A new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been identified in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on Saturday.

The new variant, B.1.1.7, was identified in an adult woman from Washtenaw County. She had recently traveled to the United Kingdom, where the variant was first identified. MDHHS says the woman’s close contacts have been notified and are in quarantine. Two of those contacts have tested positive for COVID-19, though it’s unclear if they have the B.1.1.7 variant.

Detroit is ready to restart its sweeping demolition program, Mayor Mike Duggan announced on Friday.

Detroit voters approved Proposal N, a $250 million bond proposal, in November. The city will use that money to both demolish and rehab many of the city’s remaining abandoned properties.

Win a ticket to The Moth National Mainstage virtual event coming up January 27 at 7 p.m. 

Michigan Radio is giving away five tickets (links) to the show. Each ticket is good for one household online admission. Deadline to enter is Monday, January 25, 2021. Winners will be notified by email or telephone on Tuesday, January 26,  Contest rules available here. 

Rich Baird, a former top advisor to Republican Governor Rick Snyder, has resigned his post as a regent of Eastern Michigan University, after being charged with four felonies by state prosecutors for his role in the Flint water crisis.

Baird is accused of perjury in an interview during the investigation into the crisis, extortion, for allegedly threatening investigators looking into the cause of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak during the crisis, obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to influence and/or interfere with ongoing legal proceedings arising from the Flint water crisis; and misconduct in office, for improperly using state personnel and resources.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has activated Michigan National Guard units ahead of protests expected Sunday at the state Capitol.

The coordinated law enforcement effort also includes the FBI and local police departments.

Police agencies have ramped up intelligence gathering and a visible presence following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that turned violent and out of control.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has set special elections to fill a pair of vacant state senate seats.

The former holders of the 8th and 28th state senate seats won elections to other offices in Kent and Macomb counties in the November election.

The 8th Senate District seat was previously held by Peter Lucido, who was elected as the Macomb County Prosecutor.   

The Michigan’s 28th Senate District seat was previously held by Peter MacGregor, who was elected as the Kent County Treasurer.

Michigan — so far — has not seen a large spike in COVID-19 cases since the winter holidays.

“While I am concerned about the slight uptick in cases after the holidays, we are not seeing the surge of hospitalization that we saw in the beginning of November,” Michigan’s chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said at a press conference Jan. 13.