| October 12, 2021 
 The 10 Michigan counties with the lowest COVID-19 vaccinated rates now have a death rate twice that of the 10 best-vaccinated counties – and that gap has grown over time, an MLive analysis shows. The analysis looked at Michigan’s 1,301 confirmed COVID-19 deaths that have occurred since Aug. 1 and reported to the state as of Wednesday, Oct. 6. The average death rate was 16.9 deaths per 100,000 residents for the 10 counties with the lowest percentage of the population that is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That compares to an average rate of 8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents in the 10 counties with the best vaccination rates. You can see which counties fall in those categories and other data from the analysis here: READ MORE ►Emergency use authorization requested for experimental COVID-19 pill  Education is the top issue in Tudor Dixon’s gubernatorial campaign, and a pillar of her plan is establishing an Education Savings Account that allows a student’s per-pupil funding to be used on public, private, charter, virtual or homeschooling options. But a provision of the state’s constitution prohibits public money from going to private schools in most instances, so her plan calls for repealing that provision. To change the state constitution, Dixon would need either a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate or a successful ballot initiative that gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures and could either be adopted by a simple majority in the legislature or put on the ballot. READ MORE  A new online resource is up and running for Michiganders looking to help welcome the approximately 1,300 Afghan refugees expected to resettle in Michigan in the coming months. The Afghan Arrivals site allows volunteers to share specific resources they can offer for the variety of tasks needed to help support and welcome individuals and families to the state. Michigan residents can volunteer in person or remotely and can donate a variety of goods and services, including financial resources. “We urge everyone to join us in welcoming these Afghan families to Michigan and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. READ MORE  Michigan and Michigan State will meet later this month in their annual football matchup, and the stakes could be higher than usual. Both teams are currently undefeated and ranked in the top-10 of the AP poll. For that to still be true on Oct. 30, each team has to win its upcoming game. Michigan is off this Saturday before hosting Northwestern on Oct. 23. Michigan State visits Indiana this Saturday and is off next week. That both Michigan and Michigan State are 6-0 is a surprise to many. The Wolverines went 2-4 last year; the Spartans were 2-5, including a 27-24 win at Michigan. READ MORE ►Wolverine Confidential podcast: Michigan passes another road test at Nebraska  The National Pest Management Association has released its bi-annual projection of the pest activity Americans can expect to see this fall into the winter. The NPMA’s “Bug Barometer” forecast is based on weather patterns, long-term forecasts, and pest biological behaviors. According to the group’s team of entomologists, a mild, wet summer season will spur increased pest activity throughout much of the U.S. as forecasts show looming predictions for a bitter cold winter. READ MORE ►Northern Michigan artist launches unique jewelry line to help insects
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