Michigan lawmakers OK ban on FOIA-avoidant apps for state employees
The Michigan Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would ban apps that help state employees avoid public records requests after it was revealed in January that some State Police officers had an app on their work phones that deleted messages.
Michiganโs UIA acting director appears before House committee over problems of the last 18 months
Michiganโs acting Unemployment Insurance Agency director appeared before the House Oversight Committee Thursday to answer questions about the problems the agency has dealt with over the past 18 months.
Alabama Shakes drummer facing child abuse charges
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, file photo, Steve Johnson of Alabama Shakes accepts the best American roots performance for "Killer Diller Blues" at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York. Johnson, the drummer for Grammy Award-winning rock band Alabama Shakes is in custody on child abuse charges. Johnson, 35, was arrested Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after being indicted on charges of willful torture, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, news outlets reported. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)HUNTSVILLE, Ala. โ The drummer for Grammy Award-winning rock band Alabama Shakes is in custody on child abuse charges. Steven William Johnson, 35, was arrested Wednesday after being indicted on charges of willful torture, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, news outlets reported.
Michigan lawmakers hold hearing, seek answers about nursing home deaths amid pandemic
The hearing was initially meant to probe whether the stateโs nursing home policy designated them as โhubsโ for COVID patients. Andrew Cuomoโs administration was found to have been undercounting certain types of COVID deaths among nursing home patients, effectively lowering the number of deaths attributed to virus spread in nursing homes. State numbers show that a higher number of deaths: just over 5,500 residents in long-term care facilities have reportedly died from the virus. There has been no evidence, however, that Michigan is undercounting or underreporting long-term care COVID deaths. The plan was also backed by medical experts at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, the CDC and AARP, among others over the course of the pandemic.
Local 4 News at Noon -- Jan. 28, 2021
DETROIT โ Hereโs what you missed on Local 4 News at Noon. Michigan House Oversight Committee to hear testimony on winter sports banCommittee members including Chairman Steve Johnson (R-Wayland), Michigan High School Athletic Association Director Mark Uyl, Let Them Play Michigan Director Jayme McElvany, Olivet High School Athletic Director Matt Seidl, and concerned parents and athletes are expected to testify during the session Thursday morning.
Morning Briefing Jan. 28, 2021: Winter sports ban hearing in Lansing today, Whitmer calls for bipartisanship, Wall Street battle brews, weekend weather update
The Michigan House Oversight Committee will hear testimony Thursday about the stateโs ban on high school sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. Committee members including Chairman Steve Johnson (R-Wayland), Michigan High School Athletic Association Director Mark Uyl, Let Them Play Michigan Director Jayme McElvany, Olivet High School Athletic Director Matt Seidl, and concerned parents and athletes are expected to testify during the session Thursday morning. Gretchen Whitmer delivered a 24-minute speech in her office with no pomp and circumstance, and no Legislature and guests in attendance. New COVID-19 cases have plateaued and deaths are starting to slow. The state also reports โactive cases,โ which were listed at 75,100 on Tuesday -- near the lowest itโs been since November.
Michigan House Oversight Committee to hear testimony on winter sports ban
LANSING, Mich. โ The Michigan House Oversight Committee will hear testimony Thursday about the stateโs ban on high school sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. Committee members including Chairman Steve Johnson (R-Wayland), Michigan High School Athletic Association Director Mark Uyl, Let Them Play Michigan Director Jayme McElvany, Olivet High School Athletic Director Matt Seidl, and concerned parents and athletes are expected to testify during the session Thursday morning. โFamilies throughout the state have reached out to their elected legislators about the governorโs abrupt decision to extend the ban on certain high school winter sports,โ reads a statement from the House committee. โThe House Oversight Committee will listen to testimony in an effort to provide answers to concerned residents regarding the extension.โAdLate last week, Gov. Michigan House Republicans on Wednesday proposed a $3.5 billion coronavirus recovery plan but threatened to withhold billions to K-12 schools unless Whitmer cedes her administrationโs power to prohibit in-person instruction and sports to local health departments.
Republican state lawmakers donโt seem willing to back Michigan governorโs request for bipartisan mask law
Gretchen Whitmer is still looking to the Republican-controlled legislature to help strengthen safety measures in response to rise in COVID-19 cases. Whitmer is requesting the Legislature to enact a state law that would require mask wearing -- however, it is unknown if one is coming. Currently, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have required face masks to be worn in public places under an emergency health order. With COVID-19 case numbers continuing to rise and virus hospitalizations increasing, Whitmer and health officials say a rise in COVID deaths is expected. READ: COVID-19 spike leads to surge at Michigan hospitalsREAD: Khaldun: Models show Michigan could see up to 100 daily COVID-19 deaths โat rate weโre goingโ
Nick Kyrgios labels ATP 'pretty corrupt' after US Open win
(CNN) - Nick Kyrgios dispatched Steve Johnson in straight sets in the first round of the US Open, but it was his comments after the match that sparked controversy. "ATP's pretty corrupt anyway, so I'm not fussed about it at all," Kyrgios told reporters in New York of his fine. "Why are we talking about something that happened three weeks ago when I just chopped up someone [in the] first round of the US Open?" At that point, the match was evenly poised with Kyrgios 1-0 up and on serve, before prevailing in a tie break in the second set. Kyrgios, who has never progressed past the third round at the US Open, next faces Frenchman Antoine Hoang.
Michigan offers clarity on legal CBD, industrial hemp regulations
of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) issued joint guidance today regarding CBD (cannabidiol) and industrial hemp. Here's how CBD and industrial hemp are defined:Industrial Hemp: the plant Cannabis sativa L. with delta-9-THC concentrations below 0.3%. Edible marijuana products containing CBD made by licensed processors may only be produced using CBD obtained from regulated sources. Until the administrative rules are written, there is no authorized method for licensed facilities to obtain industrial hemp. Here's what to know about industrial hemp: