
Michigan lost 60K hospitality jobs in December
Jobs numbers from December show huge number of restaurant workers were laid off in the wake of state shutdown orders.

Some Michiganders cutting in line for vaccine
Older and more at-risk people are losing out on limited vaccines as younger, healthier folks jump the queue.

1/21/21: COVID deaths pass 14K
New cases continue to decline … slowly. Hospitalizations drop below 2K. Kalamazoo County deaths rising again. County workers vaccinate record number.

Kalamazoo leaders may investigate former chief’s firing
Kalamazoo city commissioners want more information on the firing of the former public safety chief – and why it was covered up.

Restaurants expected to reopen in February despite new COVID strain
State health officials say they will let restaurants resume business even as a new, virulent strain of COVID reaches Michigan.

Official: Michigan needs to vaccinate 90% of the population to reach herd immunity
The state’s top epidemiologist is worried that a new strain of the coronavirus may make that feat even more difficult.

1/20/21: Average of new COVID infections drops below 2K
Kalamazoo’s average drops below 50 cases per day. WMU reports first infections of the new semester. Nearly 500K Michiganders now vaccinated.

KRESA superintendent released from hospital after bout of COVID
The head of Kalamazoo County’s regional school district was hospitalized for three days.

Governor reveals $5.6B plan to address coronavirus
The new plan, funded almost entirely with federal money, would improve vaccine distribution and help schools go back to in-person classes.

Local cities memorialize 400K COVID deaths
The cities of Portage and Kalamazoo participated in a nationwide memorial to the roughly 400K Americans who have died from COVID since last March.