Morning Briefing June 23, 2021: 25 delta variant COVID cases reported in Michigan, what’s next after GOP blocks voting bill

Here are this morning’s top stories

CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 23: A discarded surgical face mask on the pavement on October 23, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Polly Thomas/Getty Images) (POLLY THOMAS, 2020 Polly Thomas)

Delta COVID variant found in 5 Michigan counties

The alpha COVID variant (B.1.1.7), quickly gain a foothold in Michigan. It appeared in almost every county in the state. The delta variant (B.1.617.2) has cropped up in at least five Michigan counties. It’s even more contagious and may lead to more severe illness.

In Michigan, 25 cases of the delta variant have been identified in five counties: Wayne, Oakland, Livingston, Lapeer and Branch counties.

See the report here.


What’s next now that GOP has blocked voting bill?

Senate Republicans have blocked debate of a sweeping overhaul of how elections are run in the U.S.

The bill was pushed by congressional Democrats who argued it was needed to counter a spate of new GOP laws this year tightening voting rules in the states.

Here’s a look at the bill, what happened so far and what’s next.


🎆 Ford Fireworks show is Monday, June 28


NBA Draft: What to know about Cade Cunningham, likely No. 1 pick for Pistons

The Detroit Pistons won the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, landing the franchise its first No. 1 pick since 1970, when the Pistons drafted Hall of Famer Bob Lanier.

Now, more than 50 years later, the Pistons will look to add another franchise-changing player to their roster -- and that is more than likely going to be Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham.

Learn more here.


💡 11 takeaways from Gov. Whitmer’s briefing as Michigan officially lifts COVID restrictions


‘Operation Brison’: Police increase presence on freeways across Metro Detroit to prevent shootings

Michigan State Police and the Detroit Police Department teamed up on Tuesday for “Operation Brison.”

The goal was to increase the police presence on Metro Detroit freeways and prevent shootings like the one on I-75 that killed 2-year-old Brison Christian and injured his 9-year-old sibling on June 17.

See the story here.


Poll: Many Democrats want more US support for Palestinians

A new poll on American attitudes toward a core conflict in the Middle East finds about half of Democrats want the U.S. to do more to support the Palestinians, showing that a growing rift among Democratic lawmakers is also reflected in the party’s base.

The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds differences within both the Democratic and the Republican parties on the U.S. approach toward Israel and the Palestinians, with liberal Democrats wanting more support for the Palestinians and conservative Republicans seeking even greater support for the Israelis.

Read more here.


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Weather: Warming up with rain for some


COVID in Michigan 💉

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 893,582 as of Tuesday, including 19,662 deaths, state officials report.

Tuesday’s update includes a total of 91 new cases and 15 additional deaths, of which eight deaths were identified during a review of records. This is the first time Michigan has announced fewer than 100 cases in a single day since June 15, 2020. That day, when 74 cases were announced, is the only single-day total lower than Tuesday’s since March 18, 2020.

On Monday, the state announced a total of 893,491 cases and 19,647 deaths.

Testing has been steady around 20,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate below 1.5% as of Tuesday. Hospitalizations have declined over the last several weeks.

The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 133 on Tuesday -- the lowest since June 2020. The 7-day death average was 14 on Tuesday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.2%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 14,100 on Tuesday.

Michigan has reported more than 8.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Monday, with 61.2% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 53% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Here’s a look at more of the data:


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About the Author:

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.