Runners can warm up their winter with a sweet challenge as the 15th annual Po Ho Hot Cocoa Event returns to Port Huron on January 24th. The family-friendly day features races, live music from Bandwagon, and plenty of chocolate. Runners can choose from four distances, including a kids’ mile at 8:30 a.m. and longer routes starting soon after. The event helps fund local cross-country programs, with racers picking up medals, jackets, and cocoa at the finish line. Packet pickup starts January 23rd at the Wrigley Center downtown.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

In St. Clair County, nine local small businesses are getting a boost thanks to more than sixty-four thousand dollars in new grant funding from the Eastern Michigan Small Business Network. The awards range from about five to eleven thousand dollars each, supporting familiar spots like Port Huron’s Raven Café, Murphy Inn in St. Clair, and Viking Fitness in Marysville. The program, part of a six-county effort led by the Economic Development Alliance, aims to fuel local business growth and keep jobs right here in our communities.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A new Fraser Institute report ranks Ontario’s high schools based on literacy and math scores. Northern Collegiate in Sarnia led Lambton County, placing 158th out of 747 schools with a 7.3 rating. Lambton Central in Petrolia came next at 178th. Great Lakes, St. Patrick’s, and St. François-Xavier followed in the middle of the pack, while North Lambton earned a 5.6 rating. Most Lambton schools showed gains since last year, though St. Patrick’s fell in the rankings. The report helps families compare performance across the province.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A deadly crash in snowy conditions claimed the life of a Kenockee Township man Saturday night. Around 7:30, St. Clair County deputies, firefighters, and Tri-Hospital EMS rushed to Kilgore Road near Imlay City Road after a Chevy Silverado rolled over. Investigators say the truck lost control on icy pavement and flipped into a ditch, ejecting the driver. CPR was performed, but the 37-year-old man later died at McLaren Port Huron. Officials say alcohol or drugs are not suspected, and the crash remains under investigation.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet