Monthly Archives: May 2020

(May 14, 2020 6:09 AM) The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 8:15 PM Wednesday, May 13, there are 2,189 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at facilities throughout the state.  Of that statewide total, 996 of the confirmed positive cases are at Jackson facilities. The Department says expanded testing took place at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility the week of April 26. The facility has a designated quarantine unit and positive prisoners are being transferred to the unit. Of 1852 prisoners tested at Cotton, 688 are COVID-19 confirmed positive.  37% of those tested are positive. There have been a total of 55 deaths of prisoners who had tested positive for COVID-19, 18 of those deaths were among prisoners at Jackson facilities.  The most recent deaths, reported on May 11 were of four prisoners who had originally been housed at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, Lakeland Correctional Facility, Thumb Correctional Facility and Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility In Jackson, there are 179 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Parnall Correctional Facility, 90 at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 39 at Duane Waters Health Center and 688 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility. Among staff, there are a…

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Stamas, R-Midland, addresses the Senate today.  Photo:  Senate Majority Communications Office. (May 13, 2020 6:33 PM) The Michigan Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Stamas’ legislation to use $524 million in available federal funding to help Michigan families, workers and schools affected by the COVID-19 health crisis. “The coronavirus has tremendously impacted our state and our people while also putting a huge strain on our economy and critical workers,” said Stamas, R-Midland. “Although the state budget will face severe impacts caused by declining revenue and the governor’s response, we can put available federal relief dollars to work to better support our front-line workers, first responders, teachers and families — while also conserving our limited state resources.” Senate Bill 690 would provide $100 million in bonus pay for local first responders; $50 million for additional testing supplies and personal protective equipment for workers at nursing, home health and daycare facilities; $125 million to reduce child care costs for essential workers; $12 million in grants for testing, equipment and supplies at food processors; and $178 million to temporarily increase pay by $3 per hour for direct care workers — including those caring for…

(May 13, 2020 5:55 PM) Echoing a focus on safety that led it to bar public traffic from the bridge during the Annual Bridge Walk beginning in 2017, the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) today suspended this year's event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The unanimous board decision came at a special meeting this afternoon, conducted online due to the pandemic. The meeting was available for public viewing and commenting through YouTube and Livestream. Acknowledging the event's benefit to Straits community economies, board Chairman Patrick "Shorty" Gleason made it clear that the suspension is for the 2020 event only and said he currently expects the walk would resume in 2021. "We recognize that September is months away but the event requires months of planning and early expenditures," Gleason said. "Like organizers who have postponed festivals and other summer events, we needed to make a decision now." Based on science and the forecasts from top medical officials, board members observed that it is likely the pandemic will be a health and safety concern, particularly for events that attract large crowds, for the foreseeable future. "We can't in good conscience continue with an event we know draws people from across our state…

(May 13, 2020 3:47 PM)  Michigan reported 370 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 48,391. The State of Michigan is reporting 40 COVID-19-related deaths today, bringing the state total to 4,714. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 5/8/2020): 22,686. This information is updated daily at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Jurisdiction updated 5/13/2020 County Confirmed Cases Reported Deaths Alcona 4 1 Allegan 165 2 Alpena 88 8 Antrim 10   Arenac 28 1 Baraga 1   Barry 54 1 Bay 214 10 Benzie 4   Berrien 425 26 Branch 84 2 Calhoun 280 17 Cass 44 2 Charlevoix 13 1 Cheboygan 19 1 Chippewa 2   Clare 12 2 Clinton 127 10 Crawford 57 4 Delta 14 2 Detroit City 9973 1218 Dickinson 5 2 Eaton 155 6 Emmet 21 2 Genesee 1784 227 Gladwin 18 1 Gogebic 4 1 Grand Traverse 21 5 Gratiot 34 4 Hillsdale 152 22 Houghton 2   Huron 36 1 Ingham 605 18 Ionia 111 3 Iosco 55 8 Isabella 61 7 Jackson 405 26 Kalamazoo 643 36 Kalkaska 17 2 Kent 2446 47 Lake 2  …