WSV Columnist Steph Hightree writes, “Most of all, I have learned I never want to be a teacher, and that teaching is a thankless profession. We really need to give these teachers a little more grace and credit than we are giving them in this unprecedented time. Teaching in a normal environment is hard enough but teaching remotely during a pandemic? It’s nearly impossible.”
COVID-19
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Wednesday that 508,736 total Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 12,918 have died from the virus, which is an additional 4,326 cases and 51 deaths since Tuesday.
Columnist Stephanie Chang writes, “The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought financial havoc on many. It has magnified the systemic sexism and racism in housing and has the potential to leave millions of people — especially women and their families — homeless come February, unless we take quick action.”
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Monday that 502,119 total Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 12,678 have died from the virus, which is an additional 4,992 cases and 80 deaths since Saturday.
“There is talk about returning to normalcy but we all know that we experienced an abrupt end to an era as we knew it, and witnessed the foundation of whatever else is to come. Whatever it is we are resilient. We are yet hopeful. As things are looking up but continue to be uncertain, all we can do is to step out on faith. Stay encouraged. Cheers to 2021.”
The COVID-19 vaccine could be less effective in people with high levels of perfluorinated compounds — PFAS — in their blood, several scientists said.
James and Nikki Smith welcomed their first-born child Titus on August 12, 2020. They had a conversation about being new parents for the first Pandemic Christmas. They both serve as Lutheran pastors.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Tuesday that a total of 466,485 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 11,705 have died from the virus — an additional 3,082 cases and 173 deaths since Monday.
The Michigan House passed a $465.07 million supplemental funding bill for COVID-19 relief, focused on vaccination and test distribution and providing money to health care workers and small businesses, during a rare Monday session.
This school year has been challenging for students, teachers, parents and administrators for a long list of reasons, ranging from technology issues to struggles with mental health, some of which are universal across the board this year and some are unique to the individual classroom dynamics and communities. One thing is clear: Educators across Michigan are feeling burned out.
Labor advocates say wrongful death lawsuit filed in connection with a Tyson meat packing facility in Iowa and others like it would have little chance of success in court if Republicans in Congress succeed in passing legislation that would shield businesses from pandemic-related lawsuits.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told Michigan it will receive about 24,000 fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine next week that was originally planned.
A coronavirus relief deal appeared within reach late Wednesday following months of stalemate in Congress, potentially providing much-needed help to Americans facing expiring unemployment benefits and states distributing the new COVID-19 vaccine.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Wednesday that a total of 446,752 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 11,018 have died from the virus — an additional 4,037 cases and 83 deaths since Tuesday.
Although it will be a while before Michiganders can let their guards down, there is now “hope on the horizon” thanks to the start of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday.
During a special meeting Monday, the Three Rivers Board of Education (BOE) voted to approve a plan to reopen schools to in-person and hybrid instruction on January 25. After discussion that continued from a previous meeting on December 7, BOE members decided not to approve a modification of the Three Rivers Community Schools’ (TRCS) “Return to Learn” (R2L) plan that would have continued all-virtual remote instruction for middle and high school students beyond the start of the next semester.
The unemployment benefits of about 692,000 Michigan workers are in danger of being axed the day after Christmas if Congress does not act, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) warned this week.
Beaver Lake Hunt Club General Manager Todd Reilly knew the pandemic meant that camaraderie shared during hunting could end in serious sickness and death for club members, especially considering many are older and susceptible to severe COVID-19 cases. As gravely ill patients flooded intensive care units and the death toll rose last spring, the manager knew he needed to protect his members and decided he’d close the facility’s lodge and kitchen this hunting season. While individuals couldn’t gather like they once had, they were still able to hunt there, and Reilly provided electric hookups for those who wanted to forgo a nearby motel room and instead set up a camper.