 HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Mich. AP - U.S. Senate candidate John James began an in-person tour of Michigan Monday, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, visiting a Jackson County farm to criticize what he called the over-regulation and over-taxation of farmers. The challenger to Democratic Sen. Gary Peters had been gearing up for a more visible, public schedule when the coronavirus struck in March. He appeared with Vice President Mike Pence last week. I actually want to get out and see the entire state. Its a big state, and there is a lot of opportunity to see the parallels and how similar we are - whether youre on a farm or a factory, James said at Weir Farms, a dairy operation in Hanover Township about 75 miles 120 kilometers west of Detroit. You still have people who are responsible for running small businesses who need help, who need support and havent been getting it from Sen. Peters. James plans to visit counties with some of the countrys highest unemployment rates on the tour, which will last for an indefinite period. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been gradually reopening Michigan, which was an early COVID-19 hot spot and had the third-highest jobless rate in the U.S. in May after restrictions were imposed to curb the virus. James kept the event limited to a small number of farmers, employees and Farm Bureau leaders who showed him around before he took questions from the media. In southern Michigan, outdoor gatherings are capped at 100 participants. We have to respect the health and safety of everyone around us by being responsible and making sure that we reopen in a safe but sensible manner, said James, an executive at his familys automotive logistics company in Detroit who said both the state and nation were unprepared for... 