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GOP governors ignore Biden's latest plea on mask mandates
But Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison announced Tuesday he is dropping the state’s mask mandate immediately, a day earlier than previously announced. Gretchen Whitmer to ask whether the White House has considered surging additional vaccines to states with rapidly increasing infection rates. Kay Ivey intends for her state’s mask mandate to end on April 9 as planned, though she urged people to wear masks as a matter of personal responsibility. Eric Holcomb, to reconsider dropping the state’s mask mandate.
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The Latest: California prisons to resume in-person visits
The state health department said nearly 17,000 people had filled up four days of appointments for the speedway clinic being held Friday through Monday. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California state prisons will soon resume limited in-person visits with inmates more than a year after they were halted because of the coronavirus pandemic. Museums, aquariums, retail businesses and shops, hair salons and personal care businesses can operate at 100% capacity indoors and outdoors. The three joined neighboring Santa Mateo County on Tuesday as the latest Bay Area counties to move into California’s “moderate” tier for coronavirus restrictions. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says the biggest driver behind the increase is young adults.
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The Latest: Ontario wants vaccine shot in adults by June 20
Eric Holcomb received his COVID-19 vaccine shot Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the opening of the state’s first mass vaccination clinic. Holcomb wore a face mask in the front passenger seat of an SUV while getting the shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the drive-through clinic. Ad___TORONTO — Canada is getting a fourth vaccine to prevent COVID-19, approving the Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose. Canada has pre-purchased 10 million Johnson & Johnson doses, with options to buy another 28 million. The U.S. approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last month.
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Planning to travel this holiday season? Governors across the Midwest are urging you to reconsider
LANSING, Mich. – A group of bipartisan governors from states across the Midwest are urging people to do their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season. As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan had risen to 437,985 -- and 10,752 deaths had been reported, according to state officials. Tony Evers released a video on social media pushing for residents to be safe as we head into the holiday season. If you are planning to travel or gather with other households for the holidays – we urge you to reconsider. Bipartisan Governors from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and WisconsinThe group of governors released a similar video before Thanksgiving asking families to reconsider traveling for the holiday.
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Montana goes red; it's status quo in other governor races
Mike Parson, and State Auditor Nicole Galloway are seen onstage before the Missouri gubernatorial debate at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, Missouri. Democrats are hoping to gain control of more state legislative chambers after Republicans scored huge wins in 2010. The only governor's job to change parties is in Montana, where Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte defeated Democratic Lt. Gov. The national Democratic and Republican governors associations and the campaigns themselves have contributed more than $24 million to the race. In Missouri, incumbent Mike Parson, a Republican, defeated Nicole Galloway, the state auditor who was the Democrats' best chance to pick up a seat.
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The Latest: Melbourne eases restrictions after cases drop
(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, has loosened lockdown restrictions as new and active COVID-19 continue to decline. Victoria state reported only two new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and no deaths. The total number of cases on the reservation is now 10,913. Nine new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths associated with the virus to 8,466. There are 106,503 total cases reported since the pandemic began in March and 1,168 deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
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Indiana governor defends officer response to assault report
Im proud of the DNR and the way theyve conducted themselves, Holcomb said, Theyve done everything right, by the book. Much of the assault that followed was captured on cellphone video by people Booker had met up with that day. The governor has complete control over DNR," Liell told The Associated Press. State environmental groups, including the Hoosier Environmental Council, Friends of Lake Monroe and Sierra Clubs Hoosier Chapter, are also calling on the Indiana DNR to review its policies and publicly condemn racism. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.