Under a torrent of criticism, a contingent of GOP lawmakers meets with President Trump in Washington days before Michigan is to certify the presidential election. The lawmakers say they talked about COVID.

Rick Snyder, Jennifer Granholm and John Engler call on state canvassers to put aside politics, unfounded fraud claims and pressure from President Trump and certify Biden’s 150,000 vote victory.

The public health system is so overwhelmed, health departments are advising residents not to expect a call from contact tracers if they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, federal money may soon run out.

The battle for Michigan turns Monday to the state Board of Canvassers, where a key Republican is threatening to refuse to certify the election until after an audit. But experts say that’s not allowed — and could take so long it would delay the awarding of Michigan electors for president.

The students who need in-person instruction the most are among the least likely to get it, new Michigan data shows.

The restaurant industry warns that 250,000 employees could be laid off under new COVID-19 restrictions. A judge denied a request for an injunction, but the trade group’s suit seeking to overturn the measure continues.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has dismissed a complaint challenging the 2018 permit that allows the company to increase its withdrawals form the Osceola County well, concluding Nestlé’s opponents should have taken their case to court.

A worst-case scenario calls for 1,000 weekly Michigan deaths from coronavirus by year’s end if we don’t change our ways. But getting compliance from those opposed to government pandemic orders is proving a hard sell.

The sadness and stress of handling so many COVID patients is getting to the state’s frontline health care workers, many of whom already struggled to cope in a job with long hours, little gratitude and daily tragedy.

The president and supporters are pushing Republicans to overlook the popular vote and give him Michigan’s 16 electoral votes. Doing so would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of citizens.

Canvassing boards are thrust into the national spotlight after two Wayne County Republicans try to change their certification. County officials say they now need to do a better job investigating applicants before they are appointed to posts.

Rudy Guiliani, President Trump’s campaign lawyer, said the campaign withdrew its federal suit challenging Michigan’s presidential vote because it has already succeeded in blocking certification of votes in Wayne County. It has not.