TASK FORCE

The recommendations set a statewide plan for aligning policies and practices across Michigan's juvenile justice system.

The University of Michigan has created a task force of faculty and students to prepare for a potential abortion ban in the state should Roe v. Wade be overturned.

Foreign drug cartels that established illegal outdoor marijuana farms in Oregon last year are adapting as pressure on them begins to mount, law enforcement officials said Thursday. New challenges are emerging as a task force created by the Legislature met for the first time to figure out how to combat cannabis-related problems, some of which threaten Oregon's legal, regulated recreational marijuana industry. The Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production is also responsible for recommending funding and command structure to enable law enforcement to combat illegal cannabis production, changes to state laws to address labor trafficking and water theft by the cartel-financed pot farms and regulations on genetic engineering of cannabis, among other issues.

Following the launch meeting of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force, the members from participating countries released the following joint statement:“We, the undersigned Finance, Justice, Home Affairs, and Trade Ministers and European Commissioners, jointly commit to prioritizing our resources and working together to take all available legal steps to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of those individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia’s premeditated, unjust, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the continuing aggression of the Russian regime. “Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine represents a further assault on the fundamental norms and laws, including the UN charter, that underpin the international order. By working together to hunt down the assets of key Russian elites and proxies and to act against their enablers and facilitators, we take a further step to isolate them from the international financial system and impose consequences for their actions, and we encourage other countries to also take up this critical effort. “The Task Force that we have launched today demonstrates our unwavering support for Ukraine and our collective resolve and joint commitment to holding accountable those who have complicity in Russia’s unjust war. We are determined to deny them the ability to hide and benefit from their assets in all jurisdictions, and to undermine the integrity of the international financial system.”

A Monroe man was arrested on a three-count warrant after he allegedly attempted to meet with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

A bipartisan task force has been formed with a mission to make schools safer.

VIPER and members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office had an ongoing investigation that led to the arrest of Dennis Noles, 25.

Andy Nesbitt dives into the current debacle facing the Nets and Kyrie Irving and comes up with a crazy solution.

Even before COVID-19 exposed a profit-driven nursing home industry with too few caring for society’s most vulnerable, thin staffing was a hallmark of facilities around the country. Now, an Associated Press analysis finds staffing is even thinner. (Oct. 7)

Patrick Hensley was arraigned Thursday in First District Court on two felony charges of accosting children for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.

A new task force created to steer the White House’s policy toward Puerto Rico will meet for the first time Tuesday, according to a White House official, as President Joe Biden’s administration begins considering a deeper set of economic reforms for the American territory.

The U.S. government is set to release a UFO report soon, perhaps sometime this week. What will it say?

A French senior naval officer says the Islamic State group is using stealth to regenerate its forces by developing its military capabilities underground and France is deploying its warships and aircraft in the region to help troops on the ground root out the threat.

Modi is facing what appears to be the country’s biggest crisis since independence.

Illinois House Speaker forms task force to look at monuments on state property

That’s on top of the nearly $200 million for virus genome sequencing, which is critical for tracking new variants of the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci said there are two studies that are pointing in a favorable direcion. If found higher amounts of the virus in the nose was linked to a greater ability to spread the virus. “In other words, higher viral load, good transmissibility; low viral load, very poor transmissibility.”So people who are fully vaccinated have less virus in their nose. Ad“When your turn to get vaccinated comes up, get vaccinated,” Fauci said.

Gretchen Whitmer’s task forces has recommended lowering the price of necessarily prescription drugs and holding sellers accountable for skyrocketing costs. The Prescription Drug Task Force joined with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to recommend legislation that requires transparency reports from drug manufacturers, makes necessary medications affordable for Michigan families and holds sellers who profit from skyrocketing prices accountable. “Michigan families deserve to know that they can trust and have access to the medicine they need,” Whitmer said. “No one should have to choose between filling needed prescriptions and paying rent or buying food.”“The goal of the Task Force since day one was to find a way to lower the cost of prescriptions for Michigan families,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. Whitmer created the Prescription Drug Task Force last year to develop policy solutions and combat that problem.

As a resurgence of the pandemic in the fall looked set to overwhelm Portuguese care homes, the government mobilized all the resources it could. Some of the home’s residents, suddenly confined to their rooms or their floor, were bewildered and chafed at restrictions, even trying to take the elevator and escape confinement. The soldiers’ mission: fan out across the country to visit hundreds of nursing homes and help shore up their defenses against the pandemic. On top of that, nursing home staff in Portugal commonly work in several different care homes and travel between them on public transport. They have already been to more than half of the targeted 2,770 care homes.

Bay City, MI (WNEM) – State leaders are crediting the Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities with helping lower the percentage of African Americans who contracted the virus. The impact of COVID-19 in minority communities led to the creation of Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities six months ago. The task force is credited with helping to identify and lower the number of black people and communities of color disproportionately affected. “At the height of the pandemic, we were, African Americans were roughly 32 percent of cases, and 41 percent of deaths,” Furr-Holden said. We’ve learned a lot from what’s been happening at the state and what we do in our local task force,” Furr-Holden said.

A Michigan task force has been conducting research and implementing new protocols to help improve conditions for minority communities who have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic -- and they have seen some notable progress so far. Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to address issues leading to the disproportionate havoc the pandemic has wreaked on communities of color compared to white communities. Since the task force was created, more than 20 “Neighborhood Testing sites” have been established in previously-underserved communities throughout Michigan, the state reports. Moving forward, the group intends to close the “digital divide” by ensuring minority communities have better access to internet, telehealth services and virtual learning. “It’s clear that the work of this task force ... has made significant progress in protecting families, frontline workers, and small businesses in communities of color,” said Celeste Sanchez Lloyd, task force member and community program manager for Strong Beginnings at Spectrum Health.

In the season premiere episode of “The Blacklist” starring James Spader, Red directs the Task Force to investigate Roanoke, a legendary criminal who orchestrates elaborate extractions. Watch the season premiere tonight at 8 p.m. on Local 4. “The Blacklist” also stars Diego Klattenhoff, Amir Arison, Mozhan Marnò, Hisham Tawfiq and Harry Lennix. John Eisendrath, Jon Bokenkamp, John Davis, John Fox, James Spader, Lukas Reiter, J.R. Orci, Carla Kettner and Laura A. Benson serve as executive producers. “The Blacklist” is a production of Davis Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television and Universal Television.

Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Wednesday to extend protection for residents and staff members at long-term care facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. “From day one, I have taken action to protect both seniors and staff in long-term care facilities from COVID-19. “That’s why we have been working around the clock to protect our seniors and aggressively following CDC guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes. I signed an order months ago requiring testing for all residents and staff and new residents, and my administration has helped get nursing homes thousands of tests. According to the press release, the centers “will be care units dedicated exclusively to caring for and isolating COVID-19-affected residents.”The order also requires nursing homes to inform legal guardians or health proxies of residents or employees testing positive.

The man, Michael Reinoehl, 48, was killed as a federal task force attempted to apprehend him in Lacey, Washington, the official said. Reinoehl was the prime suspect in the killing of 39-year-old Aaron Jay Danielson, who was shot in the chest Saturday night, the official said. During the encounter, Reinoehl was shot by a law enforcement officer who was working on the federal task force, the official said. The official said Reinoehl had pulled a gun during the encounter and was shot by law enforcement. As soon as the adults jumped in, he pulled out a gun, Reinoehl said.

A new report finds Michigan’s plan to create “hubs” for nursing home residents with COVID-19 was “logical and appropriate,” and found no significant evidence of transmission of the virus between patients and residents. Whitmer for Michigan nursing home data linked to the coronavirus outbreak as part of an effort to find out if the state’s response warrants a federal investigation. No significant evidence of transmission of COVID-19 between patients admitted from hospitals to nursing home residents in hub facilities. Nursing home resident COVID-19 prevalence positively correlated with county COVID-19 prevalence rates for both hub and non-hub nursing homes. “We have taken great strides to protect families from the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON Melania Trump has announced plans to redo the White House Rose Garden to make it more in line with the original design implemented during the 1960s Kennedy administration. President Donald Trump has been using the Rose Garden a lot more lately to make statements and hold news conferences in the age of the coronavirus. Plans described by the first lady include returning the Rose Garden to its original 1962 footprint with improved infrastructure and drainage and a better environment for the plants and flowers. The renovation plan has been approved by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, an advisory committee. The project is also supported by the National Park Service, which cares for the White House grounds, and will be paid for using private donations, the White House said.

WASHINGTON The White House coronavirus task force will hold its first briefing in several weeks as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the U.S. The number of confirmed new infections soared past the previous high set on April 24 of 36,400, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. are down to around 600 per day, compared with about 2,200 in mid-April. The virus is blamed for 124,000 deaths in the U.S. and 2.4 million confirmed infections nationwide, by Johns Hopkins count. Worldwide, the virus has claimed close to a half-million lives, according to Johns Hopkins.

WASHINGTON The White House coronavirus task force held its first briefing in several weeks Friday. Just after the briefing, Local 4 had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Deborah Birx about the issues in Michigan. While Michigans response was commendable in the early months, we are seeing an uptick in cases. READ: Michigan virus cases up 389 -- Highest one-day total in JuneYou can see the interview in the video player above.

EDENVILLE, Mich. A task force that was set to acquire and improve mid-Michigan dams has halted the purchase after dam failures caused historic flooding last week. About 10,000 people in mid-Michigan were asked to evacuate their homes after multiple dams were breached, causing a major flooding emergency. Here is the full statement from the Four Lakes Task Force:"Recent events related to the Edenville dam failure were terrible and tragic for our community. All of us on the Four Lakes Task Force are devastated by our individual and collective losses, and our hearts go out to everyone who is impacted. The Four Lakes Task Force is collaborating with the Counties, lake communities and regulatory authorities on the best path forward as we assess the issues and work toward recovery.

U.S. Navy sailors man M2A1 .50-caliber machine guns aboard a Mark VI patrol boat attached to Commander, Task Force 56, during an interoperability exercise in the Arabian Gulf. WASHINGTON The U.S. Navy warned on Tuesday that vessels in the Persian Gulf should stay at least 100 meters away from U.S. warships or will be "interpreted as a threat and subject to lawful defensive measures." The notice to mariners was issued to "enhance safety, minimize ambiguity and reduce opportunities for miscalculation," according to a statement by U.S. Tuesday's warning comes a little over a month after the Pentagon claimed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy took "dangerous and provocative" actions near U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices to the Iranian ships.

America exported more protective masks including disposable surgical masks and N95 respirator masks this March than in any other month in the past decade. Businesses were encouraged to export protective masks, mechanical ventilators and even mask making machines to China. In January, this administration was being told by its own members about the importance of doing something, Doggett told USA TODAY. We want to hear from you: USA TODAY is tracking coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants across the country. The survey said the cities need 28.5 million face masks, 24.4 million other types of personal protective equipment and 139,000 ventilators.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his White House coronavirus task force would remain in place but with a focus on medical treatments and easing restrictions on businesses and social life and perhaps with different advisers. REUTERS/Tom BrennerTrump had said on Tuesday he planned to replace the task force with something in a different form.In a series of tweets on Wednesday, however, Trump said that because of its success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate.He added: The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics.The task force to date has included medical professionals focused on battling the pandemic, some of whom have at times offered guidance at odds with Trumps, including on when to ease stay-at-home orders and lockdowns on the economy. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert and most high-profile member of the task force, acknowledged in a CNN interview that he was losing the argument against reopening the country too quickly. Related Coverage Trump says will announce new members of coronavirus task force by MondayECONOMIC PRESSURESThe Trump administration and many state governors have emphasized the political and social pressures they face getting the U.S. economy going again.

REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his White House coronavirus task force would remain in place but with a focus on medical treatments and easing restrictions on businesses and social life and perhaps with different advisers. In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Trump said that because of its success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics.The task force to date has included medical professionals focused on battling the pandemic, some of whom have at times offered guidance at odds with Trumps. Trump told reporters on Tuesday: Were now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And well - well have a different group probably set up for that.Trump praised the task force, headed by Vice President Mike Pence, for having brought together resources including a supply of ventilators.

REUTERS/Carlos BarriaWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his White House coronavirus task force would remain in place but with a focus on medical treatments and easing restrictions on businesses and social life and perhaps with different advisers. In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Trump said that because of its success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics.The task force to date has included medical professionals focused on battling the pandemic, some of whom have at times offered guidance at odds with Trumps. Trump told reporters on Tuesday: Were now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. ET (2000 GMT) at the White House.

Sources told CNBC and other outlets earlier Tuesday that White House staff had signaled to task force officials that a phase-out was forthcoming. On Tuesday, Trump said he was winding down the task force " because we can't keep our country closed for the next five years ." The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics. "Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN," the president tweeted. As the president turns his attention toward reinvigorating the ailing U.S. economy, the task force has been nudged from the national spotlight.

I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I would say and I can report it is not very serious, Trump told a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. Asked whether he considered traumatic brain injury to be serious, Trump said, They told me about it numerous days later. According to Pentagon data, about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000. Various health and medial groups for years have been trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain injuries, including concussions. I dont consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen, Trump said.