Monday News Summary 10-03-22Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:03:35 EDT
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
Children Trust Michigan and the Childrens Services Agency will fund a new family resource center initiative. Families around the state will benefit from $1.9 million in funding to pilot resource centers in six locations around Michigan that will help prevent child abuse and neglect. Children Trust Michigan chose the pilot locations based on populations who experience overrepresentation in the child welfare system, high poverty rates, or lack of access to health, behavioral, and social services.The six founding pilot sites are located in Keweenau, Calhoun, Genesee, Kent, Macomb and Washtenaw Counties.
Free COVID tests are now available for all Michiganders.The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announcing the availability an additional 289-thousand COVID tests in a partnership with Rockefeller Foundation. Each Michigan household can receive one kit which contains five tests. Michiganders can order the tests through AccessCovidTests.org. Individuals without internet access can contact 2-1-1 for assistance ordering tests.
Updated rates are now in effect for some vehicles traveling to Canada via Port Huron's Blue Water Bridge. Canadian rates for eastbound traffic are reviewed and adjust on April 1st and October 1st every year. in accordance with MDOT. Toll rates paid in Canadian currency for traffic heading into Canada will remain the same for cars and extra axles but will increase to $4.25 in Canadian dollars for trucks and buses. The rates are rounded to the nearest quarter-of-a-dollar and calculated based on the prior six-month average daily exchange rates between the U.S. and Canadian currencies.
October is ADHD Awareness Month. More than 11-percent of children ages 2-to-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, with more than 8-percent taking medication for the disorder. Also, as many as 11-million adults struggle with ADHD nationwide. Treatments usually include various types of psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, education or training, and educational support.
The Great Lakes Water Authority providing an update on the August 13th break to the 10-foot wide water pipe that distributes water to nearly two dozen communities around Port Huron. Officials say with Phases One and Two completed, and water quality testing results confirming that the water meets or surpasses regulatory standards, GLWA is beginning the process of returning the giant pipe to service and normal operations. Some of the neighboring communities may see fluctuating water pressure in the next few days. GLWA expects to return to normal operations by October 5.
It's safe to say that every family wants to have a healthy child. Many of us may take that for granted with the continued improvement of medicine and technology. But did you know that every Michigan newborn by law must be screened for rare or treatable genetic and metabolic diseases by doctors? Early detection and treatment is essential in preventing irreversible mental or physical disabilities, even death. While there's not much people can do to reduce the risk of genetic or metabolic diseases in newborns, it's always prudent to stay away from harmful behaviors during pregnancy such as smoking or drinking.
A touring, interactive version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is hitting the road to celebrate the cult films forty-seventh anniversary with screenings, live shadow casts, and one of its original stars Barry Bostwick who played the character Brad Majors. The Shadow Cast hilariously acts out the movie on stage while the movie plays on screen. The tour is scheduled to stop in Flint Oct 13th, Kalamazoo on the 15th and Benton Harbor on the 16th and fans are encouraged to dress up. That includes, toilet paper, flashlights, newspapers and fishnets.
When it comes to riches in Michigan - who's the wealthiest of them all...? Leelanau County is at the top of the list of the state's wealthiest counties - according to a new study by SmartAsset. The study compared local per capita income, median home value and the amount of investment income being generated. Leelanau County checks in at number one, with a per capita income of over $73-thousand and a median home value of nearly $339-thousand. Oakland County is number two. While the per capita income is $77-thousand, the homes are worth a little less, along with a smaller investment income. Washtenaw, Livingston and Grand Traverse round out the Top 5.
The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association is welcoming top space leaders to its fifth annual North American Space Summit in Traverse City. The two-day summit, also known as the N-A-S-S, will feature influential leaders in aerospace, government, national security, automotive, academia and more on initiatives in new technology, capabilities, services and innovation in hypersonic materials and vehicles. For more information and to register for the event, visit TheNASS.org.
Nurses at the University of Michigan have ratified a new four year contract. The deal provides nurses with a five-thousand dollar ratification bonus and a two-thousand dollar retention bonus along with pay raises totaling 22-and-a-half percent over four years. It also ends mandatory overtime except in select emergency situations. Nurses have been working without a contract since July 1st.
Jury selection begins in Jackson County today for three men facing state charges related to the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer two years ago. Joe Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar are charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and felony firearm charges. Defense attorneys say the charges are exaggerated and the men weren't involved in the group when the plot was moving forward in 2020. The three men were among 14 arrested. Federal prosecutors focused on six people who were considered to be key players, while the others face state charges in Jackson and Antrim counties. The two leaders of the group were convicted on federal charges in August.
A big jump in gas prices over the past week. Triple-A Michigan's latest Fuel Gauge survey shows prices up 23 cents compared to last week to an average of 4.17 a gallon. The most expensive prices are in Marquette and Metro Detroit. The cheapest prices are in Traverse City, Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids. Analysts say higher demand amid tight supply and fluctuating oil prices have increased the national average.
The state Education Department has been in talks with lawmakers to consider modifying legislation when it comes to student count day and religious holidays. Count day is this Wednesday in Michigan. Wednesday is also Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day of the Jewish year. A few districts in Metro Detroit, which are closed for the day, have been granted a waiver to push count day to Thursday, however other districts who will be open had their waiver denied. The Detroit News says while count day is Wednesday, state law includes a 30-day count period where a student who has an excused absence may return and attend class to be included in the count.
Top space leaders are attending the fifth annual North American Space Summit in Traverse City this week. The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association says the two-day summit will feature leaders in aerospace, government, national security, automotive and education speaking on initiatives in new technology and innovation in hypersonic materials and vehicles. The Executive Director of the association, Gavin Brown, says there are opportunities in the space industry for people coming out of college in fields like autonomous car technology, space technology, medical technology and communications.
The Powerball jackpot has grown to 336-million dollars for tonight's drawing. The cash option is worth 176.7 million dollars before taxes. It's been more than a year since a Michigan player won the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Students going to eat in dining halls at Michigan State University are using paper plates for meals as the university struggles to hire enough staff. MSU started the school year about a thousand workers short in the residential dining halls. They need about 15- hundred. Now a month later, they are still hundreds below that staffing Level. The State News reports that the school is paying dishwashers 13-dollars an hour, but similar jobs at local restaurants are paying about 15 bucks. Many of the dorms have switched to using solely disposable plates, bowls, cutlery and cups. That has been to the dismay of students who worry about the environment.
You may have noticed leaves on some trees turning colors, but we are still a couple weeks away from the peak of fall colors. With colder nights happening, people in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan have been seeing more colored leaves. The peak should happen next week. In lower Michigan, the peak isn't expected until late this month.
North America's busiest border crossing was temporarily closed last night after a suspicious package was found inside a vehicle. Canadian authorities cleared the Ambassador Bridge, which links Detroit to Canada, for about two hours while they investigated. Traffic was detoured to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for about two hours. Detroit police are expected to release more information today about a deadly shooting involving an officer. Police shot and killed a man who had a knife early Sunday morning. Officers were first called about a man in mental distress inside an apartment. When the cops tried to subdue the man with a taser before he was shot. The investigation is ongoing.
Eastpointe police will be submitting a report to the Macomb County Prosecutor's office today to determine if any charges will be filed against a driver who shot and killed an 18- year old after a road rage incident. Investigators say the 60-year old who fired the deadly shot Friday night told police it was in self-defense. The road rage occurred on Eight Mile as the mini-bike pulled up to the side of a pickup truck. The shooting happened a short time later at Stricker and David Streets. Investigators have been looking at home security video to determine what happened. Eastpointe police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to give them a call.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady®NSI