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Covid-19

Florence County reports two possible virus exposure sites

Florence County health officials advised Wednesday of a possible COVID-19 exposure earlier this month at two restaurants in the county. The Florence County Health Department was notified Tuesday that on July 10, an unvaccinated person who was later confirmed positive ate at both Barb’s Café in Florence, Wis., and Annie’s Trading Post in the Keyes Lake area during their infectious period, said Annette Seibold, health officer for the county. “If you visited or worked at one or both of the facilities, have had close contact with someone who visited or worked at one or both of the ...

Michigan names $1M winner in vaccine sweepstakes

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The 51-year-old winner of $1 million in Michigan's COVID-19 vaccine sweepstakes said Wednesday that she plans to spend some of her winnings on her daughter's college tuition. In a public announcement over Zoom, LaTonda Anderson, of Grand Blanc, said she also plans to tithe a portion of her winnings. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and former "Saturday Night Live" star Tim Meadows also participated in the video announcement. The state launched the sweepstakes with $5 million in prizes including a $2 million jackpot, the $1 million prize announced Wednesday and ...

Despite Canadian easing, US extends border restrictions

The U.S. government on Wednesday extended the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travelers until at least Aug. 21. The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security came two days after the Canadian government announced it would begin letting fully ...

Justice won’t probe Michigan nursing home deaths

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Justice Department said Thursday it will not open a civil rights investigation related to COVID-19 deaths in Michigan's nursing homes. The notification to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer came nearly 11 months after the department's Civil Rights Division during the Trump administration requested data from the Democratic governors of four states, including Michigan, and said it was considering whether to investigate under a federal law that protects the rights of people in public nursing homes. Most nursing homes are privately owned. "We appreciate your ...

Whitmer’s veto preserves jobless aid

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday vetoed a Republican-sponsored bill that would have stopped a $300 weekly federal supplement that is being added to unemployed workers’ benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. The extra payment is due to end Sept. 4 ...

Virus cases up by 26 in UP since Friday

State data Tuesday showed six new confirmed COVID-19 positives in Dickinson County and two in Iron County since last week. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ coronavirus website had 26 new confirmed positives in the Upper Peninsula for the four-day period since Friday: seven in Gogebic County; six in Dickinson County; five in Chippewa County; two in Delta, Iron and Houghton counties; and one each in Marquette and Mackinac counties. The state recorded COVID deaths in Menominee, Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, but a note on the website indicated all had happened ...