Michigan has applied for federal funding that would provide and extra 300-dollars per week for residents receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Governor Whitmer says there are an unprecedented number of people who are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and need the money to support their families as they struggle to put food on the table or pay their bills. Officials say they look forward to a quick response to their application. Yesterday’s announcement of the request for the federal funding came after U-S Representative Paul Mitchell of Dryden Township criticized the governor for Michigan not previously applying for the extra benefits after an Associated Press report that seven other states had already applied for, and been approved for the funding.
The Michigan health department says there have been 477 new cases of the corona virus and 15 additional deaths. Yesterday’s figures bring the state’s total to 93,662 cases and 6,340 deaths. 76 of those deaths came in the past seven days.