Monthly Archives: April 2020

(April 23, 2020 7:04 PM) The U.S. House tonight passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to replenish emergency relief funds for workers, small businesses, and health care providers. The bipartisan legislation includes $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, $75 billion for hospitals, $60 billion for Economic Injury Disaster loans and grants, and $25 billion to expand COVID-19 testing. It now heads to President Trump’s desk to become law. Congressman Tim Walberg issued the following statement after passage: “In just a few weeks, the Paycheck Protection Program has provided significant assistance to thousands of small businesses in Michigan who are struggling,” said Walberg. “It is disappointing that funding lapsed in the first place, but it is critical we renew this program to help more workers keep their jobs and paychecks. President Trump has indicated he will to sign this legislation immediately, and in doing so, quickly re-open the application process for small businesses in our area.” The Paycheck Protection Program was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide small businesses with forgivable loans to cover payroll and certain other expenses. As of April 16th, 43,438 Michigan small businesses have been…

(April 23, 2020 5:51 PM) The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will be applying for nearly $390 million from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the department announced today.  The application and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) for the ESSER funding was released earlier today to states. The $13.2 billion ESSER Fund provides emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the United States.    “These funds will be very helpful for local school districts to help meet the needs of students and staff during the pandemic, and we appreciate them as such,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice.  Dr. Rice has been working with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the digital divide that exists across school districts in Michigan. These funds will help further narrow the divide between districts that have the requisite technology in the homes of students and staff and those that don’t.  “Though appreciated in many ways, these funds are limited relative to the needs of school districts pre-pandemic, let alone their needs post-pandemic and their…

Updated to include today's HFAH report. (UPDATED April 23, 2020 4:21 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12 PM today, there are 295 positive cases (cumulative), and 14 deaths (cumulative)*. The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 5:30 PM Wednesday, April 22, there are 299 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Jackson prison facilities. UPDATE:  As of 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, there are 38 individuals with positive COVID-19 results who are inpatients at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. An additional four persons under investigation are hospitalized at HFAH. To date, a total of 71 positive COVID-19 HFAH inpatients have been treated and discharged. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan Department of Corrections.  Their numbers are listed under a separate category “Others” for the Michigan Statistics. Gender Number Percent Male 134 45% Female 161 55% Beginning April 2, 2020, the Age group will only be reported as a percentage of the total instead of the actual number.  Age - Years Percent 0 -19 3% 20 - 29 14% 30 - 39 12% 40 - 49 21% 50 - 59 18% 60 - 69 19% 70 -79…

(April 23, 2020  3:50 PM) The Michigan Shakespeare Festival has canceled its 2020 season.  Janice L Blixt, Producing Artistic Director, said a wide variety of factors went into this decision. “For one, our artist housing at Jackson College is, rightly, currently occupied by the medical staff and first responders for the hospital. We have never been more proud of our partnership with the college than we are now.” said Blixt.  The Festival had been scheduled for mid July through early August at Potter Center, Jackson College and the Village Theatre in Canton.  This would have been the 26th season of the Festival. According to Blixt, the main factor is the health and safety of artists and their audiences.   In a message to supporters, Blixt said, “Part of the joy of theatre is that it is a community experience, a shared breath, four hundred hearts thrilling, four hundred voices laughing. But this moment, as happened during Shakespeare’s day, that very community experience is an invitation to this virus. To offer shows now would be irresponsible, and we would never put you at risk.”   Those who have already purchased tickets for the upcoming season are being given the option of…