Good morning -- it’s a busy Thursday! Here are this morning’s top stories:
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Dearborn man faces felony charge after stomping bird to death at pet store
Dearborn man Ali Chehade, 22, was charged on Thursday in Wayne County with third-degree animal killing -- a felony that is punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of no more than $5,000 under current Michigan law.
Chehade is accused of stomping a bird to death at Critter Pet Shop in Allen Park on Tuesday, May 18.
Canton couple killed when pickup truck crashes into side of their car in Monroe County
An 85-year-old couple from Canton Township was killed Wednesday when a pickup truck crashed into the side of their car in Monroe County, officials said.
Investigators said the Sonata was turning left onto Dixie Highway from the park exit when it was struck on the driver’s side by the pickup truck, which was heading north on Dixie Highway.
Exclusive: Detroit public health officer talks position amid pandemic, lagging vaccinations 🗣
DNA evidence exonerates Michigan man of fatal stabbing after serving more than 30 years in prison
Gilbert Lee Poole Jr. was accused and convicted of killing Robert Mejia, who was found stabbed to death on June 7, 1988, in Pontiac.
Officials said following an investigation, Poole’s conviction was vacated and the Attorney General requested to have all charges dismissed. Poole was released Wednesday.
First Lady Jill Biden to visit Grand Rapids vaccination clinic today
First Lady Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Grand Rapids Community College on Thursday to tour a vaccination clinic and promote the progress of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Video: Mackinaw City hotel worker berates, kicks out family after woman makes complaint about plumbing 🤳🏼
Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed will play Detroit’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in July
Golf legend Phil Mickelson, fresh off becoming the oldest player to win a major, has committed to playing in Detroit’s Rocket Mortgage Classic this summer.
Fellow major championship winners Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson have also signed on for the third year of the event at the Detroit Golf Club.
Production of another COVID-19 vaccine to begin in weeks
Production of another potential vaccine against COVID-19 will begin within weeks, its developers Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday as they launched a large trial enrolling 35,000 adult volunteers in the United States, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Want your shot? 💉 We’re tracking COVID vaccine openings, clinics, appointments in Michigan
2 dead, 1 injured after minivan crashes in Downtown Dearborn building
According to authorities, sometime early Thursday morning two women were killed and another was critically injured in a car crash on Schaefer Road just north of Michigan Avenue, near Dearborn Fresh.
Police say the women were riding in the minivan at a high rate of speed when they crashed into a building.
Weather: Pleasant Thursday, then more rain ☔️
COVID in Michigan 💉
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 886,118 as of Wednesday, including 19,031 deaths, state officials report.
Wednesday’s update includes a total of 799 new cases and 12 additional deaths. On Tuesday, Michigan reported a total of 885,319 cases and 19,019 deaths.
Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate below 5% as of Wednesday, the lowest in several weeks. Hospitalizations have declined over the last several weeks.
Overall, new cases have slowed over the last 28 days. The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 919 on Wednesday -- the first time it’s been below 1,000 in months. The 7-day death average was 40 on Wednesday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.1%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 76,100 on Wednesday.
More than 791,000 have recovered from the virus in Michigan.
Michigan has reported more than 8.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Wednesday, with 58.1% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 48.5% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.
Here’s a look at more of the data: