MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s Safe On Campus website now features a dashboard that will keep the campus community updated on the latest COVID-19 numbers.

The link is https://nmu.edu/safe-on-campus/.

As of about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, there were 11 positive COVID-19 cases at NMU out of the total Northern population of 7,681. Testing positive were three employees, three on-campus students and five off-campus students. The data includes positives from testing on the NMU campus as well as external tests.

Ten of the positives were discovered through NMU testing.

The count for off-campus students does not include NMU Global Campus students and faculty, or NMU students, faculty and staff living, learning, teaching or working remotely outside Marquette County.

Also as of Thursday afternoon, 5,669 tests had been completed on campus, with 2,629 results returned.

Regarding NMU’s quarantine and isolation capacities, 16 out of 150 beds were occupied as of Thursday afternoon.

Whitmer requests full guard funding

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday requesting that he fully fund the Michigan National Guard forces during its COVID-19 response through Dec. 31.

Last week, the president made the decision to federally fund National Guard activities at only 75% in every state except Florida, Texas, Arizona, Connecticut and California, the governor’s office said.

Title 32 authority, which allows guard members to receive federal pay and benefits, was previously set to expire on Aug. 21 due to a deadline set by the Trump administration.

“Michigan needs the president to fully fund the use of the Michigan National Guard so our guardsmen and women can continue to provide crucial parts of our emergency response, like conducting testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment and assisting at food banks across the state,” Whitmer said in a statement.

The president’s decision to grant full federal funding, Whitmer said, would directly impact Michigan’s ability to re-engage its economy while continuing to keep communities, seniors and vulnerable populations safe.

Need for scholarships ongoing

The Michigan Department of Treasury is reminding Michiganders that they can help youth who have been in foster care receive a college education.

While the Fostering Future Scholarship Trust Fund is unable to raise money through in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for scholarship funds remains.

To continue raising funds for scholarships, the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund will host its first virtual movie trivia night at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The event will feature surprise guests, prizes and other activities.

“A growing number of our youth are reaching adult age and leaving the foster care system with inadequate resources to attend college,” said Robin Lott, director of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Services, in a news release. “Students who receive this scholarship can use the money for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses. With COVID-19, we’re trying to be innovative in the way we can raise funds for Michigan’s foster youth.”

Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased through the MET Fostering Futures Trust Fund Payment website.

All proceeds from ticket sales are awarded as scholarships to former foster youth currently enrolled at Michigan colleges and universities.

In-person fundraisers in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit were postponed this year due to the pandemic.

To apply or learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship, visit www.fosteringfutures-mi.com or call toll-free at 1-888-447-2687.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net