-EVICTION-MORATORIUM

With evictions resuming, tenants scramble for assistance

BOSTON (AP) — Landlords and tenants are rushing back to court and advocates are bracing for a wave of evictions following the end of the federal moratorium over the weekend. Most advocates expect evictions to build slowly over the coming weeks and months as the bureaucracy of removing people from their homes restarts Monday. The Biden administration announced Thursday it would allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium to expire. It argued that its hands were tied after the Supreme Court signaled the measure needed to come to an end. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for the moratorium to be extended.

TRUCKER-MARIJUANA

Canadian trucker freed, says he's victim of marijuana scam

DETROIT (AP) — Federal prosecutors have dropped charges, at least for now, against a Canadian trucker who was arrested at the U.S. border early last month with more than a ton of marijuana in his rig. Tasbir Singh's lawyer, Ellen Michaels, made the case to prosecutors that Singh was an unwitting victim of the drug smuggling scheme. The 32-year-old Windsor, Ontario, man was detained on July 7 after border agents in Detroit found more than 2,200 pounds of marijuana in his truck. The U.S. attorney's office filed a request with the court on July 22 to have the criminal complaint against Singh dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could refile the charges at a later date.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BONUSES

Official in Michigan county gives up post in COVID aid flap

CORUNNA, Mich. (AP) — An official has resigned as chairman of a county board in Michigan in the latest fallout from his decision to give himself a $25,000 bonus with federal COVID-19 relief money and reward others in the community. Jeremy Root will remain one of seven Shiawassee County commissioners but will no longer lead the board. More than 200 people turned out for a rare Sunday meeting. Root did not attend the meeting, but his resignation letter was read to the public. Republican county commissioners in July voted to give themselves $65,000 in COVID-19 “hazard pay." They changed course after the controversy broke.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-POLICE CANDIDATES

Police officers become candidates as policing debate rages

LAS VEGAS (AP) — About a half-dozen police chiefs and high-ranking law enforcement officers are running for higher office more than a year after George Floyd’s murder prompted debate over police reform and whether to slash law enforcement funding. The candidates are white, Black and Latino and a mixture of Republicans and Democrats. Their political views mostly tack toward the center but sometimes defy traditional party lines. As violence rises in cities nationwide, the outcome of these elections could send a strong signal about evolving attitudes on policing and crime in America.

GIRL DROWNS-LAKE HURON

Michigan girl, 8, drowns in Lake Huron, 2nd child rescued

EAST TAWAS, Mich. (AP) — Officials say an 8-year-old Saginaw girl drowned in Lake Huron over the weekend after she began struggling while swimming with relatives near Tawas Point State Park. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the girl was at the park Saturday with her family and they were swimming with a group when witnesses saw her and a second girl in distress in the water. Witnesses were able to get one of the girls back to the shore, but the second one went under the water's surface and never resurfaced. The Detroit Free Press reports that the deceased girl was located about 90 minutes later by a dive team around 50 yards offshore.

DETROIT CANAL DEATH

Authorities: Teenager died while swimming in a Detroit canal

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities say a 15-year-old boy has died while swimming in a Detroit canal. Detroit police say officers were called Saturday evening and the department's dive team, the Detroit Fire Department and Coast Guard aided in the search for the boy. The teen's body was recovered and he was pronounced dead due to accidental drowning. Witnesses told police the teen was visiting people he knew and was helping with yard work when he asked if could go for a swim. Detroit police spokesman Rudy Harper says the boy went swimming but did not resurface.

DETROIT GREENWAY-DENNIS ARCHER

Detroit greenway named in honor of former Mayor Archer

DETROIT (AP) — A 1.2-mile recreational biking and walking path connecting some eastside Detroit neighborhoods to the city’s riverfront has been named in honor of former Mayor Dennis Archer. The city says work on the Mayor Dennis W. Archer Greenway is expected to be completed later this year. It will connect the popular Detroit Riverwalk north to Vernor Highway. Parts of the $4.9 million greenway opened last year to the public. Construction began in October on the final phase. Federal grants and road bonds are paying for the work. An attorney, Archer served as Detroit mayor from 1994 to 2001 and was on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1986 to 1990.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021