Morning Briefing July 21, 2021: More COVID vaccine sweepstakes winners to be announced, Michigan schools reconsider mask mandate

Here are this morning’s top stories

In this June 21, 2021, file photo, a resident receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot at their office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) (Eugene Hoshiko, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Live today: Michigan Gov. Whitmer, SNL’s Tim Meadows announce latest vaccine sweepstakes winners

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Saturday Night Live star Tim Meadows, a Michigan native, will announce Wednesday three more winners in the MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes.

One winner will receive $1 million, and two winners will take home $50,000.

Learn more -- and watch live at 10:30 a.m. -- here.


Boil water notice issued for part of Farmington Hills after power failure

The south and southwest portions of Farmington Hills are under a precautionary boil water notice issued Wednesday morning after a power failure at a Great Lakes Water Authority booster station.

Read more here.


Canton child, 6 men part of international group using bribes, phone hacking to steal millions in Bitcoin

A juvenile in Canton Township and six other men have been identified as members of “The Community,” an international group that hacks into people’s cellphones -- often bribing or tricking mobile phone companies -- to steal millions of dollars in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, officials said.

Read the report here.


🚙 5 weekend road trips to take from Metro Detroit


Man charged with second-degree murder in Sterling Heights crash that killed teenager

A man involved in a Sterling Heights crash that resulted in the death of a teenage boy has been charged with second-degree murder, officials said.

See the story here.


🔌 Storms bring more damage, power outages across Metro Detroit


Michigan school districts reconsider mask mandate

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is strongly recommending masks be worn by all students and staff in school for the upcoming academic year.

The AAP is recommending masks for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. It advises masks be worn in school for the upcoming academic year.

Now, some local school districts are reconsidering a mask mandate inside classrooms.

Learn more here.


Parents urged to catch kids up on routine vaccines before school resumes

Many children will be heading back to the classroom this fall, as most schools resume in-person learning after going virtual amid the worst of the pandemic.

But since parents, understandably, kept their kids home because of the pandemic, countless children have missed routine vaccinations that prevent against serious diseases. Pandemic precautions sheltered children from those serious diseases and COVID, but with school resuming in just weeks, that protection is gone -- and those routine vaccines are critical.

See the report here.


Ex-Detroit police chief forms exploratory committee in run for Michigan governor

Ex-Detroit police Chief James Craig announced Wednesday that a candidate committee has been formed in his name as a “first step” toward his run for governor of Michigan in the 2022 election.

The “Chief James Craig for Governor Exploratory Committee” will explore the prospect of Craig running for Michigan governor, while allowing him to raise and spend money for the campaign.

Read more here.


💰 Michigan Gov. Whitmer raises record $8.5M for reelection campaign in 7 months


Weather: Warm and sunny Wednesday ☀️


COVID in Michigan 💉

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 898,626 as of Tuesday, including 19,862 deaths, state officials report.

Tuesday’s update includes a total of 1,028 new cases and 14 additional deaths (all identified during a vital records review) over a four-day period -- an average of about 257 cases and 3.5 deaths per day. On Friday, the state announced a total of 897,598 cases and 19,848 deaths.

The state only provides COVID data updates on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Testing is around 10,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, and the 7-day positive rate is now up to 3.05% as of Tuesday. Hospitalizations have declined over the last several weeks, now near the lowest point since the start of the pandemic.

The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 273 on Tuesday, up from 219 on Friday. The 7-day death average was 5 on Tuesday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.2%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 7,400 on Tuesday.

Michigan has reported more than 9.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Monday, with 62.7% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 55.2% 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.