March 15, 2021 After a deadly surge during the holiday season, Michigan’s COVID-19 case numbers dropped dramatically during January and into February. But since the third week of February, that trendline has changed. The state's average number of cases has doubled in the past three weeks. But the alarm bells that sounded during previous upticks are more muted now. While concerning, the latest surge is occurring against a backdrop of mass vaccinations that health officials are hoping will blunt the impact -- especially in regards to hospitalizations and deaths. “We’re all holding our breath about the increases," said Dr. Liam Sullivan, an infectious disease specialist for Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. READ MORE ►No, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not inferior, Michigan doctors say When Michigan finally gets that first burst of warmer weather in early spring, it’s tempting to want to roll up our sleeves and dig into some yard work. But experts suggest putting off certain outdoor chores such as burning or bagging up leaves and sticks in order to protect our native pollinators. The yard waste we often dispose of in early spring actually provides winter shelter for butterflies, moths, bees and other pollinating insects. Those insects are still hibernating inside debris like leaves, stems and twigs this time of year, says Kristen LeForce, resident biologist and pollinator expert at DTE Energy. MORE The last time Michigan was a No. 1 seed, Juwan Howard was playing for Michigan. With Howard as coach, the Wolverines have earned the distinction again. Michigan was announced as the No. 1 seed in the East Region in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament bracket reveal. The Wolverines will face the winner of a play-in game between two 16 seeds -- Mount St. Mary’s and Texas Southern -- in the first round on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Spartans snagged a No. 11 seed to secure their 23rd straight appearance in the tournament. When the pandemic first hit Michigan, Metro Detroit based wedding photographer Jack Hoyle lost most of his work in a span of three weeks. “That was a big shock to the system,” Hoyle said. But as the year progressed, couples adapted, Hoyle said. He started photographing smaller weddings, as well as short notice and backyard weddings. Experts and brides are questioning whether these changes will continue in the future. Has the wedding industry permanently changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic? MORE A hilltop home on a peninsula with views of two Jackson County lakes is MLive’s House of the Week. The home, located at 3600 Mack Island Road near Grass Lake, has waterfront access to Little Wolf Lake and views of Big Wolf Lake. You can catch a glimpse of the lakes from nearly every room in the home. The property, which includes a wrap-around deck for sunrises and sunsets, and a gazebo, is currently listed for $1.6 million. Want to take a closer look? Check out this video to sneak a peek at the unique home: WATCH Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.mlive to your address book or safe sender list. |