| January 13, 2022 
 Michigan is in the midst of a historic COVID-19 surge as it reports record daily case rates, hospitalizations and test positivity rates. Could it get worse? According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ modeling scenarios: yes, it could. On Tuesday, state health officials presented a handful of models projecting what Michigan could be in for heading into the rest of January and February. The peaks, projected to occur by late January or early February, represent the highest rates thus far over the pandemic. The most optimistic projections indicated Michigan is at or near the peak of the current surge in terms of hospitalization and death rates, while cases will likely keep climbing for a few weeks before a sharp decline in February. However, those models are likely less realistic than the more pessimistic models, experts say. READ MORE ►Michigan sees record number of COVID patients in hospitals already at breaking point  An independent redistricting commission last month re-drew the state’s Congressional map, with the adjustments set to take effect beginning with the November 2022 election. The move means Midland will exit a district that stretched across the center of the Lower Peninsula. There, Midland powered a politically-conservative coalition that most recently elected a GOP Congressman by twice as many votes as his Democratic opponent. But now the city will fall under the umbrella of the 8th District alongside two communities with larger populations: the liberal-leaning Flint and Saginaw. READ MORE  A federal judge’s ruling will allow a professional negligence lawsuit to continue against an engineering company that advised the city during its water crisis and that chose not to join in a $626-million settlement with Flint residents. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy ruled on a motion for summary judgment by Veolia North America, saying that claims in a bellwether case against VNA can continue but the company cannot be held responsible for injuries that may have been caused by Flint water before it began work in the city in February 2015. READ MORE ►Firm knew about about lead in Flint's water but didn't warn public, emails show  It’s a topic Juwan Howard has mentioned as often as any other this season: His positivity as Michigan’s men’s basketball head coach. His team is 7-6 on the court and dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. Adversity affects all teams, Howard said. The response is what counts. “Will we make excuses? Will we point fingers and become divided?” Howard asked. “It starts with leadership. I’m not going to allow it.” Howard said he’ll make sure coaches and players take ownership for the uneven start to the season while searching for solutions. “There are a lot of different outside voices when you’re losing and outside voices got all the answers,” he said with a laugh. READ MORE ►On Michigan basketball, a COVID pause, and conspiracy theories  A massive effort has been mobilized to save eastern hemlock trees from an adelgid, known by its initials HWA (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid). Since the current infestation in Michigan began about six years ago, HWA has spread quickly and threatens to decimate the state’s estimated 170 million eastern hemlock trees – just like it did in the eastern United States. “These insects feed on the tree, and if unaddressed, will lead to tree mortality within four to seven years depending on what’s happening with that tree,” said Drew Rayner, West Michigan Hemlock woolly adelgid coordinator for the Michigan DNR. Without treatment, death is all but certain. WATCH HERE ►Tiny pest threatening to decimate Michigan's hemlock forests along Lake Michigan Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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