Elected officials in a Michigan county gave themselves bonuses with federal relief money related to the coronavirus pandemicByThe Associated PressJuly 22, 2021, 8:11 PM• 3 min readCORUNNA, Mich. — Elected officials in a Michigan county gave themselves $65,000 in bonuses with federal relief money related to the COVID-19 pandemic.The money, described as “hazard pay,” included $25,000 for Jeremy Root, chairman of the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners.The mostly rural county, between Lansing and Flint, has a population of 68,000.Commissioners — all Republicans — last week voted... Read More

Three Republican governors opposed efforts this year to absolve businesses for violating public health orders during the coronavirus pandemicBy HOLLY RAMER Associated PressJuly 21, 2021, 1:11 PM• 5 min readCONCORD, N.H. — Three Republican governors opposed efforts this year to absolve businesses for violating public health orders during the coronavirus pandemic. But only in the “Live Free or Die” state have the scofflaws been set free of the fines.In March, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed legislation requiring the state to refund about $38,000 in fines imposed on businesses for... Read More

The Federal Reserve says its low interest rate policies are providing “powerful support” for the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemicBy MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics WriterJuly 9, 2021, 4:27 PM• 3 min readWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve says its low interest rate policies are providing “powerful support” for the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.In its twice-a-year report to Congress on monetary policy released Friday, the Fed indicated that it planned to maintain that support until further progress is made in recovering from last year’s... Read More

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week even while the economy and the job market appear to be rebounding from the coronavirus recession with sustained energyBy PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics WriterJuly 8, 2021, 1:18 PM• 3 min readWASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week even while the economy and the job market appear to be rebounding from the coronavirus recession with sustained energy.Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims increased by 2,000 from the previous... Read More

The U.K. has recorded its most new coronavirus infections since early February as the National Health Service ran a “grab a jab” initiative to further drive up vaccination ratesBy PAN PYLAS Associated PressJune 26, 2021, 5:10 PM• 4 min readLONDON — The U.K. on Saturday recorded its most new coronavirus infections since early February as the National Health Service ran a “grab a jab” initiative to further drive up vaccination rates.Government figures showed that another 18,270 people tested positive for the virus across the U.K, the highest daily number since Feb. 5. Over the past... Read More

First lady Jill Biden is encouraging people in one of the least-vaccinated states to roll up their sleeves and get immunized against the coronavirusBy LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press/Report for AmericaJune 23, 2021, 1:45 AM• 4 min readJACKSON, Miss. — First lady Jill Biden visited one of the states least vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday, encouraging residents of Mississippi to get their shots and telling them, “The White House, our administration — we care about you.”“I’m here today to ask all of the people who can hear my voice, who can see my face, to get their shot,”... Read More

California workplace regulators are considering ending mask rules if every employee in a room has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirusBy DON THOMPSON Associated PressJune 3, 2021, 1:19 PM• 4 min readSACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is set to fully reopen in less than two weeks and do away with virtually all mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people, but those who regulate workplaces in the state aren’t ready to go that far and that has business groups upset.The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board meets Thursday and will consider new... Read More

“It’s one of the gaps in our vaccine access issue,” a professor says. May 25, 2021, 9:04 AM• 7 min readAs the government seeks to increase vaccination rates, especially among communities of color, some experts say a lack of paid time off is keeping many from getting the coronavirus vaccine.There are currently no federal laws that require employers to provide time off — paid or unpaid — in order to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Dorit Rubinstein Reiss, a University of California-Hastings law professor whose research focuses on vaccines and the law.”It’s... Read More

The head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said Monday that there is no need to waive patents on coronavirus vaccines because manufacturers will be able to produce enough shots to supply the world over the coming yearBy FRANK JORDANS Associated PressMay 10, 2021, 2:34 PM• 3 min readBERLIN — The head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said Monday that there is no need to waive patents on coronavirus vaccines because manufacturers will be able to produce enough shots to supply the world over the coming year.Ugur Sahin, the chief executive of BioNTech, rejected the U.S.-backed... Read More

California has gone from worst to first in the rate of coronavirus infectionsBy BRIAN MELLEY Associated PressApril 23, 2021, 12:55 AM• 5 min readLOS ANGELES — Just a few months ago, California was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. Hospitals in Los Angeles were drowning in patients, and ambulances were idling outside with people struggling to breathe, waiting for beds to open.The death count was staggering — so many that morgues filled and refrigerated trucks were brought in to handle the overflow.Now as cases spike in other parts of the country, California has gone... Read More