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MIDLAND, Mich. — A new report found that Michigan school districts spent their Covid-19 funds similarly to how they spend their general budget, with nearly half of the funds spent on employee compensation and benefits. The report, released today by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, breaks down how school districts have spent $2.5 billion of the $6 billion in federal pandemic aid between the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
In an effort to help address the challenges of the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress distributed unprecedented amounts of money to public schools across the country from March 2020 to March 2021. Michigan schools received $6 billion total, with each district receiving varying amounts, ranging from about $500 extra per student to as much as $50,000 per pupil. School districts serving the poorest students received the largest amounts. Click here to learn more.
LANSING, Mich - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is seeking Washington’s help in dealing with the consequences of a mild weather.
“There is no denying it,” Whitmer wrote in letter sent to Capitol Hill leaders April 3. “We are facing an unprecedented problem resulting in a devastating impact on our businesses and regional economies.”
The governor is seeking an easier path for Michigan businesses to receive federal Small Business Administration relief for revenues lost to warmer weather. This winter’s below-average snowfall and warmer temperatures proved challenging for various businesses, including ski resorts, dog racing events and ice fishing suppliers. Click here for story.
CHARLOTTE, NC - A man who claimed to identify as a woman was arrested for indecent exposure to a minor after he walked around naked in the women’s locker room at a Planet Fitness location and asked a woman to rub lotion on him and take a shower together.
Christopher Allan Miller, 38, was reported to police as harassing women at the Gastonia Planet Fitness in North Carolina prior to entering the locker room.
A woman who called 911 told the dispatcher that the man who entered the locker room was “completely naked.” Miller allegedly asked a woman to shower with him and rub lotion on his body, WSOC-TV reported. Click here to read more.
BRENHAM, Texas — A 42-year-old suspect accused of driving a stolen 18-wheeler into a public safety building is facing additional charges.
Clenard Parker's booking photo was released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Jail records on Monday showed new charges filed against Parker.
The semitrailer that Parker was driving on Friday killed one person and injured 13 people who were at a Texas Department of Public Safety office in Brenham. Click here to read more.
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF - A far-Left protester was arrested last week in California for allegedly threatening Bakersfield City Council members and Republican Mayor Karen Goh for not backing a Gaza ceasefire resolution.
Riddhi Patel, 28, who reportedly claims to be non-binary, was charged with 18 felony counts of making terrorist threats and threatening city council staffers.
“You guys are all horrible human beings, and Jesus probably would have killed you himself,” she told the council members at a public hearing. “And I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherf***ers.”
“In the last five years I’ve attended city council meetings, there’s never been metal detectors, there’s never been more cops,” she later added. “The only reason you’re doing it is because people actually don’t care if you guys don’t like them, and they’re actually resisting. So you want to criminalize them.” Click here to read more.
