Author's Posts
State approves food stamps use at restaurants for those eligible
December 22nd, 20200 LANSING — As a $900 billion federal pandemic relief package now awaits likely approval from President Trump, Governor Whitmer’s administration passed measures to soften the blow of COVID’s economic impact on Michiganders. The measures are similar to those passed during the first peak of cases in the state. This includes a...
Public health advisor talks vaccine myths and fact
December 19th, 20200 DEARBORN — The state of Michigan began immunizations against the COVID-19 virus on Monday, as quantities of the new Pfizer vaccine began reaching sites across the country this week. By Wednesday night, 1,078 vaccines had been administered to Michigan’s health care workers who are at high risk of contraction due to their routine...
Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Team visits Qatar, plays friendly match
December 18th, 20200 DOHA, QATAR — Players from the Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Team played a friendly match with members of the Qatar Women’s National Soccer team on Tuesday, Dec. 15. The Spirit’s visit was organized by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the U.S. in partnership with the Qatar Museums and the U.S. Embassy in Doha. The...
FDA advisory panel overwhelmingly endorses Moderna’s vaccine
December 17th, 20200 Another COVID-19 vaccine appears ready in the pipeline, as an outside panel of advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) overwhelmingly endorsed Moderna’s vaccine on Thursday. The committee of outside experts makes recommendations to the FDA, which it did for Pfizer’s vaccine just last week. The FDA generally goes...
Only two weeks left to apply for tuition-free college
December 15th, 20201 MICHIGAN — The application deadline for the tuition-free pandemic program "Futures for Frontliners" is fast approaching. The application deadline is Dec. 31. The program lets frontline workers apply for free college tuition towards an associate's degree or industry-recognized skills certificate at community college, even if they...
Michigan electors join nation to cement Biden’s victory
December 14th, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, Michigan joined the rest of the nation in casting its electoral votes, making official the November 3 election victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Michigan’s electors met in the Senate chamber of the Michigan Capitol Building, to cast all 16 electoral votes for Biden...
NY nurse becomes first American to receive COVID-19 vaccine
December 14th, 20200 NEW YORK - On Monday, New York’s Sandra Lindsay, an intensive care unit nurse, who has treated some of the sickest COVID-19 cases for months, became the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. “It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,” Lindsay said. “I feel hopeful today,...
First deliveries of COVID vaccine depart Michigan plant
December 13th, 20200 MICHIGAN — A few days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, trucks carrying the vaccine left the company’s plant in Portage, Michigan on Sunday. An estimated 2.9 million vaccines are expected to be delivered this week, with priority given to health care workers...
Trump, supporters appeal to Supreme Court, as time runs out on efforts to overturn election
December 11th, 20200 LANSING — Attorneys general from four states, including Michigan, responded on Thursday to a case brought to the U.S. Supreme Court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his colleagues from 17 other states to overturn the results of the Nov. 3 election. President Trump, who lost the election to Joe Biden, has asked to intervene...
Supreme Court says American Muslims on No-Fly List for refusing to spy can sue FBI
December 10th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that American Muslims who were placed or kept on the No-Fly List in retaliation for refusing to spy on their communities may sue individual FBI agents for interfering with their freedom to practice their religion. Muhammad Tanvir originally filed the lawsuit in...
FDA scientists say Pfizer vaccine is “highly effective” as outside panel meets Thursday
December 8th, 20200 U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists have endorsed the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a committee meeting of outside experts and the FDA's eventual use authorization, the health sciences publication STAT reports. Specifically, reviewers have said the two-dose vaccine is shown to be “highly...
Michigan’s “three-week pause” extended by 12 days
December 7th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced on Monday a 12 day extension of its COVID-19 order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities. The earlier order was in place for three weeks — set to expire on Tuesday — and covered the time people traveled and spent time...
Trump’s lawyer Giuliani tests positive for COVID-19
December 6th, 20200 President Trump's top ally and personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19, while he travels the country challenging results of an election Trump lost by most accounts. News of the former New York mayor having contracted the virus came from the outgoing president himself. Trump tweeted that his lawyer had "tested...
Third marijuana retail outlet underway in Hamtramck, but efforts against pot continue
December 4th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — Construction on a third recreational marijuana retail outlet appears to be underway in Hamtramck, just as a majority of its City Council prepares to prohibit such establishments in the city. The building is located on Jos Campau and Commor Street, and was the former location of Three Star BBQ. Building records show Puff...
Trump attacks his ally AG Barr over unwillingness to declare voter fraud
December 4th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A key, longtime ally of outgoing President Trump dropped a bombshell this week, in yet another setback for Trump to convince courts and a majority of the American public that the Nov. 3 elections were rigged against him. U.S. Attorney General William Barr told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the Department of......
Court cases continue with scheduled hearings for would-be Whitmer kidnappers
December 3rd, 20200 LANSING – The Michigan Attorney General’s court cases against members and associates of the Wolverine Watchmen continue with scheduled court hearings. It’s been almost two months since the men were arrested. They're now facing felony charges for a domestic terrorism plot that included storming the Capitol building in Lansing...
Michigan secretary of state releases rejected ballot data
December 3rd, 20200 LANSING — Data of rejected ballots from the Nov. 3 general elections shows more wrongfully cast votes were rejected for a variety of reasons in that election than the August primary. Ballots can be rejected for several reasons. For example, when no signature is provided by the voter, or when the signature doesn’t match records or......
In world first, U.K. approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
December 2nd, 20200 (REUTERS) — Britain approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation program in history with a shot tested in wide-scale clinical trials. Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from the U.K.’s medicine authority as a...
COVID mutation will not increase transmissibility, affect vaccine efficacy
November 25th, 20201 LONDON — A peer-reviewed scientific study published on Wednesday says known mutations of the SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus, do not increase virus transmissibility. Researchers also say the mutations do not pose a threat to vaccine efficacy. Viruses mutate, or change, constantly and some, like the flu, mutate more than others. The...
John James concedes to Gary Peters over pleasant Twitter message
November 25th, 20200 MICHIGAN — After initially refusing to do so, Republican U.S. Senate candidate John James conceded to Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) in a tweeted video. James, who was born in Detroit and is an Iraq War veteran, had promoted unsubstantiated allegations of deliberate voter suppression and deception after the Nov. 3 election, continuing...
In a 3-0 vote, Michigan Board of State Canvassers certifies election results
November 23rd, 20200 LANSING — After more than three hours of public comments and discussion, the Michigan State Board of Canvassers certified the statewide results of the Nov 3. general elections in Michigan. Norman Shinkle, a Republican member, abstained from voting. This is a developing story and will be updated As of 6 p.m. ET, the board is......
Peters calls on federal government to identify ways to eliminate travel discrimination
November 21st, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan), is calling on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine ways to eliminate discrimination in travel screenings by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Peters is the ranking member of the Homeland...
Hamtramck Freedom Village begins resettling refugees
November 20th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK - A unique refugee resettlement program in Hamtramck that has seen support from a variety of partners, including a Dearborn church, began operations this year. The Hamtramck Freedom Village broke ground last year, using funds from a federal grant awarded to Wayne County to provide temporary accommodation and services to......
Trump continues desperate assault on Michigan election
November 20th, 20200 In yet another desperate move to overturn election results in Michigan, President Trump invited Michigan Senate Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield to the White House on Friday. Though the contents of what will be discussed at the meeting were not announced, it is clear that certification of statewide...
Trump’s campaign withdraws Michigan election lawsuit
November 19th, 20200 MICHIGAN — The re-election campaign for President Trump is withdrawing its lawsuit disputing vote results in Michigan. The campaign has filed numerous suits nationally in legal attempts to challenge the Nov. 3 victory of President-elect Joe Biden. Most, including in Michigan, have not yielded any real success for the campaign.......
