Choze Powell

State Rep. Andrew Beeler and the Michigan House of Representatives today approved Rep. Beeler’s legislation to make state government work for the people by improving oversight and accountability measures for the governor’s emergency powers.

Beeler, R-Port Huron, helped sponsor a 30-bill plan to ensure accountability for broad authority used by the governor and state agencies to address emergencies. The plan would set timeframes, strengthen oversight by the Legislature, eliminate redundant laws, and remove unnecessary powers.

“The state government works for the people of Michigan, so in good times or emergencies, accountability is vital to a functioning republic,” Beeler said. “State legislators are closest to the people we serve. We care deeply for our communities because we live and work in them. Elected representatives address citizens’ concerns through legislation — and through oversight. Our plan will bolster legislative review over emergency powers, ensuring that government officials don’t avoid accountability.”

The plan would increase accountability by:

• Ensuring transparency: In order to ensure lawmakers overseeing state departments are aware of the use of emergency authority, other bills would simply require the executive branch to notify the Legislature in a timely manner — typically 24 hours — after some powers are exercised. Beeler’s House Bill 6207 would require officials to notify the Legislature within 24 hours of issuing an emergency order instructing a mine to suspend operations or take other corrective action to protect the public health, safety, welfare, or the environment.
• Setting reasonable timeframes: Some bills within the package would provide a specific role for elected legislators in the exercise of emergency powers, by ending the application of certain authority after 28 days, requiring the Michigan Legislature to decide whether to extend the power in that instance.
• Cleaning up the law: Additional bills in the package would repeal unnecessary or outdated emergency powers, some of which have rarely or never been used. Other statutes to be repealed are redundant, granting power also authorized elsewhere in Michigan law.

The bills now proceed to the Senate for consideration, where other parts of the plan that passed the House this summer are already under review.

Submitted by Rep. Andrew Beeler’s Office

Port Huron has some of the most beautiful scenery around, its parks and beaches are a wonderful place for families to spend the summer. To help improve these areas, Port Huron Parks & Recreation is asking residents to fill out a brief survey.

The survey will help them update and set their Five-Year Recreation plan which is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The five year plan is an eligibility requirement for important grants such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and waterway grants.

The survey will be available to the public through the month of October, so be sure to help improve our parks by leaving your feedback, ideas, and goals. 

Fill out survey here: https://bit.ly/PHParksSurvey

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The kids are back to school, so there will be plenty of projects and assignments throughout the year. Although, they probably won’t be as much fun as the 2nd Annual LEGO Challenge sponsored by Mortimer Lumber.

Starting October 1st, Mortimer is offering participants a chance to win a $50 LEGO gift card for the children and a $50 Mortimer Lumber gift card for the parents. To win, all you have to do is put your creativity to work and build a house out of LEGOS. Not a full size replica, but something you can manage at the kitchen table. 

There are three categories for participants: elementary, middle school, and high school. Participants have to take a photo of their completed project and email it to nheier@mortimerlumber.com, or you can submit it to their Facebook Messenger along with the child’s name, age, and the parents name.

For more details check out their Facebook page at Mortimer Lumber.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The 100 + Women Who Care event, sponsored by the Women’s Initiative of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, gathered over 200 women to support area nonprofits last week. The event granted over $12,000 to three organizations that care for area residents, animals, and the environment.

Attendees of the 100 + Women Who Care event nominate their favorite nonprofit when they purchase their ticket. The evening of the event, three nonprofits are drawn at random and representatives from each get to pitch to the crowd.

After hearing from ladies representing Friends of the St. Clair River, Blue Water Area Humane Society, and Mid City Nutrition, the crowd voted for the most compelling plea. Mid City Nutrition secured first place and received a $10,000 grant for their programs that include providing daily meals for people at their Port Huron location.

The Blue Water Humane Society came in second place and received a grant for $1,500, and Friends of the St. Clair River was third and given $500.

New this year, the committee gave three $250 grants to organizations chosen by the winner of a purse contest. Those gifts went to Blue Water Area YMCA, Riley Gleason Foundation, and Hunter Hospitality House.

To learn more about the Women’s Initiative of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, visit https://www.stclairfoundation.org/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

This year’s North American International Auto Show is promising big fun for families. Show organizers have paired interactive auto-themed experiences with life-sized automated dinosaurs to attract visitors of all ages.

The public show runs from September 17th – 25th and takes place indoors and outdoors around the main display areas at Huntington Place.

Families can check out the Air Mobility Experience, a series of flight demonstrations taking place in the skies above the show grounds and the Detroit River and Hart Plaza, and then they can head over to Bronco Mountain and Camp Jeep to experience a ride in a new vehicle on a specialty test-track.

Auto Show organizers are also promising a new perfect complement to the show with the new Dinosaur and Off-Road Vehicle Encounter. This give show-goers the chance to see over 80 massive dinosaurs at various experiences throughout the show along with educational activities, crafts, and fossil digs.

There are plenty more family-themed activities at this years auto show, and there’s even a Family Plan ticket available that gets two adults and up to three children into the show for $50.00.

For more information, visit https://naias.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Looking for a fun event to take children to this fall? The colder temperatures are starting to make outdoor activities a bit less desirable for some, so if you’d like to experience a good fall carnival indoors look no further.

The Port Huron Museum’s Carnegie Center is offering its Carnegie Carnival on Saturday, September 24th from 5 PM – 7:30 PM. General admission is $10 for non-members, and only $5 for museum members. 

The event will feature all of the carnival favorites such as pony rides, crafts, face paintings and more! Children will also have access to Discovery City, Carnegie Center’s playscape that encourages imagination while teaching about local attractions and history. 

For more information about the Carnegie Carnival contact Andrew Kercher at (810) 982-0891.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell