Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to combat racial disparities as the pandemic tore through Michigan last year. A member of her COVID task force calls the state’s failure to collect racial data “almost criminal.” State officials say they’re working on it.
From Albion and Detroit to Saginaw, Flint and Pontiac, cities that relief on local income taxes suffered big budget shortfalls due to increased unemployment from the pandemic.
Spend the way out of the pandemic or be prudent? That could be the debate, as the Democratic governor seeks big boosts in pandemic pay, free college and a major infrastructure investment.
From psychiatrists to counselors to direct care workers, health agencies are unable to fill jobs as depression and substance abuse cases increase. Some state and federal programs could help nudge more doctors and therapists to underserved regions of the state.
The Michigan Senate majority leader on Tuesday apologized for conspiratorial comments. The next day he was caught on camera again, this time saying ‘I don’t take back any of the points I was trying to make.'