NEWS: Let MI Kids Learn, DeVos-backed ballot group behind proposals to allow tax breaks to fund accounts for kids to go to private school or pay other education expenses, withdraws petitions. crainsdetroit.com/politics-polic… via @crainsdetroit #mileg Ballot committee's spokesperson says goal always was for the GOP-led Legislature to pass the initiatives into law, not for them to go on the 2024 ballot. But Ds won legislative control in November, thwarting that plan. (The state had not yet determined if there were enough sigs.)

Breaking: The Michigan Supreme rules 5-2 that the state's civil rights law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The majority says the ban on sex discrimination includes sexual orientation, rules in favor of same-sex couple that was denied wedding services. Majority opinion was written by Elizabeth Clement, a Republican, & joined by 4 Democrats. Two Republicans dissented. (GOP-led Legislature has long refused to amend the law to specifically prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodations.(

Michigan issues new guidance for unvaccinated, masked students who were exposed to a COVID-positive student. They CAN remain in school. Those who weren't at least 3-6 feet apart should test daily for seven days. Those who were at least 3-6 feet apart should monitor for symptoms. More from guidance: Vaccinated students exposed to a COVID-positive student can stay in school regardless of whether they wore a mask. But unvaccinated, unmasked students should stay at home for 10 days - if either the infected student or the 1 exposed or both were not masked.

Michigan Senate GOP releases results of 2020 election investigation and, not surprisingly, concludes the outcome 'represents the true results.' It recommends citizens use a critical eye toward people who've 'pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain.' #MILeg Michigan Senate GOP urges AG Nessel to consider investigating people using misleading and false info about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.

NEWS: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces a plan to tie the lifting of coronavirus restrictions to Michigan's vaccination rate, setting four specific benchmarks that must be reached to return to normal. When 55% of people ages 16 & up get a shot, all office work can resume. At 60%, capacity limits rise at banquet halls, conference centers, stadiums, funeral homes. At 65%, no more indoor capacity limits. At 70%, order will be lifted to no longer employ broad mitigation measures.

NEWS: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urges a 2-week suspension of in-person high school classes, all youth sports & indoor restaurant dining. She stops short of ordering restrictions, instead asking for voluntary compliance to slow spread of COVID-19 as cases, hospitalizations mount Whitmer also renews her call for the federal government to send more J&J vaccines to Michigan. 'We really should be surging vaccines to states that are experiencing serious outbreaks.'

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan: All adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine starting April 5; Detroit to get mass vaccination site Starting March 22 in Michigan, anyone age 16 to 49 with certain medical conditions will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine - the same day those age 50-64 are eligible under a previous announcement.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces that contact sports can resume on Monday, Feb. 8 - as long as masks are worn. If masks cannot be worn, athletes must undergo regular COVID-19 testing. This lifts a ban that started on Nov. 18, more than 2 1/2 months ago. Whitmer: 'I know these past months have been tough on all of us ... (including) student-athletes. ... I appreciate the passion of our young athletes. ... Our numbers are now in a place where we can allow our kids to get back in the game.'

.@RepMeijer is holding a virtual town hall after being 1 of 10 Republicans - and only freshman - to vote to impeach Trump over the deadly riot at the Capitol. It's now underway expected to last an hour #mi03 facebook.com/11926611998393… @RepMeijer Before taking questions, Meijer addresses the 'stop the steal' narrative. Says Trump's attempt to use Electoral College to overturn Biden's win would have had incredibly dangerous consequences. Says idea that Pence could reject results was 'bizarre.'

I talked to Republican Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey today. He said this: 'Wayne County didn't determine the outcome for the presidential race in Michigan. It was Kent County and Oakland County that did.' Shirkey confirms to @AP Trump talked about Mich. election results with GOP delegation. He says at 1 point, Trump got Giuliani to call in & Giuliani repeated the Wayne County allegations he had raised in a news conference last Thursday. Shirkey says meeting was 'innocuous'

Major Michigan hospital system CEOs are having a news conference. Cases doubling every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. Hospitalizations are up more than 5-fold in 6 weeks. Expected to top spring peak hospitalizations late this month John Fox with Beaumont: Inpatients have tripled in less than 30 days. 400 patients across 8 hospitals. 'That is accelerating.' It's been a struggle to get people to wear masks, he says, even in the hospital lobbies. 'We get resistance.'

Breaking: Whitmer issues order to reopen indoor theaters, cinemas, performance venues, arcades, bingo halls, bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities, trampoline parks. Whitmer also lifts 10-person limit at indoor gatherings. It's now instead 20 per 1,000 square feet or 20% of fixed seating capacity, with max of 500 in largest venues. This also allows more people to attend funerals

Whitmer's latest COVID news conference is underway. Starting by urging everyone to request an absentee ballot today SOS Benson urges Legislature to change a Senate-passed bill that lets clerks process absentee ballots earlier. She says giving them an extra day isn't enough. Clerks and others are seeking 7 days #MiLeg

DHHS Robert Gordon is testifying again before the Legislature on nursing home policies. He says the state never forced nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients. The policy in an original EO never took effect, he says. #mileg Gordon also says states that went with COVID-only facilities, Florida & Massachusetts, are no longer doing so #mileg

Whitmer issues order clarifying order requiring masks for organized sports. Masks are a must for football, soccer, volleyball & sports where 6 ft distanced can't be maintained except for occasional, fleeting moments. It appears to exempt things like golf, tennis, cross country The order also clarifies that masks must be worn in training and practice -- not just games and competition.

BREAKING LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Gov. Whitmer says Michigan gyms can reopen, organized sports can resume, though recommends against contact sports Whitmer is not prohibiting contact sports -- football, soccer, basketball, many others - but releases state health guidance strongly recommending against it

Whitmer COVID-19 update underway. She says state is launching 20 free neighborhood testing sites in coming weeks. Whitmer also says Huntington Bank is announcing a major small business-lending program in Michigan

Gov. Whitmer is starting a COVID-19 media briefing. Begins by thanking IKEA for a $1.2M donation to help with COVID. She's now urging people to get flu shots this fall. Whitmer says if everyone gets a flu vaccine, it can keep hospitalizations low in case there is a later surge of COVID hospitalizations

Whitmer admin, lawmakers holding rare Aug. revenue-estimating meeting this afternoon. It looks like revenues for FY 19-20 are much higher than projected 3 months ago ... like $2.3B higher. That should ease the 20-21 budget issues #mileg Why taxes coming in higher than expected? Mich. taxes unemployment income. Delayed payments for income/corporate taxes are higher than expected. Impact of CARES ACT underestimated. Spending on taxable goods higher (as people shifted from services to online buying in pandemic)

It's official. The state of Michigan announces a $600M settlement with Flint residents who sued after the water supply was tainted with lead and led to legionella outbreak Officials said they hoped others who have been targeted in lawsuits, including the city of Flint and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will join and add to the settlement. Suits also are pending against two private water consulting firms.

Gov. Whitmer is starting her weekly COVID-19 update. She is announcing $65M in federal CARES Act funding for 'schools that need it the most' There was some money in the federal relief package was was left for governors to decide how to allocate