WASHINGTON, May 30 -- The American University Investigative Reporting Workshop issued the following news: By Jennifer LaFleur, Data Editor This week marked a sobering, significant number: 100,000, the official count of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. That number is higher than the population of Flint, Michigan; Lawrence, Kansas; or Albany, New York. It is one of many numbers that now define our world: the number of cases, the number of deaths, the number of tests. Making sense of the constant dru more PR

JACKSON, Michigan, May 22 -- Consumers Energy Foundation issued the following news release: The Consumers Energy Foundation announced nearly $90,000 in grants to assist emergency relief efforts in Midland, Saginaw and Gladwin counties, where this week's record flooding has created widespread property damage and displaced thousands of people. "Our hearts are with the people of mid-Michigan impacted by this natural disaster," said Shaun Johnson, an Edenville native who serves as Consumers Energy more PR

JACKSON, Michigan, May 29 -- Consumers Energy issued the following news release: Consumers Energy is again helping ensure the survival of a rare species in Michigan by releasing 19 juvenile Blanding's Turtles rescued from the construction path of the Saginaw Trail natural gas pipeline replacement project back into their natural wetland habitat in Genesee County. "We are so proud to once again play a key role in helping the Blanding's Turtle, a species of special concern in Michigan, survive an more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 28 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: A new partnership between the University of Michigan and health care investment firm Deerfield Management Co. will create a company to commercialize therapeutic projects that hold promise in solving unmet medical needs. U-M and Deerfield on Wednesday announced the launch of Great Lakes Discoveries LLC. Deerfield has committed up to $130 million over the next decade to invest in biomedical research at U more PR

DETROIT, Michigan, May 22 -- DTE Energy issued the following news release: DTE Energy said it will invest $7.5 million dollars to support environmental and sustainable improvements in Wayne County, Mich. The investment is a key part of an agreement reached with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Sierra Club that resolves an ongoing dispute over how the EPA's new source review (NSR) rules would apply to new emission control investments for coal plant operations. The agreement enab more PR

MUSKEGON, Mich., May 28 -- Muskegon Community College issued the following news on May 26: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Muskegon Community College President Dale K. Nesbary to the Michigan Education Trust (MET) Board of Directors on May 22. The appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate. Nesbary, who holds a Ph.D. in Law, Policy and Society from Northeastern University, succeeds Robert Ferrentino as the Board's representative from a community or junior college.  more PR

ALLENDALE, Michigan, May 26 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella to the board of the Michigan Education Trust (MET). MET is a prepaid tuition plan which allows for the pre-purchase of tuition based on current rates and then paid out at the future cost when the beneficiary is in college. MET contracts are flexible, transferrable and refundable. Members of the MET Board of Director more PR

ALLENDALE, Michigan, May 28 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news: The transition to college can be stressful at any time, let alone during the COVID-19 disruption. For some students math can be especially stressful and a perceived roadblock to success, especially 2020 high school seniors who may have missed mathematics instruction due to the COVID-19 crisis. In an effort to make the transition to college-level mathematics easier for students in West Michigan, Grand Valley more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 25 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a temporary, $2-per-hour pay raise for direct care workers providing Medicaid-funded in-home behavioral health and long-term care services to Michigan's most vulnerable residents during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is part of Governor Whitmer's ongoing efforts to support front-line health care workers risking their lives every day to protect more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 29 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) directing the department to investigate what caused the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam to fail, resulting in historic flooding in several mid-Michigan counties. Gov. Whitmer also asked EGLE to review the larger issue of dam safety in Michigan and provide recommendations on policy, legis more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 28 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-105 adding Iosco County to the state of emergency declaration issued last week for Midland, Gladwin, Arenac, and Saginaw counties after heavy rains caused widespread flooding and resulted in the breach of Edenville and Sanford dams. "This flooding has caused devastating damage for thousands of residents in impacted areas," said Governor Whitmer. " more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 22: Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-102, which extends the temporary suspension of Michigan's Reid Vapor Pressure standards and permits the transportation and sale of gasolines with a higher Reid vapor pressure across the state. "Michigan has faced unprecedented times in the face of COVID-19, and businesses and workers across the state have stepped up to do their part, more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 30 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-106, which extends the deadline for Michigan residents to pay back taxes and avoid foreclosure on their property during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to June 29, 2020. "As we slowly and safely begin reopening our economy it's critical homeowners don't have to fear losing their home during a global health pandemic," Governor Whitm more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 29 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to President Trump requesting an extension of Title 32 authority in order to use Michigan National Guard forces to combat the spread of COVID-19 through July 31, 2020. Title 32 status, which provides for federal pay and benefits, is currently authorized by the President through June 24. "The Michigan National Guard has been instrumental in flattening the CO more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 30 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-107 creating the Michigan Workforce Development Board. "Here in Michigan, the birthplace of the middle class, we must all work together to ensure paths to opportunity for everyone. This board will be vital in continuing our efforts to grow both our workforce and our economy," said Governor Whitmer. "This group of leaders will be instrumental i more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-104, which expands the types of medical personnel that can order a test, and creates a new category of community testing sites that offer testing to anyone with reason to be tested without an advance order, and without charging an out-of-pocket cost to any Michigander. "We need to keep working to expand testing, which is why it is crucial that more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 22: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-101, extending the validity of watercraft registrations that expired after February 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020. "As temperatures continue to warm up, recreational boaters should not have to worry about their watercraft registration expiring at no fault of their own," Governor Whitmer said. "This Executive Order will allow all watercraf more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 22: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-100 to extend Michigan's Safer at Home order until June 12, 2020. The governor's order also protects Michiganders from the spread of COVID-19 by extending the temporary closure of certain places of public accommodation such as theaters, gyms, and casinos. The governor also signed Executive Order 2020-99 to extend the state of emergen more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: A new, online dashboard launched that visually illustrates COVID-19 risks and trends in Michigan, providing residents with important information about the pandemic status where they live and work. Developed through a collaboration between the Michigan departments of Health and Human Services and Labor and Economic Opportunity and the University of Michigan, dashboard data is divided into Michigan more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 29 -- The Michigan Public Service Commission issued the following news release: Michigan's regulated utilities have agreed to extend through mid-June the shutoff protections, flexible payment plans and other options they've offered to help customers struggling to pay utility bills because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Utilities including the state's two largest, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, have extended protections for vulnerable customers through June  more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: The Ingham County Health Department and Michigan State University Health Care, along with other partners, are working together to conduct tests for the novel coronavirus in areas where testing is not readily available. "Widespread testing is a large component of addressing the pandemic. While there are multiple testing sites, nearly all are drive-up; and not everyone in our community has access to a  more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, and David Hennessy, Elton R. Smith Chair in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, were recently awarded a $478,000 USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, or NIFA, grant of for their project "Aflatoxin Redu more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 27 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: The national Stepping Up Initiative is helping hundreds of counties nationwide reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. A Michigan State University professor and her colleague have been awarded a grant to study how the program works and determine what techniques can be adopted to improve treatment for individuals with mental illnesses and keep them out of jail. "Our primary goal is more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 29 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: The University of Michigan has experts who can comment on the regulation of social media and an expected executive order from President Trump targeting social media companies. Josh Pasek is an associate professor of communication and media and faculty associate at the Institute for Social Research. His research explores how new media and psychological processes each shape political attitudes, public op more PR

HOUGHTON, Michigan, May 28 -- Michigan Technological University issued the following news: When the virus that causes COVID-19 finds its way into wastewater, what happens to it? Environmental engineers will track the coronavirus in wastewater and biosolids to find out. Unlike many viruses, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, is not eliminated in the human gastrointestinal tract. So, when a person infected with the virus -- whether they have noticeable symptoms or not -- has a bowel  more PR

DEARBORN, Michigan, May 27 -- The University of Michigan's Dearborn Campus issued the following news on May 26: News outlets publicized the arrival of the "murder hornet" in the U.S. recently, creating a nationwide buzz over a giant insect with a B-movie creature name. But before anyone panics and reaches for a rolled newspaper or can of Raid, UM-Dearborn naturalist Rick Simek has a few things to say about the black- and-yellow bug that keeps appearing in many of our social media feeds. Simek more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: Forty-three percent of Detroiters who were working before the COVID-19 pandemic have since lost their jobs, either on a temporary or permanent basis, according to a new University of Michigan survey. The latest rapid-response COVID-19 survey from U-M's Detroit Metro Area Communities Study shows how Detroiters are adapting to try to make ends meet in the face of widespread job loss and economic upheaval more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: As the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health care systems across the country, doctors have postponed surgery and other treatments for thousands of patients with cancer. These delays may last for months, especially for those with early stage and less aggressive disease. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a good way for doctors to compare the long-term risk to a patient from a months-long postponement o more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: Vaping among teens has skyrocketed in recent years, and a recent University of Michigan study suggests that up to 60% of kids in some school districts vaped within the past month. Philip Veliz, study co-author and research assistant professor at the U-M School of Nursing, says shelter in place is an excellent, low-pressure opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of vaping. How  more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: Vaping is most heavily concentrated in U.S. schools with a higher proportion of white students, schools in the South and West, and schools where more students smoke cigarettes, a new University of Michigan study shows. Overall, more than one in 10 American middle and high school students report having used e-cigarettes within the last month. In certain schools, as many as 60% of students said they vape more PR

DETROIT, Michigan, May 28 -- Wayne State University issued the following news: Amanda Bryant-Friedrich has been selected to serve as the next dean of the Wayne State University Graduate School. She will begin on Aug. 1, 2020. Bryant-Friedrich comes to Wayne State from the University of Toledo, where she's served as dean of the College of Graduate Studies since 2016 and in the added role of vice provost for graduate affairs since 2018. She earned her master of science in chemistry from Duke Uni more PR

DETROIT, Michigan, May 28 -- Wayne State University issued the following news: While the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the ways in which Wayne State University students continue their academic work this spring and summer, the Campus Health Center (CHC) continues its dedication to serving the Wayne State community by taking its robust health programming into the virtual world. CHC's "Health Programming Gone Virtual" initiative aims to transition and create new ways to reach the WSU community. I more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 30 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release on May 29: University of Michigan faculty, staff, alumni and students have developed online tools designed to help local and state officials reopen the economy safely and gradually while allowing them to quickly identify and respond to potential coronavirus hot spots and outbreaks. The tools include a COVID-19 symptom checklist web application and COVID-19 dashboard that provides real time, visualized d more PR

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, May 20 -- Zondervan, a Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications, issued the following corporate news release: Zondervan announces the first-ever Enneagram film, NINE: THE ENNEAGRAM DOCUMENTARY, will debut in North American theaters fall 2020, featuring internationally renowned Enneagram expert and bestselling author Christopher L. Heuertz. The documentary, produced in association with Sandoval Studios, marks Zondervan's first foray in producing a film. Z more PR