| November 11, 2021 
 Munson Healthcare, based in Traverse City, has activated protocols for Pandemic Response Level Red for the first time in the organization’s history, as hospital systems around Michigan are seeing a surge in COVID-19 patients. The designation means Munson has an “overwhelming number of cases beyond capacity of the healthcare system,” said Dr. Christine Nefcy, Munson’s chief medical officer. Munson currently is averaging 99 inpatients with COVID-19 at its nine facilities in Northern Michigan, with 56 at its main campus in Traverse City. That’s up from 71 total patients on Oct. 26 and matches the system’s previous record set last spring. Munson’s service area currently has a 17.9% positivity rate as a seven-day average on coronavirus diagnostic test, exceeding the previous record of 17.7% set during the spring surge. READ MORE  To say Michael O’Malley was frustrated with state drinking water regulators, who were exasperated in turn, would be putting it mildly. Released documents show O’Malley, former superintendent of the Benton Harbor water plant, strenuously arguing throughout much of 2019 and 2020 with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy through tense exchanges over efforts to sample for and adjust treatment to reduce lead levels showing up in city water. “BENTON HARBOR IS NOT FLINT,” O’Malley wrote in an Aug. 28 2020 email to city manager Ellis Mitchell. READ MORE  A monumental day in the history of Bell’s Brewery, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, Larry Bell announced his retirement and the sale of the brewery he founded in 1985 in Kalamazoo. Purchasing the brewery is Lion, an Australian-based beverage company that recently purchased Fort Collins, Colorado-based, New Belgium Brewing Co. in 2019. The two American craft beer giants will unite under the same leadership team once the sale goes final in the coming months. The story of Bell's began back in 1983 when Larry Bell opened a small home-brewing supply shop. That road led to a brewery once known as Kalamazoo Brewing Company and the international giant that is Bell's. READ MORE  They have identical records and one team owns a victory over the other, yet Michigan found itself ahead of rival Michigan State in the latest round of the College Football Playoff rankings. Unveiled Tuesday night, the Wolverines moved up one spot, to No. 6, while MSU dropped four spots to No. 7 after a deflating loss to Purdue, stirring confusion and controversy in the super-charged rivalry. “The Michigan-Michigan State discussion really started last week,” CFP selection committee chair Gary Barta told reporters. “I would just summarize that the committee went back and forth and, really, the consensus was that Michigan was probably a more complete team.” READ MORE  Here’s a rare opportunity to live away from the hustle and bustle without having to rough it. This entire private Michigan island has hit the market for $3.5 million and includes a log cabin with all the amenities, plus it offers a large tree house. To be precise, it's a 196-square-foot tree house. The 8-acre island is located on Iron Lake in Manchester. That’s about 40 minutes southwest of Ann Arbor. The island is close to the mainland, so it only takes a couple of minutes to get there by boat. But once you get there, you have access to your own private oasis with a trail surrounding it. We have photos and more info on the unique property here: READ MORE
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