| January 27, 2022 
 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced new proposals to put money in the pockets of Michiganders and make a historic investment in education during her fourth State of the State address Wednesday. The governor, who is in the final year of her first term, laid out her policy agenda on the 185th anniversary of Michigan’s statehood. Whitmer called for partnership with the state Legislature to cut taxes, boost education funding, lower the cost of insulin, and create a new rebate for electric vehicle purchases while acknowledging the challenges her administration has faced since taking office in 2019. “We’ve all been through a lot,” Whitmer said. “It’s rational to feel frustrated. Exhausted. Even cynical. Fortunately, the cure for cynicism is competence.” READ MORE ►Gov. Whitmer highlights road repairs, investments in education during State of the State address  Each week, we are taking your COVID-19 questions and getting answers from the experts. As home tests continue to be a popular tool for those who suspect they have come down with the virus, there are plenty of questions surrounding their use. This week, readers wanted to know if the results of those home tests should be relayed to health officials. And, if so, where should those results be reported? We have answers in our latest Q&A. If you have a question about COVID, send it to covidquestions@mlive.com. It could be answered in the coming weeks. READ MORE  You'll hear some Michiganders bemoan the lack of a big huge snow dump during winter. Perhaps they are nostalgic for the Great Blizzard of 1978, which walloped the state with monster snowfall, including an incredible 30 inches in Muskegon. But there was a harsh reality to what some might remember as a simple winter thrill -- about 20 people died as a direct or indirect result of the storm, most due to heart attacks or traffic accidents. Tens of thousands of vehicles were abandoned and countless homes lost power and heat. Here's a look back at one of the most intense storms in the state's history: READ MORE ►Bitter cold, windy weather creates ice balls on northern Lake Michigan  A January survey from the National Restaurant Association found 76% of Michigan operators say their restaurant is less profitable now than it was three months ago. Recovery has been complicated for the restaurant industry, but omicron issued a new sense of urgency, said Justin Winslow, President and CEO of Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. The feeling harkens back to 2020 levels of panic. The MRLA is now pushing for Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. “We can feel the anxiety when it’s high," Winslow said. "When we’re getting flooded with calls and emails. It’s back in that zone again, and it hasn’t been in a long time.” READ MORE ►Grand Rapids pizza restaurant 'heartbroken' as it prepares to close for good  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services signed a settlement agreement Jan. 25, ending a years-long court battle against a Catholic adoption agency that claimed the MDHHS non-discrimination policy forces religious agencies to “choose between following their faith and closing down a vital ministry.” The settlement comes following a unanimous Supreme Court decision in favor of St. Vincent Catholic Charities of Lansing. It limits MDHHS’s ability to enforce its non-discrimination policy under certain circumstances, including the agencies’ right to decline LGBTQ+ couples looking to adopt or foster children on religious grounds. READ MORE ►5 highlights from Ann Arbor's latest equity and inclusion report Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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