I’m willing to bet you’ve never read anything like this: a Michigan man died of rabies after receiving a kidney transplant from a donor who was unknowingly infected. It’s a case so rare it triggered a multistate CDC investigation. 

Today, we’ll bring you all of the details in this tragic and bewildering case.

Plus: Our list of the 12 best cut-your-own tree farms in Michigan.

Michigan Dem introduces articles of impeachment against RFK Jr. (MI Advance): US Rep. Haley Stevens says she’ll file articles of impeachment against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of undermining science and endangering public health with vaccine guidance and research cuts. Kennedy’s office dismissed the move as partisan posturing. This follows a separate impeachment push last week from fellow Michigan Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar.

USDA data: MI farmers to lose millions in exports (MLive): Michigan agriculture experts warn that tariffs and volatile trade policies are raising production costs and slashing exports, with the state projected to lose $167 million this year. Farmers face higher prices for equipment and supplies, while global buyers shift to more stable suppliers like Brazil. Officials say Michigan can’t control federal uncertainty but is investing locally to help farmers adapt.

MI House Republicans seek to limit AG power (WGVU): Michigan lawmakers heard testimony on GOP-backed bills that would sharply limit the attorney general’s ability to intervene in cases and choose venues without approval from the governor or Legislature. Supporters say it reins in unchecked power; Democrats argue it would hamstring the AG’s ability to act quickly and represent the state. The proposals face long odds in the Democratic-led Senate.

Rabies is excluded from routine donor pathogen testing because of its rarity in humans in the United States and the complexity of diagnostic testing, the CDC said. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today Network

A Michigan man who received a kidney transplant in late 2024 died from rabies, transmitted from the donor’s organ, weeks later, the Centers for Disease Control said in a report issued this month.

“(The) diagnosis of rabies in a kidney transplant recipient with no recognized animal exposure resulted in a multistate public health investigation to ascertain whether the kidney donor had undiagnosed rabies, identify other donor organs and tissues, and identify rabies-exposed persons,” the CDC said in its Dec. 4 Morbidity and Mortality report.

The transplant rabies infection was just the fourth in the U.S. since 1978, the CDC said. The previous cases resulted in 13 infections and seven deaths. Rabies is almost always fatal without prompt treatment.

The Michigan transplant recipient died at the end of January 2025. After his death, an investigation located kidney biopsy samples in which the CDC detected rabies virus RNA consistent with a silver-haired bat rabies virus variant.

In later interviews with the donor’s family members, investigators discovered the person had been scratched by a skunk weeks before their death while protecting a kitten, and had exhibited rabies-like symptoms before their death. The CDC believes a bat bit the skunk, which then scratched the donor.

In addition to the kidney recipient, three people, one each from California, Idaho, and New Mexico, received cornea grafts in December 2024 and January 2025, the CDC said. All three recipients had their grafts removed after the Michigan man was diagnosed and received rabies treatments. None developed rabies.

A planned fourth corneal graft to a Missouri patient was cancelled.

The CDC said tests detected rabies virus RNA consistent with a silver-haired bat rabies virus variant in one of the implanted corneal grafts.

In addition, 370 health care workers and others exposed to either the kidney donor or recipient were interviewed, and 46 underwent rabies treatment as a precaution, the CDC said.

The CDC said none of the donor’s other organs were transplanted, but some tissue and organs was used in training in Maryland, although none remained for testing by the time of the discovery.

Families can enjoy a U-Cut tree experience at Hillside Christmas Tree Farm in Manchester, Michigan. (Hillside Christmas Tree Farm)

By Chaunie Brusie

Did you know that Christmas trees and Michigan go hand-in-hand? Michigan made the great Eastern white pine the state’s official tree in 1955, and it grows more varieties of Christmas trees than any other state. This month, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer even declared December as “Michigan Christmas Tree Month” to mark our state’s heritage as the third-highest Christmas tree-producing state in the country.

Seeing as it’s December, the now-official Christmas Tree month, what better time is there to enjoy visiting a tree farm in Michigan? If you haven’t put your tree up yet, here are the best tree farms in Michigan to visit. And even if you have put up your tree, tree farms can still be a wonderful place to stop in during the holidays for festive fun like wagon rides, hot chocolate, shopping for gifts or decor, or an enchanting ride through the woods.

Earlier this week, we brought you political correspondent Kyle Kaminski‘s report on how, after FEMA confirmed northern Michigan’s historic ice-storm damage met the federal threshold, the Trump administration still denied aid—leaving families facing massive rate hikes.

With $90 million in storm damage and no federal help, some northern Michigan households could see surcharges as high as $4,500 a year.

So, we asked Michiganders:

Do you think Michigan residents should be stuck with this bill? How would a surprise cost like that impact your family?

Here are highlights of what you said:

“I am 79 years old and live in Presque Isle County. As such, I am a member of the PI Electric and Gas Co-op. I currently pay $40/month for the loan PIE&G had to obtain to cover the cost of ice repairs since I have two electric meters (one at my home and one at my recreational log cabin near Hawks). This $40/month fee does NOT apply to the principal, it applies only to the interest on the principal that the Co-op had to borrow to repair infrastructure damage from the ice storm. If I have to pay $4500/year to go toward the principal, that will equal one month’s pension amount each year from my working 40 years as a State of Michigan civil servant. If the $4500/year cost mentioned in your story is for EACH electric meter, my payments on the principal will equal 1/6 of my state pension each year.’” — John Porter

“I am already paying a $20.00 per month surcharge on my power bill from Presque Isle Electric and Gas. This surcharge is for paying off the damage caused by the massive ice storm this past winter. I believe the surcharge will stay in effect many years into the future.” — David Werner

“We’re only been denied by the Trump office as he dislikes our governor since she doesn’t fall in line.“ — Jennifer Kaltz

“I believe that the Michigan citizens that were affected by this ice storm devastation shouldn’t be saddled with this burden! FEMA has stated that the storm met all the conditions for allowing it to support those affected government assistance! We know why the Trump administration denied the claim and that’s because we are a Democratic state and the trump administration hates Democrats and falsely accuses them of everything that makes MAGA terrible for America!” — Jeffrey Sturgeon

“I am appalled that Trump & FEMA won’t assist Michiganders with those horrible costs. Many of the residents in that area work in the service industry and don’t make a lot of money. $4500 would be a huge burden on them.” — Kathy Bolden

“Donald Trump has no right to deny FEMA aid to northern Michigan after its ice storm. Undoubtedly he is doing this to punish Michigan for being a swing state, or simply to lower the value of FEMA help, so he can keep the money for his own use. This is very wrong. How would he have the right to deny us the money that FEMA granted? This needs a lawsuit.” — Holly Eliot

“let us all remember this in November 2026.” — Marvin Bielec

“I wonder if that decision was politically motivated. That’s what our tax money should go to—not to countries like Venezuela. Most families couldn’t afford that kind of expense. Shame on our Government.” — Sharon Donnelly

“It’s a disgrace! Until this is dealt with I don’t want to see one dime given to states with hurricane damage.” — Rick McCarty

“Good old Trump. He’s going to cut waste and his Republican cronies are good with this. Let’s see how the MI MAGA crowd deals with this hit.” — Jan Corlew

And if you have a question you’d like me to ask our community, send it my way. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

The ‘Gander is here to give Michigan straightforward, easy-to-understand reporting about what’s happening across the state. As our year-end drive continues through Dec. 16, reader support shapes what we’re able to cover in the year ahead.

Your contribution keeps this work free for everyone who turns to us.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories by USA Today Network via Reuters Connect and Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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