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Coronavirus

Whitmer proposes $5.6B plan to combat, recover from virus

LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday unveiled a $5.6 billion plan to combat and recover from the coronavirus pandemic, proposing the use of billions in federal relief and $575 million in surplus state funds. The request will go to Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday, less than a month after Congress and President Trump enacted additional COVID-19 aid that will flow through states and fund priorities such as vaccine distribution, testing, tracing, higher food assistance benefits and new rental assistance. A major facet of the Democratic governor’s ...

Health Department to stop tracking recoveries

ALPENA -- District Health Department No. 4 officials said they will no longer report the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 on the Health Department’s website after Presque Isle County commissioners questioned the accuracy of the data. During the department’s board meeting ...

Residents flock to COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Alpena Mall

ALPENA — A crowd formed early at a Monday vaccination clinic at the Alpena Mall, where about 300 people had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination by noon, according to health officials. The vaccine requires two doses to be fully effective. It is currently open to health care ...

PI county may back businesses who buck state

ROGERS CITY — If Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends her administration’s ban on indoor dining and bar services beyond Feb.1, officials in Presque Isle County may take action to support businesses that reopen, anyway. Since November, restaurants and bars have been closed to indoor service. Whitmer last week extended the ban through Feb. 1 but said there’s a good chance the ban could be lifted then. During a county board meeting on Thursday, Commissioner Carl Altman — a Republican who owns the Night Hawk Inn in Hawks — suggested the county could draft and sign a manifesto ...

Confusion, tech glitch agitates residents hungry for vaccine

ALPENA -- The excitement surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout quickly turned into frustration this week as thousands of Northeast Michiganders vied for an appointment to receive the vaccination. On Monday, the state made the vaccine available to thousands of Northeast Michiganders who are ...

Some say virus renter aid may actually harm renters

ALPENA — If rent doesn’t get paid, renters could be the ones who suffer. Since March, eviction moratoriums at the state and national level have protected Michiganders from losing their homes because of unpaid rent as the coronavirus pandemic stole jobs and wrecked bank accounts. The ...