Choze Powell

Insulin is not optional for those who are managing diabetes. Prices have been going up, causing hardship for those who depend on the medicine to survive.

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched an investigation into the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, invoking the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to target “grossly excessive prices”, according to a release from Nessel’s office.

Part of the action is a reconsideration of two Michigan Supreme Court rulings that limit the use of the Consumer Protection Act. A change to the rulings will allow Nessel to devote the Consumer Oversight Division to the investigation.

In explaining the action, Nessel said, “The average out-of-pocket cost of a single vial of insulin is nearing $100. No Michigander should have to face that kind of cost for life-saving medicine. While drug companies profit off of people’s health, they also benefit from a current market in which they control the pricing. Enough is enough.”

Several bills are currently making their way through the legislature that would cap the cost of insulin at $50 per month per user.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Submitted by State Rep. Andrew Beeler, R-Port Huron:

“One term can make quite a difference in how a governor wants to be perceived. Three years removed from her failed proposal for a massive gas tax increase, two years removed from adding debt without the Legislature, and less than one year removed from draconian health department orders, we are seeing a new Gov. Whitmer.

“The frustrating hypocrisy of her claim to be focused on ‘kitchen table issues’ was on full display. Michigan families in Sanilac and St. Clair counties don’t ask for government subsidies for big businesses at the table; they talk about the thousands of dollars Whitmer’s unemployment agency is demanding; they talk about the failure of leadership of the health department in failing to track thousands of nursing home deaths; and they talk about how expensive their heating bill will be without Line 5.

“For months, the governor openly opposed the small-business support that she took credit for last night. She has fought the legislature on broadening Michigan’s toolkit to make our economy better for small businesses. She has vetoed common-sense tax cuts for businesses. To quote the governor herself, ‘You can listen to what someone says, but to know the truth — watch what they do.’”

Submitted by the St. Clair County Health Department:

Since November 2020, monoclonal antibody therapy has been a safe and highly effective treatment for high-risk individuals who are experiencing mild to moderately severe COVID-19.

The FDA recently announced that Sotrovimab is currently the only remaining effective monoclonal antibody treatment against the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Sotrovimab is currently in short supply across the United States, including Michigan and therefore, strict criteria for eligibility is currently in effect.

Priority eligibility criteria for therapeutics, including antiviral medication and monoclonal antibody therapy will remain in effect until supply is able to meet demand and will be periodically reviewed as appropriate:

• Any age (per applicable EUA or FDA approval) with a moderate to severe immunocompromised condition regardless of vaccine status or

• Age>75 YO and not up to date on COVID vaccines or
•  Age 65-74 YO, not up to date on COVID vaccines, and with MI priority risk factor as described above or
• Pregnant and not up to date on COVID vaccines

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer at the St. Clair County Health Department stated, “Our local community infusion center, operated by Tri-Hospital EMS, has had to shift with this change. Quantities of Sotrovimab are limited and a strict criteria for eligibility is being used to maximize its use. We will expand this criteria as soon as possible to include a larger group of people.”  Mercatante continued, “Talk to your doctor about what treatment options are best and available for you. The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) continues to strongly recommend getting vaccinated and boosted for the best protection against the virus.”

Email COVID-19 questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org or call (810) 966-4163. For more COVID-19 information visit the health department website www.scchealth.co and social media @scchdmi.   

The transformation of  the former Michigan National Bank building into CityFlats Hotel Port Huron began in 2017, about a year after Sperry’s Moviehouse opened. This winter, both locations are under construction to bring more amenities to downtown Port Huron.

On a tour of CityFlats Hotel (available <HERE>), WGRT was able to see the progress on the hotel’s guest rooms up close. The second floor is taking shape, with rooms and floor plans in place and paint on the walls in anticipation of trim work and finishing details.

The hotel’s second floor rooms boast wonderful views of downtown from almost every angle. Guests can observe the Black River from north facing rooms, get panoramic views of downtown from rooms on the north and southwest corner suites, and gaze at the iconic Train Bridge and Desmond Marine if they are situated on the east side of the building.

Every room is has a unique floor plan at the boutique hotel, and modern fixtures complete the streamlined aesthetic. According to Amanda Downs, General Manager for CityFlats Hotel and Sperry’s Moviehouse, the furniture will compliment the boutique feel of the space by contributing both comfort and design features that guests won’t find anywhere else.

All the furniture and mattresses in CityFlats Hotel and Sperry’s Moviehouse are designed and created by Charter House Innovations, a company with production facilities in Zeeland and Holland that specializes in designing custom interiors in a sustainable way.  See their designs for the CityFlats Hotel in Holland, Michigan <HERE>.

Both Amanda Downs and Assistant General Manager of CityFlats Katie Fields are looking forward to the opening of the hotel’s guest rooms even though they don’t have a date on the calendar yet. With all the challenges related to completing building projects at this time, they are focusing their energy on the progress being made and promoting the parts of the hotel that are open for business.

The Kitchen, The Bar, and The Ballroom are all currently open for business and available for breakfast, lunch, drinks, and events.

The Kitchen is a café located on the first floor of the hotel, and it’s open to the public 7 days a week. Sunday through Thursday the hours are 9 AM – 3 PM, and it’s open from 9 AM – 5 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Kitchen has classic coffee drinks, lattes, and smoothies, and the food menu includes scratch-made bagels, wood-grilled flatbreads, and bowls made with your choice of mixed greens, rice, or a rice noodle base and topped with a variety of selected ingredients.

The Bar is the newest part of the hotel to open, and visitors can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere along with views of the Black River and their favorite cocktail, craft beer, or wine. The Bar is open Tuesday – Thursday from 4 PM – 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 4 PM – 11 PM.

If you’re looking for a wedding or large event venue, The Ballroom can accommodate up to 300 people and includes all the usual amenities of a banquet space along with incorporating several of the former Michigan National Bank’s unique features. The bank’s safe deposit vault, money vault, viewing booths, and deposit counter can be used by guests for photo opportunities and counter space.

Along with The Kitchen, The Bar, and The Ballroom, CityFlats Hotel has the CityFloats outdoor bar and grill that operates in warmer weather, and the building is also home to Weekends, an upscale gift, decor, and gourmet food shop.

Amanda Downs encourages people to visit the hotel’s current amenities when they are looking for something to do, and she’s also excited about the progress being made at Sperry’s Moviehouse to add a new entertainment option to her company’s portfolio.

Sperry’s Arcade is being built in the basement of the Moviehouse which used to house The Underground, a co-working space that relocated to a neighboring property.

“It’s going to be a barcade. It’s going to be a true arcade, no redemption center, no tickets, nothing like that. It is a true arcade with quarter machines – an old-school arcade,” said Downs.

They are waiting on furniture from Charter House Innovations to arrive so they can install all of the machines, and the barcade will also have a corn-hole room and a pinball room that is already garnering enthusiasm by leagues.

“The [pinball] leagues actually reached out to me when they heard we were doing a barcade,” said Amanda.

Guests will be able to use smaller rooms in the barcade to eat food from Sperry’s 2nd Floor Dinnerhouse and hang out in between game-playing. WGRT will follow up on the progress at Sperry’s Arcade soon!

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand