Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The Mining Journal 5A
State / Nation
State briefing
State: Docs have discretion; order
eases burden on morgues
Parking lot at state park closed
GRAND HAVEN (AP) — Officials have closed the
parking lot at a Michigan state park after crowds of visitors
ignored social distancing guidelines designed to prevent
the spread of the coronavirus.
LANSING (AP) — Michigan hospi-
tals and physicians have “broad discre-
tion” to decide whether to continue de-
laying procedures during the pandemic,
the state said in new guidance issued in
the face of pressure to let providers do
more as the curve of coronavirus cases
flattens.
Grand Haven State Park’s parking lot was shut down on
Sunday. Mayor Robert Monetza said the city and the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources decided to
leave the park open but closed the lots to deter crowds.
“We knew that with the nice weather, it’d get busy and
so we just knew we would have to keep an eye on it,” said
Monetza.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief
medical executive and chief deputy
health director, announced the memo
Monday, a day after sending it. Six
weeks ago, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer re-
stricted all nonessential medical and den-
tal care to ensure that the health care sys-
tem had enough capacity and equipment
to treat COVID-19 patients and to limit
the virus’s spread.
“We really want people to come visit, but our priority
here is public health and safety. That’s number one. If we
can get people to stay home or closer to home and come
here later when it’s safer, that’s what we’re trying to ac-
complish,” Monetza said.
National briefing
Pint-sized driver surprises trooper
THE LATEST
OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A Utah Highway Patrol trooper
got a pint-sized surprise when he pulled over a 5-year-old
driver who was swerving so badly he thought the driver
needed medical attention.
The governor’s order remains in effect,
but physicians “do have the discretion to
be able to determine what care is neces-
sary and urgent for their patients,” Khal-
dun said.
If clinicians determine in-person con-
tact is necessary, she said, they should
take steps such as asking patients to wait
in their cars until their appointments and
requiring masks. Khaldun encouraged
providers to prioritize appointments for
the most vulnerable and to consider al-
lowing visits for immunizations.
Medical professionals wave outside St. John Hospital & Medical Center in De-
troit Monday. Law enforcement agencies in a vehicle procession drove by the hos-
pital to salute and honor all medical and frontline personnel assisting the commu-
nity during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP photo)
Trooper Rick Morgan said the boy did not respond to his
lights but pulled over when he hit his siren on Interstate 15
in Ogden on Monday.
“I approached the vehicle and I was expecting to find
somebody who needed an ambulance or paramedics,”
Morgan said. But when the window came down Morgan
said it was pretty clear that it was “a very underaged driver
who was behind the wheel.”
“If we open up too fast, we will have to
“Some sisters have tested negative;
go through this pain all over again,” she some who have tested positive are recov-
said.
In Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan said Suzanne Wilcox English said.
the pace of deaths continued to fall, al-
ering in the convent,” spokeswoman
For most people, the coronavirus caus-
though there had been at least 248 deaths es mild or moderate symptoms. For
among nursing home residents, nearly some, especially older adults and people
The boy was sitting on the edge of his seat to reach the
brake pedal, the trooper said.
25% of the city’s total.
with existing health problems, it can
“Things that were not urgent a few
weeks ago may now be urgent more than
ever,” she said.
Henry Ford Health System in south- cause more severe illness, including
eastern Michigan had 310 COVID-19 pneumonia and death.
When asked, Morgan said the boy told him he was going
to his sister’s house — in California. The boy told another
trooper that he wanted to buy a Lamborghini when he got
there and then flashed open his wallet showing his cash to
purchase his dream car: $3.
patients, down 30% from a week ago.
Beaumont Health, the state’s largest
ELECTION
Roughly 50 communities will hold
Michigan’s daily report on cases and
deaths was partial due to a software issue.
The state had more than 4,100 deaths and
nearly 44,000 confirmed cases, though
the actual number of infections is thought
to be far higher because many people
have not been tested and people can be in-
fected without feeling sick.
provider, had 447 coronavirus patients elections on school taxes or other issues
and 62 with tests pending, compared to today after others were postponed. They
His parents were contacted and they came and took cus-
tody of their son and the vehicle.
a peak of 1,223 on April 7.
will be primarily mail-based, though one
The state reported progress on testing, polling place must be open in each juris-
with more than 11,300 done Friday — diction.
a daily record.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s of-
In Livonia, seven Catholic nuns have fice sent absentee ballot applications to
died from health complications aggravat- just over 740,000 registered voters in
ed by the virus, said the Felician Sisters those communities. Turnout was at 20%
of North America. The religious order and will ultimately more than double the
founded Madonna University and oper- average turnout of 12% for May local
While data in recent weeks is a sign for
“cautious optimism,” Whitmer said, she
pointed to a rapid rise of cases in west-
ern Michigan and rural northern Michi-
gan.
ates Angela Hospice, both in Livonia.
elections, she said.
3 charged in killing of store
security guard over virus mask
FLINT (AP) — A woman, tive order mandating that all
her adult son and husband customers and employees
have been charged in the fa- must wear face coverings in-
tal shooting of a security side grocery stores, Leyton
guard who refused to let her said.
In this Feb. 22 file photo, Democratic presidential candi-
date former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a cau-
cus night event in Las Vegas. (AP photo)
Biden pressed to choose a black
woman as his running mate
daughter enter a Family Dol-
Witnesses identified Bish-
lar in Michigan because she op as the man who shot
wasn’t wearing a face mask Munerlyn in the back of the
to protect against transmis- head, Leyton said.
DETROIT (AP) — After a
But Biden is also thought to
sion of the coronavirus.
Sharmel Teague has been
devastating start to the Demo- be considering several white
cratic primary, Joe Biden’s women, including Sen. Eliza-
campaign was revived when beth Warren of Mas-
Calvin Munerlyn was shot arrested. Police were looking
Friday at the store just north for her husband and son.
of downtown Flint a short
No information has been
black voters in South Caroli- sachusetts,
Sen.
Amy
time after telling Sharmel released about the daughter,
Teague’s daughter she had to who has not been charged in
leave because she lacked a the shooting.
na and throughout the South Klobuchar of Minnesota and
overwhelmingly sided with Michigan Gov. Gretchen
him. Now that he’s the pre- Whitmer.
mask, according to Genesee
County Prosecutor David governor’s order be respect-
Leyton. ed and adhered to, and for
“It is important that the
sumptive Democratic nomi-
President Donald Trump
nee, black voters and leaders said his November opponent
are pressing for him to pick a owes the spot to Warren, the-
black woman as his running orizing that Sen. Bernie
Teague, 45, argued with someone to lose their life
Munerlyn, 43, before leav- over it is beyond comprehen-
ing. Two men later came to sion,” Leyton said earlier
mate.
Sanders“wouldhavewonev-
Biden launched a commit- ery single state on Super
tee last week to begin vetting Tuesday” if Warren had
possible candidates for the dropped out of the primary
vice presidency, a process he race earlier.
the store.
Teague; her husband, Lar-
Monday in a statement.
About 150 people attended
ry Teague, 44; and Ra- a candlelight vigil Sunday
monyea Bishop, 23; are night. On Monday,
charged with first-degree makeshift memorial was
premeditated murder and gun started outside the Family
a
has said will likely last
In an interview Monday
through July. He has already with the New York Post,
committed to picking a wom- Trump dismissed Abrams
charges.
Larry Teague also is
Dollar.
Munerlyn’s
an.
while claiming responsibility
mother,
But black voters and lead- for her defeat in the 2018
ers say he needs to go further Georgia governor’s race.
charged with violating Gov. Bernadett, said she wants jus-
Gretchen Whitmer’s execu- tice for her son.
and pick a black woman.
Zerlina Maxwell, a political
They argue that Biden’s suc- analyst and former director of
cess — and that of the Demo- progressive media for Hillary
cratic Party as a whole — de- Clinton’s 2016 campaign,
pends on black people turning said this is an opportunity for
out to vote in November. Biden to recognize the politi-
They want a tangible return cal force of black women.
for their loyalty, not just a
thank you for showing up on needs to make it completely
Election Day. clear that they understand the
“The Democratic nominee
“Black people want an ac- moment and that they under-
knowledgement of the many stand that black women are
years of support they have the foundation of a successful
given the Democratic Party,” Democratic Party at every
said Niambi Carter, a Howard level,” Maxwell said.
University political science
professor.
House Minority Whip Jim said black voters are looking
Clyburn, whose endorsement for “authenticity.”
Adrianne Shropshire, exec-
utive director of Black PAC,
Maalik Mitchell, center left, sheds tears as he says goodbye
to his father, Calvin Munerlyn, during a vigil Sunday in Flint..
(Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)
in South Carolina was widely
“When folks have talked to
credited with helping widen us about what they want in a
Biden’s winning margin and candidate, it is someone who
start his avalanche of March can relate to them,” Shrop-
primary victories, said “clear- shire said, noting the coron-
ly” he would prefer a black avirus’s disparate impact on
woman.
But he insisted he’s not
black Americans.
But she said that doesn’t
pushing Biden in that direc- mean that a vice presidential
tion.
nominee has to be a black
“I’m the father of three woman.
grown African American
“Having a black running
women. So naturally I prefer mate checks that box for a lot
an African American woman, of people, but I would also
but it doesn’t have to be,” say in the same way that
Clyburn said. “I’ve made that black voters weren’t simply
very clear.”
during the primary contest
Biden has been unusually saying, ‘Who’s the black can-
vocal about the people he didate?’ I don’t think black
would consider as running voters are doing that for the
mates. He’s referenced two vice presidential choice ei-
black women, Sen. Kamala ther,” she said, later adding
Harris of California and the bottom line: “Ultimately,
Stacey Abrams, the former people want to win.”
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