| July 15, 2021 
 The first names of winners in the Michigan COVID lottery were announced this week. The sweepstakes was designed to be an incentive for those who haven't been vaccinated to seek out the vaccine. But has it worked? According to Michigan public health officials, the answer is "no." "We were at a trickle before the lottery and we are at a trickle after the lottery," said Dr. Robert Lorinser, medical director of the Marquette County Health Department in the Upper Peninsula. He reported "zero" impact. "So my question, arguably the same as a lot of other people, is the money on the lottery well spent or could we have spent it on something else more meaningful?" READ MORE ►Thousands of COVID-19 vaccines could expire before being used up in Michigan  Delta-8 THC, a previously loosely regulated compound derived from marijuana that induces a similar high, will be reined in by Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency beginning Oct. 11. Prior to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing a series of new marijuana bills Tuesday, regulation of delta-8 products was blurry, since state law only addressed delta-9 THC, the more traditional cannabis compound sought by licensed marijuana producers. This led to gas stations, online vendors and other businesses selling delta-8 THC products without licensing, testing and other regulations that are in place for recreational marijuana. READ  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a $17.1 billion school aid budget Tuesday to bring “comprehensive student recovery” to schools as they emerge from the pandemic. State leaders are calling it the largest education investment in Michigan’s history. The bill aims to close the funding gap between the highest- and lowest-funded school districts, a goal the state has been working to accomplish since the passage of Proposal A in 1994, which established the current system in which school districts get per-pupil payments from the state. “Every student deserves to be funded at the same level to ensure an equal opportunity to succeed," Whitmer said. READ MORE ►Bills aimed at making school buses safer for Michigan students signed into law
 Even before Amanda Chidester became a star for Michigan’s softball team, she dreamed of playing in the Olympics. When the Allen Park native was a senior in high school, she drove to Ann Arbor to watch the Wolverines face the USA National Team in a tuneup game before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. With softball icons such Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Jessica Mendoza donning the red, white and blue on the sport’s biggest stage, she made it a goal to one day do the same. More than a decade later, Chidester will accomplish her goal. READ MORE  Yes, it is a good time to sell a house in Michigan. It's not quite so great to be a buyer, as properties fly off the market as quickly as they show up in the listings. This renovated ranch in Grand Haven Township is no exception. The home has four bedrooms and three full bathrooms, a spacious kitchen with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, and copious cabinet space. There is already a sale pending for the house in this hot market. But that doesn't mean you can't take a peek. Who doesn't love looking at photos in a real estate listing? TAKE A LOOK Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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