CORONAVIRUS EVENT CHANGES

This week the Kerrytown District Association board announced the cancelation of Ann Arbor’s annual outdoor holiday night market this year.

The sun wasn’t the only thing shining Saturday at the Big House.

Wolverine fans were rewarded with a big win Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium.

“I’m just excited for the energy of the place, to say the least,” Gaffney said. “I’ll wear a mask as long as I can get into the Big House.”

Over the course of the COVID pandemic, we’ve picked up a lot of habits -- and some may be worth hanging onto after the pandemic ends.

American residents will have to show a negative COVID test at least 72 hours before travel and have proof they are fully vaccinated.

The Belle Isle Aquarium is expected to reopen July 16 after closing when the COVID pandemic began.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced some changes to help clear up a backlog caused by the COVID pandemic.

As school districts across Metro Detroit work to normalize the learning experience for the 2021-22 school year, a concerning trend is developing.

As far as he knows, Marc Miller is the only professional driver from Western Michigan.

Thousands of fans were thrilled to be together for Detroit’s first major event after Michigan’s outdoor capacity limits were lifted.

Fans are excited about returning to Comerica Park for Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

A pop-up vaccination clinic will be held at the Fox Theatre. Fans getting the shot will be given two tickets to the Tigers game that day or to an upcoming game at Comerica Park.

The district said it is now using new criteria -- including vaccination rates -- to determine whether it will close schools again.

As the state slowly returns to normal, a lot still hangs in the balance for us to reach “herd immunity,” and with so many people out enjoying the nice weather, the hope is that most of the maskless folks out and about are vaccinated.

The city of Detroit has made a massive effort to get its residents vaccinated.

A protest was held at Southfield High School Friday after an anonymous donor volunteered to buy prom tickets for vaccinated students.

After Thursday’s announcement, the entertainment industry is excited and anxious about what will likely be a very busy summer.

Allison Schmitt is an Olympic gold medalist who is training for her fourth potential Olympic Games.

The annual Rolling Sculpture Car Show has been canceled, according to the event website.

Guests at Comerica Park will no longer be required to wear masks at outdoor locations and seating areas.

Children under 12 aren’t eligible to get vaccinated and likely won’t be able to receive the shot for several months. That means families are facing a lot of difficult decisions about what’s safe and what isn’t.

On Thursday, Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) announced new summer programming comprised of concerts, interactive performances and new podcast episodes.

The Summer Olympics are currently scheduled to start July 23. That’s good news for sisters and 100-meter hurdlers Cindy Ofili and Tiffany Porter.

The summer concert series is quickly approaching and tickets are being sold, but what about COVID?

In the middle of a pandemic, you don’t expect to see the spring musical, but at the University of Michigan, some students decided they weren’t going to sit on their hands.

Michigan State University will allow fans into Spartan Stadium for the Spring Football Game on April 24.

“We know that we are seeing a resurgence,” Whitmer said. “We, as a nation, did not rally to beat this virus.”

Michigan’s hospitals are overwhelmed, leaving health officials concerned about what could still be coming. Despite that, the state has refused to issue any new restrictions.

Multiple COVID data points are severe enough that under a bill passed in the Michigan’s Republican-controlled Senate, the data would trigger a shutdown of indoor dining.

Working and raising children during the pandemic has taken its toll on parents, but now a new survey suggests it has impacted women in the workplace -- stalling careers and ambition.

The U.S. Department of Education has denied Michigan’s request to waive the federal requirement to administer the state summative assessments, the Michigan Department of Education announced Tuesday.

As COVID numbers continue to skyrocket, one Ann Arbor family is thrilled to be preparing to have the youngest members finally get vaccinated.

Coronavirus vaccinations are expected to ramp up across Michigan this week.

“This pandemic has caused us to do things totally different,” Bishop Ellis said. “I think we’ve done a great job at Greater Grace Temple.”

Wayne State University has temporarily suspended face-to-face instruction due to the recent surge in coronavirus cases.

With coronavirus infection rates on the rise, many Metro Detroit school districts are scrambling to make tough decisions.

DETROIT – It will be a different Downtown Detroit Thursday for the Tigers’ Open Day game against the Cleveland Indians. READ: Ranking 22 Detroit Tigers questions we can’t wait to learn the answers to this seasonThursday’s game will definitely feel different than what we’re used to for the Tigers’ home opener. “Opening Day is usually my biggest day,” said Curt Ciaravino. He said he and other businesses were thrilled to hear some fans would be allowed in for Opening Day, but 8,000 people is still a fraction of what they’re used to seeing on Opening day.. MORE: Detroit Tigers news

Gretchen Whitmer said she’s not actively considering new restrictions as COVID cases continue to surge in the state. March 26, 2021: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 647,899; Death toll now at 16,004For businesses operating at 50% capacity, the rise in numbers is cause for concern. “I mean as far as the numbers going up, it’s scary,” said Nick Waligora, manager at Pitaya. “As far cases are going up, the number of vaccinated people are also going up,” said Joel Padilla. AdHe believes the focus should be on boosting vaccine distribution, rather than increasing restrictions.

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – With Michigan’s COVID-19 numbers on the rise and spring break around the corner, Wayne County superintendents are reaching out to parents to ask them to be vigilant in order to keep schools open. In order to keep schools open -- despite the rise in COVID cases -- it will depend on behavior outside of school. READ: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schoolsAdWayne County school officials are asking parents as they head into spring break to skip the parties because of the substantial community spread going on. Officials said the precautions at schools -- daily cleaning, contact tracing and isolating students -- are working and that they don’t want students to return to remote-learning. They said they are concerned that if students and families let their guards down over spring break, the community spread will explode more than it already is.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Despite the surge of new coronavirus cases, Gov. Beaumont Health reinstated health and safety precautions at all hospital locations in an effort to protect patients, staff and communities amid a surge in coronavirus spread. READ: Beaumont hospitals restore visitor restrictions amid rising COVID casesThe restrictions went into effect 8 a.m. Thursday. They severely restrict visitation in hopes of slowing the wave of new hospitalizations during the new surge. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association said hospitalizations for those aged 30-39 have gone up 633%, and for ages 40-49, hospitalizations have gone up 800%.

DETROIT – During the coronavirus pandemic, Local 4 has been checking in with students around Metro Detroit on their struggles, successes and how COVID is impacting their lives. It’s no surprise that students are starting to get concerned about end-of-year activities like graduations and proms. Paula Tutman spoke with students from the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, and they thing Michigan lawmakers need to be more efficient with their time. They acknowledge that they are not entitled to a fun senior year, but believe they have earned the right to start making plans. Walled Lake superintendent Kenneth Gutman said he thought there would be more guidance from Lansing, so he could direct his students on what they can and cannot plan toward, but he said he’s heard nothing.

GROSSE POINTE, Mich. – A local family is used to volunteering and giving back, but had to find a new way to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. If you can’t drop them off in the box, there’s an Amazon wishlist on the charity’s website. “At first it was just close friends and family, once it gained traction, more distant friends friends and family,” Tengler said. “Now it’s people I don’t even know.”So far, the 17-year-old has collected about 2,000 pairs of socks and underwear. “We’re so fortunate and there are so many people who have been super affected by the pandemic,” Tengler said.

DETROIT – The National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament is back after a year off. Viewers can expect the same theatrics as always, but off the court, the players are finding it to be a bit lonely. The idea is to limit contact and prevent COVID spread among the 68 teams, so the tournament can be played to completion. They are all wearing small tracking devices for contact tracing and the NCAA Senior VP of Basketball said as long as a team has five healthy players, they can play. 1 seed in 2021 NCAA Tournament; Spartans get No.

Saint Patrick’s Day is a big deal to a lot of Irish bars and restaurants. Irish bars and restaurants missed out on that income in 2020, but even worse, they were fully stocked with extra food and alcohol for Saint Patrick’s Day. “Sunday would have been the parade,” Roberts said. “We had some really good activity, you know people dressed up, people in their green are coming down from the suburbs, just like they used to.”Dunleavy said a normal Saint Patrick’s Day would involved a packed house and more than 20 kegs. Many Irish restaurants are also doing carry out, so if you plan to celebrate at home you can take your corned beef to go.

DETROIT – For 50 years, Chef Phil Jones has cooked in high-end restaurants and fed those in need. In March 2020, on Friday the 13th, COVID took away Jones’ catering business and cooking classes. “They have thousands of pounds of produce to try and get out to the community,” Jones recalled. “All these wonderful people coming out to TCF to load trucks and cars and vans and trailers,” Jones recalled. His desire to give back during a pandemic led to the Detroit Free Press to name him 2021 Chef of the Year.

DETROIT – In addition to the nearly 16,000 COVID-related deaths in Michigan over the last year, we know the pandemic has been devastating to businesses. AdThere have been a few bright spots with some businesses seeing an uptick in businesses due to the pandemic. Dimitri Polychronou owns Earl’s Dry Cleaning. People have been great to work with during this pandemic,” Millen said. AdThe majority of locally-owned businesses have really struggled, but there is hope of things improving as vaccine distribution expands.

Nothing stops Frank Notaft from visiting Lake Pointe Senior Care in Clinton Township. He drives from Warren, sets up a tent, chair, heater and radio to meet with his wife of the past 60 years. Prior to the pandemic, 83-year-old Notaft would come to have lunch, dinner and to hold 80-year-old Nikki’s hand to walk the hallways. AdThe love story is well known inside Lake Point Senior Care and outside. “A lady gave me the tent,” Notaft said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – With summer on its way, Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) is gearing up for an adapted 2021 season. On Thursday, the organization announced this summer’s festival season will include outdoor concerts and pop-up events around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Instead, from June 11 to July 3 it will hold an adapted season anchored by the Tiny TOPS and Live Here Now outdoor programs. AdThe Live Here Now program will host pop-up concerts and events in public spaces around both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, said A2SF. Learn more about Ann Arbor Summer Festival at www.a2sf.org.

Detroit’s Mo Pop Festival will not return in 2021, but organizers are planning to bring the music event back in 2022. In a statement posted to the Mo Pop website:It’s hard to write this again almost a year later, but 2021 is still too soon for a safe return of the Mo Pop Festival that unites us. Mark your calendars for July 30 & 31, 2022, when we can all safely gather at our new location at the Historic Fort Wayne. We can’t wait to see the Mo Pop community come together on a sunny day by the Detroit riverfront. AdThe event moved from the West Riverfront to Historic Fort Wayne last year, but the inaugural event was cancelled due to the pandemic.