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Coronavirus

State Senate targets coronavirus restrictions; OKs jobless, water bills

LANSING (AP) — Senate Republicans voted to limit the length of coronavirus restrictions issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, unless they were extended by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The bill, which would be vetoed if it reached the Democratic governor’s desk, cleared the chamber on a party-line 22-16 vote late Thursday. Senators did find common ground, though, on other pandemic-related measures — voting unanimously to keep intact unemployment changes for an additional three months and to provide $250 million to continue funding a maximum 26 weeks of benefits ...

Vaccine approved, Alpena practice next week

ALPENA — MidMichigan Health officials said the hospital network will receive more COVID-19 vaccinations than originally planned and the first doses could be given in Alpena as early as Tuesday. The U.S. gave the final go-ahead today to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, marking what ...

Alpena County dead last in testing

ALPENA — The coronavirus has roared through Northeast Michigan since Halloween — with infections increasing more than 400% as of Thursday — but the situation could be far more dire than we realize. That’s because, on a per-capita basis, Northeast Michiganders are among the ...

2 Montmorency County residents die

ALPENA -- Two more Montmorency County residents have died after being infected with the coronavirus, health officials reported today. It was 32nd death of a Northeast Michigander since the pandemic began, including 18 Alpena County residents, three Presque Isle County residents, four ...

27 new infections reported in Northeast Michigan

ALPENA -- The numbers of those infected with COVID-19 continued to climb today, with 27 new infections reported by local public health officials. Of those reported by public health officials today, 19 of those infected were Alpena County residents, five were Presque Isle County residents, ...

RCAS closed Friday for contact tracing

Rogers City Area Schools will be closed Friday for contact tracing after district officials were notified on Thursday of a person infected with COVID-19 in the elementary school building, according to the district’s Facebook page. Parents will be contacted if their child has been affected. The Facebook post said all school work and devices for K-5 students must be returned when in person learning resumes. It wasn’t immediately clear when school would resume. Questions can be directed to District Health Department No. 4 at 989-356-4507.