| December 23, 2021 
 Culture war controversy surrounding critical race theory gained new ammunition when a Detroit superintendent acknowledged the concept’s influence on anti-racist efforts in his school district. Conservative activists in Michigan and across the country packed school board meetings this year to denounce the teaching of critical race theory – a graduate-level academic framework that examines how racial groups are affected differently by legal systems and institutions. School officials assert “CRT” is not part of any curriculum in Michigan, but educators are making commitments to understand their own biases and provide students with a wider view of history. Critical race theory has been known to academics for decades, but the term was relatively unheard of in public life until last year. Researchers say critical race theory is often misinterpreted and oversimplified.  People are increasingly seeking monoclonal antibody treatments against COVID-19 in Michigan, but there are limited quantities, an issue that could worsen with the newly discovered and fast-spreading omicron variant. “Demand has been incredibly high. And so, there is a bit of a supply-demand mismatch,” Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention at Beaumont Health, based in Southfield, said Tuesday. Hospital systems across the state are seeing the same. READ MORE  Michigan drivers have until New Year's Eve to avoid fines for lapsed insurance Uninsured drivers have until the ball drops on New Year’s Eve to get their hands on penalty-free auto insurance. An amnesty period set to expire at midnight on Dec. 31 gives uninsured drivers an opportunity to buy an insurance policy without paying a penalty or increased premium. Drivers who wait until the new year to buy auto insurance can face penalties or premiums after a lapse in coverage. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services issued a press release on Wednesday urging motorists to take advantage of the amnesty period before time runs out. ►Michigan drivers will get $400 refund per vehicle back from auto insurance fees  New ballot initiative aims to increase Michigan's minimum wage to $15 by 2027 A national organization is teaming up with local restaurant workers and advocates to use Michigan’s ballot initiative process to try and raise the state’s minimum wage. Members of One Fair Wage, a Massachusetts-based organization that works with advocates around the country, spoke to reporters Tuesday about their push to help Michigan voters raise the state’s minimum wage. The proposal by the ballot committee, Raise the Wage MI, would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour in $1 steps annually until 2027, with wages automatically adjusted for inflation every year afterward. READ MORE  Forfeits and cancellations are possible in the forthcoming College Football Playoff involving Michigan, according to revised policies and procedures announced Wednesday. The CFP’s management committee says it met Tuesday to draft new rules in response to a COVID-19 surge that has spread across the country, cancelling games across the four active professional sports leagues and college basketball. They include a possible forfeit of the Orange and Cotton bowls, both designated as College Football Playoff semifinal games this year, if one team is unavailable to play. If both teams in the same game are unable to play, the winner of the other semifinal would be declared the national champion. READ MORE ►Cornelius Johnson: 'Cold, dark place' needed to prepare for Georgia, Orange Bowl Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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