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ZZZ_Coronavirus

COVID Update: Funds approved to aid businesses, local money awarded

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday approved a $100 million program that will provide grants to small businesses around the state working to recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 virus, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced. The Michigan Strategic Fund authorized distribution of the funding across 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations covering all 83 counties in the state to provide a base amount of $3.5 million per EDO for grants up to $20,000 each. InvestUP was awarded $4,545,455. “The COVID-19 virus has especially ...

Trump pushes state, local leaders to reopen schools in fall

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political ...

Scientists urge WHO to acknowledge novel coronavirus is airborne

LONDON (AP) — More than 200 scientists have called for the World Health Organization and others to acknowledge that the coronavirus can spread in the air — a change that could alter some of the current measures being taken to stop the pandemic. In a letter published this week in the ...

Trudeau turns down invitation

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned down a White House invitation to celebrate the new regional free trade agreement in Washington with U.S President Donald Trump and Mexican President AndrÈs Manuel Lopez Obrador. Trump and Lopez Obrador are due to meet Wednesday Washington, but Trudeau spokesperson Chantal Gagnon said Monday that while Canada wishes the U.S. and Mexico well, Trudeau won’t be there. “While there were recent discussions about the possible participation of Canada, the prime minister will be in Ottawa this week for scheduled Cabinet meetings ...

Lebanon conducts Baalbek concert despite coronavirus

By BILAL HUSSEIN Associated Press BAALBEK, Lebanon— For the first time ever, Lebanon on Sunday hosted its annual music festival in the ancient northeastern city of Baalbek without an audience, a move organizers dubbed “an act of cultural resilience”î to the global coronavirus ...

Whitmer closes downstate indoor bars, U.P. businesses not affected

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said this week that she was closing indoor seating in bars in parts of the state, including a college town where one brewpub has been linked to about 140 infections. Whitmer also signed a bill allowing bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails in an effort ...