COVID-19 vaccines have been instrumental in the fight against the pandemic. Life hasn’t returned to normal yet, but vaccines have been highly effective against severe disease and death, saving countless lives and helping our already strained hospital systems from being overwhelmed. Researchers are already working on the next generation of vaccines in hopes of fighting new strains of the virus and making it easier to deliver vaccines at home and around the world. Nearly 5.9 million Michiganders are fully vaccinated, but as we have seen, variants can present major setbacks. The next generation of vaccines could change how we deliver the shot. Nasal sprays and pills would make distribution easier, but those versions may not be available this year. “We are already hearing about technologically advanced vaccines that can help us with challenges and barriers and storage,” said Dr. Teena Chopra, a professor of infectious disease at Wayne State University. She says easier storage will be key to reaching rural areas and less developed nations, a vital step in stopping viral variants. Dr. Chopra says for now, we need to focus on making current COVID-19 treatments more available, and, in addition to technological advancement, social innovation. “…the U.S. has one of the lowest vaccine uptakes, and I think largely it is due to the lack of trust that our population has. So, I think we need to work on that trust component.,” she said.  

By Kim Russell  As attorneys argued for an injunction that would give police the ability to arrest protesters who block the Ambassador Bridge, they told a Canadian judge the blockade was proving to have a “catastrophic impact” economically already. They spoke about an impact on all consumers and the auto industry. Economists say it is costing automakers hundreds of millions of dollars. “Once it gets beyond a few days it becomes a very serious problem,” said John Taylor, associate professor of supply chain management at Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business. Taylor says right now it could be written off as a short, one-time event by the auto industry, but if the government does not end it, it could change the auto industry in a way that weakens U.S. automakers globally. “It costs a lot of money to sit on inventory, storage, obsolescence when the model year ends financing the inventory. It can easily have a cost of 15% of the value of the inventory in operating expense…” said Taylor. “…Anything that impedes the flow across the border is basically a tax on the price of goods.” 

At a time of heightened racial tension, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and social injustice, Black lawyers have become even more essential to African American communities and the legal progress of the country. Black legal trailblazers of the past have cleared the way for a new generation of Black lawyers, including newly-hired adjunct professor of Wayne State University Law School James Britton. A legal career that spans several years, Britton’s passion for law and equity led him to a path of labor law. Now, in his new role as adjunct professor at Wayne State’s Law School, he intends to give students a tangible image of Black law professionals while guiding them through labor law. Combing his love for law and his knack for education, Britton will now lead the next class of Black attorneys. “I’m one of those people who always wanted to be a lawyer. I don’t remember ever wanting to do anything else,” said Britton. “At first, I wanted to be a Civil Rights lawyer like Johnnie Cochran or Thurgood Marshall. I consider that to be working in the public interest as a union side labor lawyer. My belief is that labor rights are human rights.”  

Albert Zhu, an economics professor at the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business, talks about the most recent consumer price index report, and what the rapid acceleration of inflation means for our purchasing power in metro Detroit. “So, the reports came out this morning and it very quickly made news headlines. And the number 7.5% for headline inflation and 6% for core inflation, those two are both 40-year highs. And back 40 years ago, that was the period we call The Great Inflation,” Zhu said.  

There are dozens of apps for finding friends, but none of them prioritize couples who are seeking to befriend other couples. The app Cuplr addresses this problem in an innovative, yet familiar way, by combining a familiar swipe-style social media interface with the goal of driving couples to meet up in real life to get to know each other and socialize. Richard Slatcher, an assistant professor of psychology at Wayne State University found that couples indicated feeling more positive about their own relationships after befriending a new couple.  

Economists say the cost of just two days of U.S.-Canada trade being halted at the border is $101 million, maybe more. Wayne State University economics professor Michael Belzer says with the pandemic and the supply chain issues, the long-term effects from the Ambassador Bridge closure could be economically catastrophic. “Twenty years ago, I would have answered that we’ll get ourselves back in order in two or three weeks. Now, I don’t know how long that will take, so this is a pretty major national security threat to the United States as well as to Canada. Belzer said if the Canadian government doesn’t shut this down now and other border crossings are disrupted, the cost is incalculable.   

About 100 protestors unhappy with Canadian COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates for people entering the country have shut down the bridge since Monday. The protests are putting a strain on supply chains. About $135 billion in trade between the U.S. and Canada goes across the Ambassador Bridge every year, and Hugo DeCampos, an assistant professor of supply chain at Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business, said roughly one third of that trade is auto-related. The automotive industry has been dealing with supply chain issues throughout the pandemic, and parts shortages have already caused a temporary cut to one shift at a Stellantis plant in Windsor. DeCampos said it’s expensive to keep vast amounts of inventory and that leaves automakers susceptible to shortages. “Now when you stop that bridge, if you have those parts that are required hourly, then you’re in trouble,” DeCampos said. “Anytime an assembly line gets shut down temporarily then not only the assembly plant is not recovering the cost for the machinery and equipment, but now they’re paying some of the highest skilled and highest paid workers to stand idly not creating value. So you get hit with a double whammy.”  

To be more successful when it comes to weight loss goals, the secret may be a good night's sleep. New research suggests that an extra hour of sleep every night could help sleep-deprived people who are overweight eat 270 fewer calories per day without even trying. That change translates to nearly nine pounds of weight loss over a year. The study is not the first to connect sleep with eating patterns. Despite a growing body of evidence suggesting that adequate sleep helps people stick to a healthy diet, sleep still doesn't tend to be part of weight loss conversations - even those that happen between doctors and their patients. But that's changing, says Dr. James Rowley, a professor of critical care and sleep medicine at Wayne State University. "For many years, sleep just was not considered part of the 'equation' so to speak," Rowley said. "Now there is growing recognition that sleep needs to be considered as an important component of cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and exercise and eating. It's clear that adequate sleep is important for overall health." Dr. Rowley said he's already started to recommend more sleep to aid in weight loss and weight maintenance in his own practice, and that this new research is an important piece of the puzzle that reinforces the effect improved sleep quantity can have on calorie consumption.  

Second-year Wayne State University Law School students Dominica Convertino and Kawkab El-Moussaoui were named American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (LEPPC) Fellows. The LEPPC aims to contribute to the national effort examining and addressing legal issues in policing and public safety, including conduct, oversight, and the evolving nature of police work. Convertino and El-Moussaoui are 2 of only 38 fellows serving with the ABA's Legal Education Police Practices Consortium during the winter 2022 semester, and are the only two law students selected for the program in the state of Michigan. Convertino's research will examine police practices in the City of Detroit, while El-Moussaoui's will focus on the City of Dearborn.

By Nana-Sentuo Bonsu  The global microchip shortage continues to create inventory challenges for local retailers, who say many customers are growing frustrated with the ongoing problem which has impacted everything from video game controllers to household appliances. Some consumers are waiting a year for appliances. Kevin Ketels, a global supply chain management professor at Wayne State University, said the timeline sounds about right. “To be honest, we think that over the next year it should start to flatten out and we will be able to catch up on demand, but it’s hard to say,” Ketels said. He said several things are being done now to tackle the shortage, including a bill put forth by the Biden administration and investments on the part of tech companies to increase and incentivize chip production.  

By Yue Stella Yu and Jonathan Oosting Michigan lawmakers on Tuesday approved a $1.22 billion funding package to expand the state’s pandemic response through increased testing, treatments and other services. The federally-funded plan, which will son hit Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, marks a breakthrough in an often contentious debate between Republicans and Democrats over how to spend a flood of federal pandemic and stimulus funding available to the state. Among other things, the package includes $4 million that would go toward Wayne State University to establish a “mobile health corps” team to address health disparities in southeast Michigan. 

As the Canadian trucker ‘Freedom Convoy’ continues in protest of vaccine mandates and other restrictions, police in the Canadian capitol are warning people not to bring the truckers supplies or they’ll be arrested. The protest has sparked legal issues, as people are being arrested or threatened with arrest for honking horns or bringing in supplies. Wayne State University Law professor Lance Gable said law enforcement is within its rights. “The city government and the national government do have some legal authority to use law enforcement against people who are disrupting business and traffic…just because they have the authority, though, doesn’t mean that they have to use maximum force,” said Gable. “…obviously the protests have been disruptive, but so far they’ve remained peaceful. They’ve been gaining a lot of attention in the unusual message they’ve been using with these trucks to create a visible obstruction and a visible symbol of what they’re protesting. I think with a situation like this, for the people who might have the authority to break it up within the government, they have to weigh the consequences of being a little more aggressive…and potentially making the protests larger or more vocal…with a situation like this, it’s kind of a tough judgment call…”  

Last week, the White House and the Department of Justice convened 99 law schools who responded to the Attorney General’s Call to Action to the Legal Profession to address the housing and eviction crisis. Ninety-nine law schools in 35 states and Puerto Rico immediately committed their law schools to help prevent evictions. In just a few months, law students across the country dedicated nearly 81,000 hours to provide legal assistance to households and communities across the country. 

By Adrienne Roberts   Last month, the Dearborn-based apparel company Carhartt was thrust into the spotlight when a leaked email from its CEO to staff said it would continue with its vaccine mandate – despite the U.S. Supreme Court saying it, and other private companies, did not have to abide by the Biden administration’s vaccine and testing rule that set off court fights and division among workers. The email was widely circulated on social media, with some praising the company’s commitment to worker safety and others criticizing the brand – which they associated with more rural, conservative consumers – for mandating their employees to get vaccinated. The brand has continued to expand its reach, without alienating the blue-collar worker at the core of its customer base. Recently, the brand has been prominently featured on the show “Yellowstone,” which follows a family as they protect their ranch. Jeff Stoltman, a professor of marketing at the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University noted the rise of the show’s popularity is concurrent with a movement of younger people out to the western U.S. “They’re yearning for that simplicity,” Stoltman said. “There’s a lot of forces that are converging on: ‘What do you wear when you’re an outdoorsy person?’” 

More than a year after the January 6, 2021, insurrection attempt, we’re learning more about the level of coordination that went into the effort to overturn 2020’s election result. The congressional commission tasked with uncovering details behind the attempted coup hopes its work will prevent future attacks on our democracy. However, governmental oversight does not always lead to true accountability. The Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School has a new project titled “Portraits in Oversight,” which explores the history of such investigations throughout the United States’ past. “Oversight is something that the media plays a very important role in, and that the public has to be very attentive to, so, really, it’s an ecosystem,” said Jim Townsend, a former state lawmaker and director of the Levin Center.  

By Tamara Hew-Butler  Tamara Hew-Butler, associate professor of exercise and sports science in Wayne State University’s College of Education, wrote an article addressing the use of fever reducers and fluids in battling the flu. These well-intentioned and firmly entrenched recommendations offer comfort to those sidelined with fever, flu or vaccine side effects. But, Hew-Butler says you may be surprised to learn the science supporting these recommendations is speculative at best, harmful at worst and comes with caveats. 

As co-directors of the Wayne State University Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Marcus Zervos, M.D., Teena Chopra, M.D., M.P.H., Paul Kilgore, M.D., M.P.H., and Matthew Seeger, Ph.D, share their perspectives on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The experts discuss parallels between previous pandemics, exacerbated health disparities, a lack of response and resource coordination, the dangers of misinformation, and ways the public health system can better prepare for future pandemics. Together, the co-directors assert that if we learn from this pandemic, our post-COVID-19 world will be more resilient, health disparities will be reduced, and our public health system will become stronger.  

Wayne State University has launched its strategic plan for 2022-2027, called “Our Moment in Time,” which will serve as a guide for future initiatives. The plan, approved unanimously by the WSU Board of Governors, seeks to build on the school’s commitment to student success and its connection with Detroit and Michigan. “Wayne State has been an anchor in Detroit for more than 150 years, and we’re not going anywhere. Our commitment to the community has provided opportunities for our university to have a positive impact on many people and in many ways – most importantly in providing a world-class education to students from all walks of life,” said WSU president M. Roy Wilson. “We remain steadfast in this commitment to our students, our community, and our state.” 

A new report from the nonprofit Zinn Education Project found that 45 states have insufficient or non-existent lesson coverage of Reconstruction in schools. Kidada Williams, a history professor at Wayne State University and host of the podcast Seizing Freedom, joins a panel of experts in a discussion about the legacy of Reconstruction in America, as the Smithsonian Museum presents the exhibition “Make Good on the Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies.” Williams and her fellow historians warn that eclipsing the aftermath of the Civil War will lead students to be uninformed about the seeds of racial inequality today. Williams’ essay “Legacies of Violence” is part of the companion book to the Smithsonian exhibition. “…the violence that we experience in the present day, like the killing of George Floyd or even the massacre at Mother Emmanuel Church, has a deep history that traces back to Reconstruction and this moment where African Americans are trying to be free, equal, and secure, and they’re experiencing what essentially amounts to a war on freedom – specifically Black peoples’ freedom. The essay talks a lot about how they’re trying to figure out how to live within this system while also communicating the horrors they’re enduring…”  

Dallas is known as a diverse city filled with people of different races, nationalities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. In an effort the educate the community, celebrate the right attributes of its residents and help the community and nation heal from racial and political unrest, several religious organizations joined together to present the Faiths in Conversation: Religion, Race and Justice conference. The event featured R. Khari Brown, associate professor of sociology at Wayne State University and president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Brown began the discussion focusing on the connections between the Black Lives Matter movement and how race and religion have played a role in people’s views of the topic. “Like other human rights movements on this nation’s past, religious groups are also among the demonstrators,” Brown said. “For example, on June 4, 2020, people marched with hundreds of others in Detroit to demand an end to police brutality. The march began with Christian and Jewish and Muslim leaders praying for guidance. It ended with religious leaders and elected officials calling legislators to support policies aimed at reducing police violence and encouraging marchers to vote their conscience for the 2020 general election…”