What to know today 🌅
Top federal prosecutor in Michigan seeks tips on Capitol mob
A top federal prosecutor in Michigan on Thursday urged people to give tips to the FBI if they are aware of people who joined a violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the presidential election.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, whose jurisdiction covers a 34-county area including metropolitan Detroit, said investigators will review video footage and other evidence. Six Michigan men ranging in age from 25 to 64 were arrested by D.C. police — four for curfew violations, one for unlawful entry and violating the curfew, and one on gun charges.
Read more: Several Michigan residents charged after deadly siege on US Capitol Building
Trump finally faces reality, concedes to Biden (AP)
President Trump led off a video from the White House Thursday by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end — though he declined to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost.
“A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20,” Trump said in the video. “My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.”
DeVos resigns after pro-Trump riot
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has become the second Cabinet secretary to resign a day after a pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
In a resignation letter Thursday, DeVos blamed President Donald Trump for inflaming tensions in the violent assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy. She says, “There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me.”
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao tendered her resignation earlier Thursday. News of DeVos’ resignation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Coronavirus in Michigan 🦠
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 512,751 as of Thursday, including 13,094 deaths, state officials report.
Thursday’s update includes 4,015 new cases and 176 additional deaths, including 138 from a Vital Records review. On Wednesday, the state reported a total of 508,736 cases and 12,918 deaths.
New COVID-19 cases are slowing but deaths remain high in Michigan. Testing has slowed during the holiday, with more than 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day, with the positive rate increasing to about 9% over the last few days. Hospitalizations have slowly decreased but remain relatively high, including in critical care and ventilator use.
Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,088 on Thursday, slightly higher than the week before. The 7-day death average was 95. The state’s fatality rate is 2.5%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 137,300 on Wednesday. More than 363,000 have recovered in Michigan.
Here’s a look at more of the data: