Covid-19 Recovery

Composer Molly Sturges (center) working on the group project ‘Firerock’ in New Mexico in 2014.

Composer Molly Sturges launches new community music project; 'Stories That Heal'

Kendra Carr

A new community wellbeing project is coming to northern lower Michigan. ‘Stories That Heal’ aims to help people heal from trauma through music and storytelling. It’s the brainchild of composer Molly Sturges.

‘Stories That Heal’: new project works to heal trauma through songwriting

Kendra Carr

The new northern Michigan community wellness project, ‘Stories That Heal,’ is supporting healing by creating collaborative music.

A 67% decrease in statewide pandemic risk factors is leading northern Michigan health departments to drop school mask mandates.

Northern Michigan health departments to end K-12 mask mandates

Kendra Carr

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department and Health Department of Northwest Michigan are both lifting mask mandates for K-12 schools.

Eastern Michigan University isn't the only school in Michigan bucking funding incentives

Appeals court: Universities don’t owe refunds for COVID remote classes

Rick Pluta

The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled state universities don’t owe students refunds for classes taught remotely during the COVID-19 crisis.

House Democrats pressure colleagues to vote on December COVID relief funds

Colin Jackson | MPRN

Michigan House Democrats are calling for the release of more than 350-million-dollars in federal COVID relief aid.

Stephanie Chenard bid her 3rd grader, Desmond, goodbye for the day, as he headed into his classroom last week. Screens can't replace the value of in-person interaction for schoolkids says UCSF psychotherapist Saun-Toy Trotter. "One element of their well-being, she says, is being with peers — learning, stretching, struggling, growing and connecting."

Northern Michigan health departments can’t keep up with COVID-19 spread in schools

Brett Dahlberg

The latest data from the state health department show that COVID-19 is spreading fastest in Michigan’s youngest age group: people under 10 years old.

In a pool photo provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., on Monday.

Whitmer signs budget deal, vetoes money for anti-abortion efforts

Rick Pluta

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the final two bills of the new state budget Wednesday.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's Chief Medical Executive, at a previous press conference.

Leader of state’s COVID response stepping down

Rick Pluta

The doctor who led Michigan’s COVID-19 pandemic response, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, is leaving state government.

Superintendent Rick Heitmeyer announced the change in mask policy in a facebook video.

Kalkaska Public Schools adopts universal mask policy; more than 200 students quarantined

Kendra Carr

Kalkaska Public Schools has decided to go to universal masking in an attempt to keep up student attendance.

Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, Liza Estlund Olsen defends her agency’s handling of the surge in unemployment claims during the COVID-19 crisis to the House Oversight Committee.

Michigan unemployment agency chief grilled by lawmakers

Rick Pluta

The head of Michigan’s unemployment agency faced tough questioning from a Republican-led legislative committee regarding delayed claim payments.