The former Obama official had taken a larger role in fighting the coronavirus after Michigan courts struck down Gov. Whitmer’s power to issue executive orders. He will be succeeded by Elizabeth Hertel.

Even as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced limited reopening for the state’s battered bar and restaurant industry starting Feb. 1, she warned that indoor dining will last only so long as COVID remains under control.

Michigan school districts are relieved to get federal help to offset costs connected to the pandemic, but some question a funding formula that is creating wide disparities among school districts.

This is the second Michigan person arrested by federal authorities investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The FBI said it was aided in its investigation by comparing video of the riot with photos posted on the Facebook feed of the suspect’s father.

A new, faster-moving variant worries health officials and means more people need to become immune to stop it. But the state’s history on vaccines plus a shortage of doses doesn’t bode well for meeting that goal anytime soon.

The decision, which will be finalized in the next few days, comes as coronavirus cases decline throughout Michigan. State officials say the ban on indoor dining helped drive down rates. Others aren’t so sure.

Joe Biden, who is inaugurated as president Wednesday, made four specific promises to Michigan. But even with a majority in Congress, some of his agenda faces tough sledding.

Michigan has shown progress in getting nursing home residents and staff vaccinated. But overall, nearly 8 percent of people over 70 have received a COVID vaccine in Michigan.

Whitmer wants to fast-track federal spending for vaccine distribution and aid to schools and businesses. But Republicans in the Legislature may block spending requests over ongoing business restrictions.

Government programs should create an equitable playing field for business owners and entrepreneurs, Felix Kabo said of racial disparities his research team found in Paycheck Protection Program loans amid COVID.

Michigan is unique among states in giving broad powers to one-judge grand juries that operate behind closed and can keep evidence from defendants. Snyder is due back in court Tuesday and still doesn’t know the evidence against him.

Workers in this small town said they followed safety protocols, only to see their beloved city manager succumb to the virus. The four infections underscore the risks faced by election officials as they worked through a pandemic.