The Michigan Senate adopted a bill Wednesday that would exempt in-person high school graduation ceremonies from gathering limits in state emergency health orders – a measure Governor Gretchen Whitmer says is unnecessary.

Senator Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) sponsored the bill. He said now is the time to adopt the bill as more vaccines are available and graduation season approaches.

The Paycheck Protection Program awarded about $16 billion to 128,159 small businesses and nonprofits in Michigan in the first two rounds of PPP funding. And you can use this map and database to find out who got a loan. 

The federal government created the PPP through the CARES Act of 2020. It's meant to help business owners keep staff on the payroll in the wake of the pandemic and state-ordered public health restrictions – a one-two punch that slashed many businesses’ revenue. Businesses are able to apply to the program through a lender. The PPP loans were made to be forgivable and converted into grants, as long as the borrower meets all the program's requirements.

Health departments in Michigan have begun turning down vaccine allocations from the state because they’re unable to find enough people willing to get the shots.

Normally, Dr. Jennifer Morse’s three local health districts get weekly vaccine shipments from the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is lifting an outdoor mask requirement except in gatherings of 100 or more people and in organized contact sports.  The revised pandemic order takes effect Thursday. 

Large outdoor events, like festivals, fairs, and golf tournaments will be able to exceed the current 1,000-person limit, so long as they post a safety plan consistent with state outdoor event regulations.

Also, anyone who is fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms is not required to wear a mask at residential gatherings.

The University of Michigan's Board of Regents recognized United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine, or UPAMM, in July of 2020. Now, the union is bargaining for its first contract with Michigan Medicine.

Nearly 50 members and community members gathered at E. Medical Center Drive on Tuesday to show support for the bargaining team, which is on day four of its seven day bargaining marathon.

Members of the Graduate Employees Organization and the Lecturers' Employee Organization were among those who showed up.

DTE Energy and Consumers Energy say they want significant changes made to a rooftop solar bill.  

The bill would let any homeowner with solar panels get reimbursed for the excess energy they put on the grid. Right now, the cap is set at only 1%.  Consumers Energy has already reached that cap.

Bill sponsor Greg Markkenan says he's not surprised the utilities oppose the bill. He's a Republican who represents the 110th House District in the U.P.  Markkenan says the rooftop solar industry creates good-paying jobs.

Anyone 18 and older can now get a free one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccination at Ford Field in Detroit, during the final two weeks of the federal mass vaccination site's operation.

The site is also providing free second doses of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone 16 and older regardless of where they got their first dose. The first dose needs to have taken place 21 days before the second dose can be given, and people should bring their CDC vaccination card to Ford Field.