Category: Local News
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Commentary: Politics in the time of coronavirus–so many questions arise
By Paul Rozycki Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like the most important things on the horizon were the 2020 campaign, the Flint City Council, Eric Mays, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump. The national campaigns were heating up, impeachment was a hot topic, and Democrats were in the process of choosing from…
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Genesee Health Plan reaches out to county residents needing health care coverage
In a press release issued today, officials at the Genesee Health Plan emphasized that though their offices are closed in line with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” coronavirus order, services to help residents with health care coverage continue by phone. “Genesee Health Plan’s priority is to make sure people get the health coverage…
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Murals, millage and more: an interview with Flint Public Art Project’s Joe Schipani
Editor’s Note: The following interview occurred before the coronavirus closures, so some of its details have been altered by circumstance. In fact, Totem Books, where the interview took place, is now closed because of the virus. However, Schipani’s commitment to the mural projects in Flint continue, and are sure to be picked up as soon…
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Neeley says of the pandemic, “this is real, this is serious, people are dying” in a Monday afternoon video press conference
By Tom Travis “This is real, this is serious, people are dying.” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in an afternoon video conference press conference Monday. Neeley began by paying homage to his colleague in the Michigan State Legislature, Isaac Robinson, age 44, who died Sunday in Detroit from complications to the coronavirus. Robinson represented the…
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“We are in a new normal,” City Health Advisor Lawrence Reynolds asserts
By Tom Travis “We are in a new normal,” the City of Flint’s newly-appointed Health Advisor to the Mayor, Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, asserted in a wide-ranging phone interview Sunday. As numbers on the coronavirus pandemic skyrocket, both nationally and in the state and Genesee County, “All the assumptions under which we operated in the past…
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National Guard coming to Flint Monday for coronavirus/ Food Bank assistance
Approximately 10 members of the Michigan National Guard are expected to arrive in Flint Monday to assist with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan as the community responds to the coronavirus crisis, Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s office announced Sunday. The crew will help distribute food and other “critical resources” to the community and help sustain the…
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MTA’s Benning offers updates on COVID-19 driver situation, route suspensions
by Madeleine Graham “When we learned the Ride to Wellness driver tested positive on Wednesday, March 25, we suspended operations Thursday, March 26,” Ed Benning, CEO of the Mass Transportaion Authority (MTA) stated in an update issued Friday on a COVID-19 “presumptive positive” driver situation first reported here. Two additional drivers are awaiting results of…
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Coronavirus throws wrench in Flint Public Library works–but Director Schwartz “still positive”
Added today, March 27: the Flint District Library Board April 2020 meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 2 has been cancelled, due to the Gov. Whitmer’s “sheltering in place” executive coronavirus order. Just as the Flint Public Library (FPL) had launched its much-heralded series of moves and beginnings of its $27.6 million upgrade, the coronavirus hit,…
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Small business relief assistance available from MDEC; deadline to apply Sunday night
As part of the coronavirus federal response, the Michigan Small Business Relief program has opened up to provide immediate grant support for businesses hardest hit by COVID-19 and is seeking applications, which are due Sunday night. The program has $10 million in grants and $10 million in loans statewide to work with, according to the…
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Ride to Wellness suspends operations after driver tests positive for COVID-19
By Madeleine Graham Ride to Wellness in Flint is suspending operations immediately for two weeks, due to a driver testing positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus, according to Ed Benning, CEO of the Mass Transportation Authority (MTA). Ride to Wellness is part of the MTA’s suite of services. Benning said two additional employees are awaiting results…
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