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Morning Briefing Oct. 4, 2021: Sterling Heights woman receives death threats from ex-husband, CDC releases new COVID holiday guidance

Here are this morning’s top stories

Officials said Vires Al-Hakiem sent these texts to his ex-wife on July 19, 2021. (U.S. District Court)

‘You see that gun?’: Sterling Heights woman receives death threats from ex-husband over text, feds say

A Sterling Heights woman is accusing her ex-husband of stalking and making death threats after she received text messages threatening to “empty 17 bullets” in her head and a picture of several guns laid out on a bed at his parents’ house.

Read the report here.


CDC releases new guidance on staying safe during holiday season as COVID cases increase

Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance on trick-or-treating ahead of Halloween.

Now, looking ahead to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, the agency has issued new COVID guidance to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Learn more here.


🧹 Worker shortage having ripple effect on schools


Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoes 4 voting bills at NAACP Dinner

In shocking fashion, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer decided to use the 66th Annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner as the backdrop for her veto announcement of the GOP’s first set of voting bills believed to diminish voter rights.

See the story here.


Detroit resident charged in murder of man found fatally shot inside Eastpointe home

A Detroit resident has been charged in connection with the murder of a man who was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside an Eastpointe home, authorities said.

Read more here.


🔒 Urban legends that actually happened in Michigan


Crews race to limit damage from major California oil spill

Crews on the water and on shore worked feverishly Sunday to limit environmental damage from one of the largest oil spills in recent California history, caused by a suspected leak in an underwater pipeline that fouled the sands of famed Huntington Beach and could keep the beaches there closed for weeks or longer.

Booms were deployed on the ocean surface to try to contain the oil while divers sought to determine where and why the leak occurred. On land, there was a race to find animals harmed by the oil and to keep the spill from harming any more sensitive marshland.

Read the story here.


Trust Index: Fact checking political advertisements on President’s spending plan, retirement

As Congress is still locked in talks over whether to pass President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, some new political advertisements are making big claims about what it means for retirement funds.

The advertisements are being run by the PAC Common Sense Leadership Fun, a national group that is spending $10 million across seven states. In Michigan, the advertisements are targeting Democratic officials in moderate districts -- such as Elissa Slotkin, Haley Stevens and Dan Kildee.

Learn more here.


🇺🇸 President Biden to visit Howell on Tuesday


Weather: Scattered showers to start the week 🌧


COVID in Michigan 🦠

Michigan reported 8,058 new cases of COVID-19 and 79 virus-related deaths Friday -- an average of 4,029 cases over a two-day period.

Of the 79 deaths announced Friday, 42 were identified during a review of records.

Friday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,030,633, including 21,077 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,022,575 cases and 20,998 deaths, as of Wednesday.

Testing has increased to around 30,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate at 9.47% as of Friday, slightly lower than the previous week due to the increasing test volume. Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing for several weeks.

The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,223 on Friday -- the highest it has been since early May. The 7-day death average was 32 on Friday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.1%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 91,700 on Friday.

Michigan has reported more than 9.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Friday, with 67.8% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 59.3% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Here’s a look at more of the data:


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About the Author
Cassidy Johncox headshot

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.

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