Monthly Archives: March 2020

(March 18, 2020 10:04 PM) Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-16 to expand the capacity for child care services for health care workers, first responders, and other members of the essential workforce providing critical infrastructure to Michiganders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The order provides temporary and limited relief from certain regulatory restrictions regarding child care services and facilitates the use of certain property for child care services.  Executive Order 2020-16, effective immediately, authorizes the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to issue expedited provisional licenses to expand capacity for child care services. It also allows employers, like hospitals, to operate a disaster relief child care center for their employees. Finally, it allows both public and nonpublic school facilities to be utilized for the purposes of maintaining a disaster relief child care center focused on providing services for members of the essential workforce.      “Our health care workers and everyone who’s providing emergency medical services are doing incredible work to help us fight COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “That’s why I’m taking action to expand capacity for child care services for these critical frontline workers. By expanding our ability to care for our children, we are allowing them to continue working…

(March 18, 2020 7:55 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-14, extending the deadline for Michigan residents to pay back taxes and avoid foreclosure on their property during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Executive Order 2020-14, which takes effect immediately, will move the tax foreclosure deadline from March 31, 2020, to May 29, 2020, or 30 days after the state of emergency declared in Executive Order 2020-4 is terminated, whichever comes first.  “This executive order will give families struggling to make ends meet real and immediate relief from the pressure of having their home foreclosed on while trying to focus on the health and safety of their loved ones,” Governor Whitmer said. “This order is the latest in a series of steps to protect the public, slow the spread of COVID-19 and give families comfort during these uncertain times.”  “We want all Michiganders to focus on staying healthy and making smart choices to help avoid the spread of COVID-19,” said Jeff Donofrio, director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “The last thing families and seniors should have to worry about during this global health pandemic is losing their home, which is why this commonsense executive order will give homeowners…

(March 18, 2020 6:44 PM) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today the call up of the Michigan Army National Guard to assist the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with assembling and loading critical personal protective gear, such as gloves, gowns, and face shields. Once packaged, MDHHS will deliver the supplies to various local public health departments. “The Michigan National Guard has been involved with the COVID-19 response from a planning and coordination standpoint since the SEOC was stood up,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The men and women of the Michigan National Guard are part of the fabric of our communities and I am confident they are ready to support state and local agencies as this response continues.” “The members of the Michigan National Guard are experienced and proven professionals,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general.  “Our units frequently train and respond side-by-side with state and local emergency responders, making them well suited for domestic operations.  The National Guard has unique capabilities, providing local first responders with additional resources to combat COVID-19.” Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

(March 18, 2020 6:29 PM) Some Amtrak Midwest modifications due to reduced travel demand, are effective Thursday, March 19, in partnership with the Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri state transportation departments: Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha corridor service reduced to four daily roundtrips. Friday evening Hiawatha Train 343 also temporarily suspended.  Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac Wolverine corridor service reduced to two daily roundtrips. (This is the line serving Jackson)   The two departures for Chicago are now at 7:56 AM and 11:58 AM. Chicago-Holland-Grand Rapids Pere Marquette daily roundtrips suspended. Amtrak Thruway Bus connections to and from Grand Rapids are available daily via Kalamazoo. No changes to Chicago-East Lansing-Port Huron Blue Water roundtrips or Kansas City-Jefferson City-St. Louis Missouri River Runner corridor services. Some Amtrak Thruway Bus routes will have service modifications. National messaging regarding COVID-19, including refund information, is posted at Amtrak.com/Corornavirus and in the Amtrak Media Center at media.Amtrak.com. Anyone planning to travel should check their train status on Amtrak.com or our smartphone apps prior to departing, allow extra time to get to the station and be extremely careful in stations and on platforms. To be notified of service disruptions, follow @AmtrakAlerts on Twitter. Subscribe to automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are…

(March 18, 2020 5:30 PM) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel took her first action today against an individual in Hillsdale selling high-priced products online through eBay as her department amps up efforts to pursue price-gougers.  Meanwhile, the number of price-gouging complaints related to coronavirus submitted to the Michigan Department of Attorney General continues to grow. Yesterday, the Attorney General sent a cease and desist letter to Menards after the Attorney General’s office received 18 complaints from consumers about face masks, bleach and other products being sold at high prices. Nessel’s office had received 572 price-gouging complaints as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team has been gathering the complaints online and through its phonelines at 877-765-8388. Nessel says she personally staffed the hotline Tuesday night along with other intake workers. The phonelines are usually open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours were extended earlier this week to keep up with demand and will be extended again from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The number of price-gouging complaints received since Friday afternoon (75) has increased by 662 percent. “Our primary focus is consumer protection and ensuring that Michiganders have access to the goods they…