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Coronavirus

One more death reported

ALPENA— The rate of confirmed COVID-19 infections to residents in Northeast Michigan continues to dip, but with the reopening of restaurants and taverns, with restrictions, adhering to recommended precautions is encouraged. Public health officials on Monday, reported seven newly infected Northeast Michiganders, including one Alpena County resident, and three Presque Isle County, and three Alcona County residents. There were no new confirmed infections in Montmorency County, but there was a new death announced to a resident who was infected with the virus. State data showed that, ...

Athletes, parents rally to start sports

LANSING (AP) — A few hundred high school athletes, their parents and other supporters rallied outside Michigan’s Capitol in Lansing in support of the reopening of sports programs shut down by COVID-19 restrictions. Saturday’s “Let Them Play” demonstration was held as the state reported 1,358 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 104 deaths. Orders released earlier this month by Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services bans contact winter sports like basketball, wrestling, hockey and competitive cheerleading. Various coaching associations have written ...

State debates lifting ban on contact sports

LANSING, — The fight over whether to allow youth contact sports took center court Thursday in Lansing as Michigan lawmakers heard testimony from educators, parents and students wanting to get back to competition. Even though a ban on indoor dining ends Feb. 1, youth contact sports, including winter high school seasons in basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer, remain off-limits because of the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined on Monday during a news conference to set a date for the sports to resume. Whitmer has said aggressive actions to slow the ...

No new virus deaths reported

ALPENA -- Local public health officials today reported no new coronavirus-related deaths. Officials today reported nine newly infected Northeast Michiganders, including eight confirmed Alcona County residents and one Presque Isle County resident. State data showed that, as of today, 7,910 ...

Alpena Public Schools extends virus leave

ALPENA — Alpena Public Schools employees will continue to receive COVID-19-related sick leave after district administrators reversed course on a previous recommendation. The APS Board of Education voted to continue the COVID-19 sick leave for employees on Monday. Federal coronavirus ...

Whitmer: Holding back federal virus aid ‘cruel and reckless’

LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she will not cede her authority to issue certain COVID-19 restrictions, calling Republicans’ attempt to hold back federal pandemic relief funding unless she changes course “cruel and reckless.” The Democratic governor urged GOP lawmakers to “shift their perspective to looking forward” and stop “digging in” on their continued opposition to state health department orders that, while loosened, still limit capacity at restaurants to 25% and prohibit youth contact sports to slow the spread of the coronavirus. On ...