Tuesday News Summary 11-22-22
Tue, 22 Nov 2022 12:13:09 EST


(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)


LOAN DEBT SCAMS
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is alerting Michiganders
to protect themselves from scams related to the Biden Administrations new Student
Loan Debt Relief Program. Although the courts have currently blocked the program,
scammers have been attempting to take advantage of this uncertainty to steal money
or personal information from Michigans student loan borrowers. Announced in August,
the Biden Administrations Student Loan Relief Program would forgive up to $10,000 in
federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or households
earning less than $250,000. Those who received Pell Grants to go to college could
have an additional $10,000 in debt eliminated. One in seven Michiganders have a
current student loan, with an estimated outstanding total of more than $51 billion.

OPIOID DISORDER TREATMENT
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is joining 44 other attorneys general to urge
the Drug Enforcement Administration and Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for prescribing
buprenorphine, an opioid use disorder treatment. It is one of three medications
approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat patients suffering from
addiction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA allowed doctors to use telehealth
services to prescribe the medication, but the rule allowing it to be prescribed virtually is
set to expire once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. The United States is in
the grips of an opioid crisis, with more than 75,000 Americans overdosing on those
substances last year alone.

BENTON HARBOR LEAD SERVICES
As lead service line replacement work nears completion with 99.3% of lead service
lines replaced in the City of Benton Harbor, the state is continuing its all-hands-on-deck
approach to support residents in the City until every home has safe drinking water.
This includes free home lead inspection and abatement services to help families
ensure there are not additional sources of lead in their homes from paint or plumbing.

NEW CHIEF JUSTICE
Elizabeth Clement is the new chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Clement
was the unanimous choice of her colleagues on the court. She takes over from Bridget
McCormack -- who is leaving the court as soon as Governor Gretchen Whitmer picks a
successor. Supreme Court justices are selected by governors when there's a vacancy
or elected by voters. The additional job of chief justice is determined by members of the
court. The chief justice is the leader of Michigan's statewide judiciary and has much
influence over how courts operate. Clement was appointed to the court in 2017 by thenGovernor Rick Snyder and subsequently elected to an eight-year term.

FORD RECALL
Ford is recalling more than a half a million F-150 trucks in the U.S. and Canada, over
fears that the windshield wipers won't work. Officials told the federal government that
there is a chance the motor in the wipers will fail. In rain and sleet, that would leave
drivers vulnerable to a crash. The recalled trucks were built between January of 2020
and March of last year. Ford will notify customers by mail by January 3rd.

FINE ARTS GALLERY
Mott Community Colleges Fine Arts Gallery will present an exhibition of artworks by the
Fine Arts degree candidates from the Studio Arts Program November 29 through
December 16. Artists include Abby Dahlin, of Goodrich, Amilia Huerta, of Flint, Carter
McEwen, of Flint, Gracie Mersino, of North Branch, and Sidney Scott, of Flint. They will
present works that are part of an artist portfolio that they have been building for the
duration of their degree. This degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a
university or art school and major in art or design. The MCC Fine Arts Gallery is located
in the Visual Arts and Design Center on the main campus in Flint. Gallery hours are 9
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Free and open to the public.

LOTTERY WINNER
A last-minute decision to add Power Play to her ticket paid off for an Ypsilanti woman
who won a $100,000 Powerball prize from the Michigan Lottery. 34-year-old Rachel
Bayham matched the four white balls and the Powerball in the November 2 drawing to
win a $50,000 prize. Thanks to the Power Play, the prize was multiplied to $100,000.
She bought her winning ticket online at MichiganLottery.com.

CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has awarded $2.4
million in brown field grants and loans for redevelopment of contaminated properties in
Mid-Michigan. Overall, in 2022 EGLE will provide $20.7 million in brown field funding to
67 projects statewide. The plans include a senior and multi-family affordable housing
development in the Stadium District of Lansing; workforce and affordable housing near
the Kalamazoo River; and a mixed-use, live-work development in Kalamazoo. More
than half of EGLEs budget each year flows into Michigan communities through grants,
loans and other spending that supports local projects, protects public health and the
environment, ultimately creating economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers.

AUTO THEFTS
Troopers with the Michigan State Police Hart Post are investigating a business
breaking and entering that occurred on Saturday, November 19th at the Deals on
Wheels Auto Sales on US-10 in Ludington.
Several vehicle windows as well as business windows were smashed. Troopers are
asking for your help to identify who is responsible for this damage. Anyone with
information or that may have been driving past the lot during the day and noticed
anything suspicious, is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Hart Post.

ENERGY COST OPTIONS
Michigan energy customers have options to help with higher energy costs and a new
web page to make it easier to find amid energy market volatility that the Michigan
Public Service Commissions 2022-2023 Winter Energy Appraisal finds is driving higher
prices amid increasing demand across energy sectors. Demand for natural gas is
expected to continue to rise, while residential electricity demand stays essentially flat,
amid continuing high costs. Michiganders struggling with home energy costs have
options for help, and a new MPSC energy assistance web page makes it easier to find
assistance michigan.gov/mpsc/gethelp.

TURKEY PARDON
A turkey named Mitch E Gander will be around for another Thanksgiving. Governor
Whitmer pardoned the bird as part of a statewide contest. The name was submitted by
two people. As she pardoned the turkey, the Governor wished everyone a happy
Thanksgiving and said its important to take time to reflect on everything we are grateful
for. Other names submitted for the contest were Ryan Gobbling, Tahquamenon Tom,
Roger Featherer and Mack E Gnaw.

U.P. HOUSING
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
to announce three community revitalization projects that will bring economic growth,
housing, and increased vibrancy to Iron Mountain and Calumet have received support
from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The projects are expected to generate a total capital
investment of $2.7 million. The governor says this demonstrates a continued focus on
supporting projects that bring vibrancy to communities in the Upper Peninsula and
every region of Michigan to build a foundation for long-term economic opportunity.

THANKSGIVING TRAVEL
One-point-seven million Michiganders are traveling 50 miles or more this
Thanksgiving. Triple A Michigan's Adrienne Woodland says one-point-five million are
driving. She says the busiest travel time is Wednesday from 11 to 8. Woodland
advises fliers to get to the airport two to three hours before their flight. She says the
busiest travel days will be Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

COOKING WARNINGS
The state has a warning for those who plan to deep fry a turkey this Thanksgiving.
State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer says portable propane-fueled turkey fryers -- a
popular and faster method for cooking a Thanksgiving turkey -- pose a considerable fire
risk if not used correctly.
Sehlmeyer says you should fry on a flat surface -- well away from houses, garages,
and decks. In addition -- turkeys should be completely thawed and dry prior to frying...
and deep fryers should not be overfilled with cooking oil.

SHOOTING OUTSIDE HENRY FORD HIGH -DETROIT
Detroit police are searching for three suspects involved in a double shooting outside
Henry Ford High School Monday afternoon. Two students at the school were shot right
after classes let out for the day . Police say the suspects circled the area, a couple
times before the shooting. Several gunshots were fired. The victims are expected to be
okay.

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS ACADEMY TEACHER SHORTAGE
Students at Muskegon Heights Academy held a rally outside the school Monday night
to protest an ongoing teacher shortage in the district....New Paradigm for Education.
The students protested the company in charge of the district. One teacher says many
kids are going to other districts because of the teacher and staffing shortage.
The school board has given New Paradigm until early next month to make changes. It
also threatened to hold the company in breach of contract. New Paradigm president
Ralph Bland says it's been difficult to get teachers to come to Muskegon Heights, but
he believes the firm is up to improving the staffing situation.

LGBT DETROIT VANDALIZED
Less than 24 hours after the deadly mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado,
the LGBT Detroit headquarters on the city's northwest side was vandalized.
The executive director of the non-profit organization, says their signs were defaced with
red and yellow tape, loads of garbage was thrown in front of the building, and there
were brightly colored zip ties on the ground.
A. Nzere Kwavena (A. Zy-ear Kwa-ven-uh) says LGBT Detroit, North America's largest
Black-founded and led LGBT+ non-profit, was clearly a target of intimidation.

KROGER CONTRACT
Teamsters at Kroger have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new national contract... and
they're calling it a historic victory.
The five-year agreement covers over 15 HUNDRED workers nationwide. The union
says the contract provides significant improvements to wages, benefits, and working
conditions. It was approved by 88 percent of members.
Tom Erickson -- Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division -- says the union was
able to win the most lucrative deal in the history of the national contract at Kroger.

MISSING IN W MI
Two vulnerable adults are missing in west Michigan's Wyoming. The cases are
reportedly not related. 63-year-old Gerrie Lynn Heyman was last seen in the area of
Lake Michigan Drive and Wilson Avenue in Walker Monday morning. She lives at a
Wyoming adult care facility.
59-year-old Raymond Tarasiewicz was last seen Monday morning at his home in
Wyoming. Police say he has early signs of dementia. Anyone with information should
call the Wyoming Department of Public Safety.

PARTY STORE FIRE-INDIAN RIVER
In Cheboygan County, investigators continue to look into the cause of Saturday's fire
that destroyed Pat and Gary's Party store in downtown Indian River. The store's
inventory of groceries and sporting goods went up in flames . A few nearby buildings
suffered some smoke and water damage. One injury was reported with a Tuscarora
Township firefighter receiving stitches after being cut by broken glass.

TRAVERSE CITY BRIDGE REPAIR
Traverse City commissioners approved a contract with M-DOT to proceed with two
bridge repair projects in downtown Traverse City next year. Commissioners also
approved a contract for engineering and design services for the expansion of the Tart
Trail downtown. Commissioners decided to spend over a million dollars of American
Rescue Plan funds on various city projects, ranging from sewer improvements and fire
station upgrades, to the senior center rebuild and improvements for a homeless day
shelter at the Jubilee House.

BOY SCOUTS POPCORN
A west Michigan teen has set national sales records for Boy Scout popcorn sales. 16-
year-old Mason Schlafer (Schlay-fer) , of Norton Shores, started selling popcorn seven
years ago in Cub Scouts. He says he's sold more than 400-thousand dollars worth
since then.


   

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