Opponents of COVID restrictions took over a western Michigan county

Opponents of COVID restrictions took over a Michigan county. They want deep cuts to health funding The public health department in Ottawa County in Michigan is facing deep cuts to its funding. County commissioners who were elected after taking a stance against COVID-19 restrictions want the health department to get millions less from the general fund. AP News

HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — The fastest growing county in Michigan has seen its local government transformed in the wake of backlash to pandemic restrictions, and the new commissioners — claiming COVID is over — are threatening to cut millions of dollars from the county’s health department.

Local public health officials say the potential loss of funding could severely impact several essential services, including vaccines, cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections. These proposed cuts also come after the board attempted to replace the county’s top health official, sparking a monthslong legal battle.

...