VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN
Two more health systems mandate employee virus vaccinations
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Two of Michigans largest health systems are requiring all employees and doctors at their hospitals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Spectrum Health, a 14-hospital network, and eight-hospital Beaumont Health announced the mandates Wednesday. At least five major hospital systems in the state have announced such requirements. Both Spectrum and Beaumont say their requirements will go into effect after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration fully approves one or more of the current vaccines. Three vaccines currently have emergency use authorization. Both hospital systems point to the delta variant, a mutated and more transmissible version of the coronavirus.
DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Feds seek money in Nassar’s prison account for restitution
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) U.S. prosecutors are asking a judge to order the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer all money in Larry Nassars prison account about $2,000 to help provide restitution to five victims as part of his 60-year child porn sentence. They say the former sports doctor, who was convicted in state court of sexually assaulting female gymnasts, has paid only $300 in penalties despite receiving $12,825 since he was incarcerated in a federal prison more than three years ago. Nassar owes roughly $57,000 in restitution and a $5,000 special assessment. The Washington Post first disclosed the court filing.
DETROIT CORRUPTION
Detroit council member indicted on federal bribery charge
A Detroit city councilman has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and accused of accepting $1,000 from an undercover law enforcement agent. Andre Spivey was named late Tuesday in an indictment filed in federal court in Detroit. The indictment says the bribe allegedly was accepted on Oct. 26, 2018. It also says that between 2016 and 2020, Spivey and public official A accepted more than $35,000 in payments to influence votes concerning an industry under review by the council. Public official A is identified in the indictment as a member of Spiveys staff. Spivey represents the citys District 4 and first was elected in 2009. He did not file for reelection.
FATAL CRASH-LATE CHARGES
Motorist charged 2 years after crash that killed passenger
HOME TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) A central Michigan man has been charged two years after a crash that killed a passenger in a vehicle he was driving, a delay apparently due to a misplaced police report and warrant request. The Daily News of Greenville reports Wednesday that Martin Swan faces failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, reckless driving causing death and being a habitual offender charges. Prosecutors say Nicholas Chauvin died July 25, 2019, in a single-vehicle crash northeast of Grand Rapids in Home Township, but the state police report wasn’t received until May. A state police spokeswoman says police journal entries indicate the police report and warrant request were submitted on Aug. 29, 2019.
MICHIGAN FLOODING
Detroit-area water leader quitting weeks after floods
DETROIT (AP) The head of a regional water agency in southeastern Michigan says she’s resigning, weeks after thousands of homes were spoiled by sewage backups during a tremendous storm. Sue McCormick didnt cite the June 25-26 flooding as the reason for her departure, though the controversy has tarnished the Great Lakes Water Authority. She said she had been contemplating retirement. Power disruptions at pump stations have been blamed for the backup of water and sewage in basements in Detroit and many suburbs. A storm that dropped more than 6 inches of rain in a short period in late June.
COLUMBUS POLICE CHIEF
New chief faces possible DOJ probe, community distrust
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The new police chief in Ohio’s capital and largest city is facing challenges ranging from a record number of homicides to longtime distrust of the force by Columbus residents. Elaine Bryant is a former deputy police chief in Detroit selected to run the department in June by Democratic Mayor Andrew Ginther. She is the first Black woman to lead the agency. She said she wants Columbus residents to have interactions with officers that don’t always involve a police response to an issue. She promises to call out officers for wrongdoing but also to have their back in the face of criticism if their actions are justified.
FORD-RESULTS
Ford overcomes computer chip shortage, posts surprise profit
DETROIT (AP) Sky-high sales prices for pickup trucks and SUVs helped Ford Motor Co. turn a surprise second-quarter profit despite a global shortage of computer chips that cut production in half. The Dearborn, Michigan, company says it made $561 million from April through June, largely because of cost cuts and higher-than-expected profits on its vehicles. Ford still lost half of its production for the quarter due to the chip shortage, which was worsened by a fire at Japanese supplier Renesas. That company manufactures many of Fords automotive-grade chips.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN
Michigan governor resumes wearing mask at indoor events
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has resumed wearing a mask at indoor events, citing revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a recommendation from the states chief doctor. The Democratic governor, who is vaccinated, says she does not anticipate reinstating a face covering requirement, though not in the near future and maybe not ever. The CDC on Tuesday reversed course and recommended that even vaccinated people return to being masked indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. While COVID-19 cases have been rising in Michigan, the states two-week rate is lower than in all but three states.
BANNED PETS-MARYSVILLE
Michigan city bans chickens, coyotes and even tigers as pets
MARYSVILLE, Mich. (AP) When chickens come home to roost, they better make sure its not in Marysville. The Times Herald of Port Huron reports that city leaders in the community about 65 miles northeast of Detroit have enacted a new law banning chickens, pheasants, badgers, kangaroos, coyotes and even cougars and tigers. It goes into effect in mid-August. City Manager Randy Fernandez told the city council Monday that the new domestic animals and fowl ordinance was crafted after some residents complained about neighbors who owned chickens and crowing roosters. He says the new law tightens the limit on what animals will be allowed in the city as pets.
MICHIGAN BUDGET-HOUSING
Whitmer: Use $100M in rescue funds for affordable housing
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday proposed spending $100 million in federal COVID-19 rescue funds to expand access to affordable housing. The aid would go to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The authority provides financial and technical assistance develop housing-related projects. The Democratic governor said the funding would leverage an additional $380 million in private spending. Whitmer says it has the potential to assist 6,000 families and produce 2,000 rental units. It was her latest proposal to use $6.5 billion in discretionary aid approved by Congress and President Joe Biden.read more
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