| March 17, 2021 
 Michigan is expanding vaccine eligibility once again this month, and by April 5, anyone age 16 or older will be eligible to make an appointment to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement on March 12 came hours after President Biden called on states to open eligibility to all adults by May 1. Michigan has almost 8.1 million residents age 16 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 24% already have gotten at least one dose of vaccine and 14% are fully vaccinated. Here is what you need to know about the expansion of vaccine eligibility: READ MORE ►Michigan's positive test rate and daily coronavirus cases continue to climb  Happy St. Patrick's Day! You definitely don't need to be Irish to celebrate this green-clad holiday. But it certainly gives you more reason to raise a glass if you have some Irish blood. Many Michiganders do have ties to Ireland. To mark the day, we threw together a condensed version of the history of Michigan's Irish heritage. No matter your St. Paddy's plans, you have time to watch this video. We bet you can even watch it in less time than you can down a shot of Jameson and a Pint of Guinness. And, no, that wasn't an official challenge. But, still, take a look: WATCH THIS  A small audience could hear a pin drop as World War II veteran Bob Shields slowly walked up to the podium. Adorned in his old Army uniform, the Grand Rapids man gripped his cane with two hands as he recounted the events of Dec. 16-17, 1944. American troops were caught off guard by a Nazi attack. Nearly 19,000 American soldiers were killed, while 47,500 others were wounded and over 23,000 soldiers missing.“I honor all of the men of the division as great soldiers, great guys, and I pray for them all of the time,” Shields said. “I think about it at nighttime and then I always say a prayer when I can’t fall asleep.” After nearly 80 years of waiting, Shields was finally awarded a Bronze Star. MORE
 The odds of filling out a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket is estimated at 1 in 120.2 billion. Yikes, that seems pretty much impossible. But luckily, a perfect bracket isn’t needed to be a winner. Whether you’re joining a national pool or competing against co-workers or friends, all you need is for your bracket to be slighter better than the field’s. While that is easier said than done, we have a few tips that could give you an advantage when filling out your bracket(s). For example, don't just pick all of the No. 1 seeds to go to the Final Four. MORE ►Michigan's journey to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament  A taste of Chicago has arrived in Michigan with the state’s first Portillo’s restaurant. The beloved eatery officially opened its first location in the state yesterday at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights. The 7,900-square-foot restaurant’s interior is all about showcasing Michigan’s auto and music roots with various vintage signs and historic trinkets. There’s even a 1931 Model T hanging above where patrons dine. Oh, and the food -- Portillo’s is known for its Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, char-grilled burgers, cheese fries, salads, Italian sausages and chocolate cake. MORE Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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