Tuesday News Summary 10-04-22Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:25:07 EDT
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
Mott Community College, at a special luncheon event with employers and state elected officials taking place on Wednesday, October 5, will launch The Workforce Promise, a major new initiative that guarantees the skills and workplace readiness of MCC graduates who are hired for jobs with the Colleges employer partners. The Workforce Promise lets employer partners refer MCC graduates back to the College at no charge if the employer feels the individual needs continued development. The Workforce Promise curriculum provides MCC students with education and training in both technical skills connected directly to their programs of study, and also in employability skills areas that many employers indicate they need from new employees.
Free bottled water continues to be provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for City of Benton Harbor residents for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods and mixing powdered infant formula. To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the City of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phones that cannot contact 211 should contact 844-875-9211. City of Benton Harbor residents can pick up water at Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor Fettig Youth Campus, 600 Nate Wells Sr. Drive.
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.
Legislation to limit the number of marijuana grow operations could be introduced at the state Capitol next month. Crains Detroit reports some of the largest recreational and medical cannabis growers are working on the legislation that would prohibit the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency from approving new grower licenses for an undetermined period of time. Prices have been dropping due to an abundance of marijuana and few stores. Any new legislation would need support from three-quarters of the legislature for approval.
The University of Michigan will ban vaping and all use of tobacco products from its campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint starting in mid-November. The University says the updated policy takes effect November 17th -- the same day as the Great American Smokeout. It will prohibit the use of tobacco products in university buildings, facilities and grounds, and university-owned vehicles. The Chief Health Officer says it's a way to improve the overall well-being of the community.
Lou Hunt, Ottawa's Emergency Management Director and the County's 'official storm chaser' wants you to know that outdoor warning sirens are not just for tornados. The sirens are often used to alert residents of tornados or high winds, but they could also be used during a chemical hazard or nuclear threat. Sirens are intended to alert people who are outdoors to seek shelter and further emergency instructions from TV, radio and other media or technology. The sirens are tested monthly from April through October. This Friday, October 7, will be the last test of the outdoor warning siren for 2022.
Governor Whitmer signing and executive order Monday in an attempt to investigate how the state can lower the cost of insulin. One idea is the possibility of our own manufacturing facilities. Michigan has nearly a million people with diabetes, many of whom ration or don't take needed insulin. Lower costs and jobs for Michiganders are reasons why the state may entertain self manufacturing. The governors office says Americans pay ten times more for insulin than people in other comparable nations and costs have tripled over the last decade alone.
Starting in 2023, bridge tokens will no longer be refunded at the Mackinaw Bridge. Tokens for toll lanes were discontinued back in 2019 due to lack of demand. The Mackinac Bridge Authority says they believe less than one percent of tokens are still in circulation. Customers have until December 31 to redeem their remaining tokens at the MBA office at the north end of the bridge.
To help remove barriers and ensure more Michiganders have access to COVID-19 outpatient treatments, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering a Test to Treat program at 13 locations across the state that offer no-cost testing and telehealth services. Michigan is the first state to launch this federal initiative at neighborhood testing sites that provide rapid access to no-cost COVID-19 antiviral medications. Test to Treat sites allow individuals to access testing, a health assessment and medication prescriptions all in one visit. Michigan residents who test positive for COVID-19 at these locations will be able to utilize telehealth services onsite. Locations include Flint, Albion, Saginaw, Marquette, Benton Harbor and Muskegon.
A major water distribution line that ruptured in mid-August has been repaired and is back to normal operations. The Great Lakes Water Authority says the 10-foot wide pipeline was back in service over the weekend. An outdoor water ban that was in place for several communities in the northern suburbs has also been lifted now that full water pressure has returned. A final report on what caused the break is due to the state in the next month.
The Transportation Security Administration is hosting a hiring event Wednesday, October 5 andThursday, October 6 for individuals interested in applying for a job as a Transportation Security Officer at Detroit Metro Airport. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at Sheraton Detroit Metro Airport. Attendees will receive information about full-time TSO positions and have the opportunity to complete multiple steps of the hiring process. Participants will be able to complete all or part of these processes, which will significantly reduce the time required to get on board with TSA.As part of the presentation sessions during the event, TSA will provide an overview of working for the federal government and discuss benefits, which include paid leave, health care plans, 401k coverage and more.
A new poll shows Governor Gretchen Whitmer gaining ground over her Republican Challenger. The poll - conducted by the Glengariff Group for the Detroit News and WDIV TV - shows Whitmer with a 17-percent lead over Tudor Dixon. The group polled 600 voters throughout Michigan on September 29th. The poll showed Whitmer with 49- percent of the vote and Dixon at 32-percent. Six-percent said they'd vote for another candidate, 12-percent were undecided or failed to offer their preference. Absentee ballots are going out. Election day is five weeks from today, November 8th. Police on the campus of Oakland University are asking for help in locating a man who attacked a young lady in broad daylight. Police say the man approached the victim with a handgun as she was walking toward a building yesterday morning. He then ran away and jumped in an SUV.
Jury selection resumes this morning in Jackson County in the trial of three men allegedly involved in a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. The Associated Press says questions about guns, secretly recorded conversations and even the January 6th Capitol riot dominated the court hearing yesterday. Joe Morrison, Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar are charged with three crimes, including providing material support for a terrorist act. All were members of the Wolverine Watchmen, a paramilitary group that trained in the Jackson area. Attorneys say the trial could last two weeks or more. After 150 years, it's the end of the road for a long-time pet and farm supply store in northern Michigan. The owner of Grulers Pet and Farm Supply - Al Gruler - tells the Detroit Free Press that he wants to retire. Gruler says the store has been hit by staffing shortages - and competition from online retailers. The store began in New York in 1871, but as moved to Michigan by owner Constantine Grueler in 1905. The land will be used for an affordable housing complex.
The Powerball jackpot keeps growing. There was no winner in last night's drawing so that pushes tomorrow night's jackpot to 353 Million dollars. Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot is 380-million bucks.
About 100 nurses conducted an informational picket outside McLaren Hospital in Lansing yesterday. Nurses are upset with working conditions and staffing. Contract talks are ongoing. In a statement, McLarens President and CEO said it was unfortunate the nurses chose "this unoriginal and commonplace tactic routinely deployed by unions throughout the nation, considering todays enormously challenging health care environment. Nurses at Michigan Medicine recently ratified a new contract that ends mandatory overtime while providing bonuses and raises for workers.
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case involving a deaf student and southwest Michigan school district. As the new Supreme Court term started yesterday, the Justices agreed to hear the case of Miguel Perez who attended Sturgis Public Schools, but only received a certificate instead of diploma when he graduated. Attorneys for Perez filed a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act after settling another under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The high court will decide if Perez should be awarded damages for emotional distress. The district has urged the court to dismiss the case.
A security guard at Oxford Middle School in Oakland County accidentally fired his gun during the school day yesterday. The guard was using the restroom and placed the gun on a door hook in a bathroom stall. When he went to grab his gun from the hook -- the trigger got caught -- firing a shot into the ceiling. The district says no one heard the shot other than the security guard -- a retired police officer with 28 years of experience. Oxford has boosted security at all school buildings following last November's mass shooting at the high school that left four students dead.
Business owners in northern Michigan are headed to Florida with supplies to help those affected by Hurricane Ian. The owners of My Michigan Roots collected clothing, diapers, toothbrushes, school supplies and other items over the past week. They'll be hauling the trailer full of supplies to Marco Island and are expected to help in recovery efforts for the next two weeks. Other donations are being accepted through a Go Fund Me account.
Some local clerks offices are staying open later to help voters receive absentee ballot and sign up to vote. The Battle Creek City Clerk's office is staying open later tonight and after city commission meetings later this month to accept absentee ballot applications and register those who want to vote. Absentee ballots started going out to voters across Michigan last week. The general election is November 8th.
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