ALMA, Michigan, May 16 -- Alma College issued the following news: Alma College will hold a virtual commencement celebration May 21 in honor of the students who are candidates for bachelor's degrees at the end of the winter 2020 semester. The college previously announced it would postpone its annual in-person commencement, originally scheduled for April 18, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The college will reschedule the in-person event in the future, following guidance from healthcare officials.  more PR

JACKSON, Michigan, May 6 -- Consumers Energy issued the following news release: The Consumers Energy Foundation is donating $1.8 million to nine organizations to provide a lifeline to small businesses across Michigan - focusing in particular on helping female- and minority-owned businesses. In all, the Foundation has given over $3 million to meet the needs of Michigan residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and have been significantly impa more PR

YPSILANTI, Michigan, May 16 -- Eastern Michigan University issued the following news: To Eastern Michigan University faculty and staff: You don't have to look far to see that substantial budget challenges, and the responses to them, permeate the entire higher education community in response to COVID-19. Every university in the nation is making significant adjustments to address the financial impact of the disease. Sadly, Eastern Michigan University is no exception. (For a national snapshot of more PR

ALLENDALE, Michigan, May 12 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news: Grand Valley's Charter Schools Office has commissioned a first-of-its-kind study to analyze the continuity of learning plans for each of the 78 charter public schools the university authorizes. The study provides a comprehensive overview of how K-12 districts will support student learning and well-being during school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent study found that 87 percent of G more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 15 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 14: Governor Gretchen Whitmer and plaintiffs in the Gary B. literacy case, initially filed against Governor Rick Snyder, signed a settlement agreement that resolves all of the plaintiffs' claims against all of the defendants. This settlement marks a first step toward ensuring children in Detroit and all across Michigan - regardless of where they live - have the right to a quality education.  more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 16 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of the Return to Learning Advisory Council via Executive Order 2020-88, formalizing a process for determining how schools may be able to reopen in the fall. The panel - which will be comprised of students, parents, frontline educators, administrators and public health officials - will be tasked with providing the COVID-19 Task Force on Education wit more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 15 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has directed U.S. and Michigan flags throughout the state of Michigan to remain lowered at half-staff on Friday, May 15, 2020, to honor Peace Officers Memorial Day during Police Week to honor officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. "Peace Officers Memorial Day is a time to remember and reflect on the sacrifices law enforcement make for our communities every sing more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 14 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-82, extending a prior order temporarily lifting regulatory requirements on hospitals and care facilities to help ensure adequate personnel and facilities to serve patients during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The reissued order authorizes the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LAR more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 12 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 8: Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-78, to temporarily extend the expiration of state identification cards, driver's licenses and operator endorsements, as well as suspends penalties for vehicle registration violations, and protects Michigan drivers. The order also ensures that automobile insurance will continue to protect and cover Michigan drivers. "Nobody should have to stres more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 13 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-81 to replace her previous order that temporarily lifts weight and other delivery-related restrictions for vehicles carrying essential supplies. "While we have seen signs for cautious optimism over the past couple of weeks, we are not out of the woods yet. We still need essential supplies to be delivered all across the state," said Governor Whitmer. "B more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 14 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on May 13: The state of Michigan announced that it would participate in the federal Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Work Share program to help offset budget implications as a result of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this program, impacted state employees will take two temporary layoff days per pay period beginning Sunday, May 17th until July 25th resulting in up to $8 more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 12 [TNSscientificresearch] -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: Magnesium dimer, or Mg2, is a fragile molecule consisting of two weakly interacting atoms held together by the laws of quantum mechanics. It has recently emerged as a potential probe for understanding fundamental phenomena at the intersection of chemistry and ultracold physics, but its use has been thwarted by a half-century-old enigma -- five high-lying vibrational states that more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 14 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: Catmint, or catnip, is a flowering plant in the mint family belonging to the genus Nepeta Lamiaceae that is well-known for its intoxicating effect on cats. This "feline" phenomenon is caused by the volatile compound nepetalactone. Interestingly, the main function of nepetalactones in Nepeta is not to attract cats, but to protect plants against herbivorous insects by producing a defensive chemical tha more PR

HOUGHTON, Michigan, May 13 -- Michigan Technological University issued the following news: It's said that to survive and thrive in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, it takes a healthy serving of "sisu" -- a Finnish word that roughly translates as "grit." The term is also apt for describing how scientists, health care professionals and planners have pivoted to ensure Yoopers have access to nutritious, local food and to gardening despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Last fall, Angie Carter, assistant profe more PR

HOUGHTON, Michigan, May 12 [TNSmedicalresearch] -- Michigan Technological University issued the following news: Proteins do not misbehave and misfold out of the blue. There is a delicate ecosystem of biochemical interactions and environments that usually let them twist, unfold, refold and do their jobs as they're meant to. However, as researchers from Michigan Technological University explore in an article published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, even a small change may cause long-term consequ more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 12 -- The Michigan Public Service Commission issued the following news release on May 8: The Michigan Public Service Commission concluded its investigation into the Jan. 31, 2019, fire at Consumers Energy Co.'s Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station in Macomb County that led to a statewide natural gas emergency amid a polar vortex cold snap. The Commission's order (Case No. U-20463) accepts the findings of the MPSC's Gas Safety Staff investigation, filed in January 2020, th more PR

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 15 -- Ohio State University issued the following news: Religion sounds different during a pandemic. Instead of a choir singing in a Baptist church, congregants might listen to their pastor over Zoom. Instead of the soft sounds of mats unfurling in a mosque before voices rise together in prayer, a Muslim family might be practicing alone in a noisy apartment. Instead of a group of Wiccans chanting together, one woman may be chanting by herself. Researchers at the American Re more PR

DEARBORN, Michigan, May 16 -- The University of Michigan's Dearborn Campus issued the following news: As the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, University of Michigan-Dearborn recognizes that current and prospective students are facing unprecedented challenges and new realities. In order to support students and help them prepare for success and in the future, the university has modified some policies to make the admissions and registration process easier. "At UM-Dearborn, our students  more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 16 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: University of Michigan economists Gabriel Ehrlich and Daniil Manaenkov are speaking Friday morning via video to Michigan lawmakers and other officials as part of the twice-yearly Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. The experts from U-M's Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics are providing a state and national economic outlook. The conference comes amid a steep economic downturn spurred by pol more PR

DEARBORN, Michigan, May 13 -- The University of Michigan's Dearborn Campus issued the following news: Jun He remembers the first time he wore a mask for health reasons. Visiting his parents in Beijing, China, a few years ago, the College of Business associate professor went outside during rush hour and put on a N95 face mask to protect himself from the smog. "I did not like wearing it. My glasses would fog. It hurt around the ears. It was not comfortable. But without it, my throat would burn f more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 13 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: New research from Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan highlights the need for more robust eviction protections in Detroit in light of the number of people who have lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic, existing instability in the city's housing market, and a shortage of livable housing units. In 2017, 13% of Detroit residents reported being evicted or otherwise forced to leave their hou more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 14 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news release: People with anterior cruciate ligament injuries can lose up to 40% of the muscle strength in the affected leg--with muscle atrophy remaining a big problem even after ACL reconstruction and physical therapy. Now, a new University of Michigan study in rats challenges conventional wisdom about which exercises are most beneficial during post-injury physical therapy, and findings suggest that adding eccentr more PR

EAST LANSING, Michigan, May 12 [TNSgeneralresearch] -- Michigan State University issued the following news release: The secret to predicting viral outbreaks like COVID-19 might be in our sewers. A Michigan State University researcher is spearheading a study to determine if viral outbreaks can be identified and forecasted through wastewater sampling. Funded by the Great Lakes Water Authority, MSU's Irene Xagoraraki is using a method from one of her recently completed studies to test and predict more PR

KALAMAZOO, Michigan, May 13 -- Western Michigan University issued the following news: Six Open Textbook grant recipients successfully adopted and used an open textbook in their spring courses, saving 798 Western Michigan University students over $184,000 in textbooks costs. The grants, awarded in December 2019 by the University Libraries, provide support and incentive to instructors interested in adopting open textbooks--low or no-cost alternatives to traditional textbooks. The six courses wer more PR

KALAMAZOO, Michigan, May 13 -- Western Michigan University issued the following news: Grab your earbuds, because the Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy at Western Michigan University has launched another method for tuning into the business world while sheltering in place. The Jungle podcast is now available for streaming. "The Jungle," a podcast that aims to explore the wild and exciting side of business through thoughtful conversations with executives and other leaders,  more PR

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, May 12 -- Xavier University of Louisiana issued the following news: Xavier University of Louisiana and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have partnered to establish an initiative that allows qualified Xavier students to participate in a collaborative Medical Track Program that facilitates assured acceptance into the School of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Xavier has also established early assurance programs with six other institutions including Tulane Unive more PR

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, May 13 -- Xavier University of Louisiana issued the following news: Xavier University of Louisiana and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have partnered to establish an initiative that allows qualified Xavier students to participate in a collaborative Medical Track Program that facilitates assured acceptance into the School of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Xavier has also established early assurance programs with six other institutions including Tulane Unive more PR

HOUSTON, Texas, May 13 -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: Xavier University of Louisiana and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have partnered to establish an initiative that allows qualified Xavier students to participate in a collaborative Medical Track Program that facilitates assured acceptance into the School of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Xavier also has established early assurance programs with six other institutions including Tulane Unive more PR