George James

Karmanos Center Gets Money to Assist with Lodging for Cancer Patients

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has been awarded a lodging grant by the American Cancer Society. The $50,000 grant is to help those who may face financial barriers to getting cancer treatment.

The Karmanos Cancer Institute has 15 locations, including one at McLaren Port Huron Hospital. The main campus is in Detroit.

Dr. Kathleen Goss, Vice President of Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society said, “Disparities predominantly arise from inequities in work, wealth, income, education, housing and overall standard of living, as well as social barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services.”

Over 60,000 Michigan residents learn they have cancer each year. Finding lodging near cancer centers is often a roadblock to getting care, according to the American Cancer Society. 

In Port Huron, free lodging is available at the Hunter Hospitality Houses.

To learn more about supportive services at Karmanos, call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org.

https://www.hunterhospitalityhouse.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MSU College of Human Medicine in Flint Expanding

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Flint is expanding thanks to a $25 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The grant will fund an increased number of public health faculty, academic research, and community health collaborations.

Flint is at the epicenter of public health policy development in the region after the 2015 discovery of elevated lead levels in children.

Aron Sousa, M.D., interim dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine said, “Our researchers have worked side-by-side with the Flint community to improve lives locally and in communities across the country.”

Sousa said, “Our work in Flint across the city’s water crisis, COVID-19, nutrition and mental health has become a national model.”

Yvonne Lewis, founder and CEO of the National Center for African American Health Consciousness said, “This partnership between the community, Michigan State University, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation gives real credibility and credence to the work, leading to strengthened public health efforts in Flint.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Reimbursement Part of Proposal to Address Teacher Shortages

The Michigan legislature has been asked to address the teacher shortages in public school districts. State Superintendent of Public instruction, Dr. Michael Rice, sent a letter to the legislature with some suggestions as to how to address the teacher vacancies in many struggling school districts.

The letter asks for at least $300 million to be spent over the next five years to address the crisis. That money is intended to be used to reimburse tuition and other expenses for current college students, including district support staff who make a commitment to pursue teaching.

Rice suggests loan forgiveness for recent college grads and current teachers who are paying on loans. He also pointed out a weakness in regional teacher preparation in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula which rely on a single program to produce a substantial number of teacher candidates.

Rice said, “If we expect a major commitment from a wave of young people as our next generation of educators in our great state, the least we can do is make sure that they don’t go into debt to perform this all-important public service.” 

The Michigan Department of Education has several other initiatives in place as well to attract and maintain educators in the state.

 Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Unemployment Insurance Agency Reform Bills Pass House, Head to Senate

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency has been in turmoil since the economy was brought to a halt during the start of the pandemic. Lawmakers have brought forth a series of bills to reform the troubled agency.

State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, said, “A functional government should carry out its responsibilities in a thorough and timely manner. Those characteristics hardly describe our unemployment agency, which paid over $8 billion in fraud, approved benefits erroneously and slowed down many legitimate claims. The legislation passed by the House will repair the agency after disastrous delays, confusing communications and bungled benefits.”

The state House passed two legislative packages last week. The bills are now headed to the Senate.

The bills call for a clear, expedited timeline in which the UIA can review and decide on claims and more transparency. There would be a new unemployment insurance advocate.

The bills also ensure that nearly 700,000 unemployment recipients who received the money in error but applied honestly, would not have to return the money.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Hometown “Rising Star” Jazmyn Thomas Returns to Port Huron as New Administrator

The City of Port Huron has announced the appointment of Jazmyn Thomas as the new Community Development Program Administrator. Thomas will be in charge of community development strategies and the disbursements of federal Community Block Grant funding.

Thomas got started in her career working as an intern for the City of Port Huron in 2012. Thomas is a Michigan State University graduate with a degree in Social Relations and Policy. She graduated with honors with her master’s degree in Public Administration from Oakland University.

After building her career working as a Grant Management Specialist for Macomb County, Thomas is back with the City of Port Huron, where she serves on the Community Foundation’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Port Huron Police Department’s Community Resource Champions Committee, and the St. Clair County Diversity Initiative.

Port Huron City Manager James Freed called Ms. Thomas a “rising star in public policy” and said,  “No one understands the needs of our community better than someone who grew up in our neighborhoods. Ms. Thomas was raised here and that’s why we are excited she will help shape our city’s future.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Want a Fast Tax Refund? File Electronically

Tax season is here and this year is complicated. The Internal Revenue Service is begging taxpayers to file online and is asking that filers make sure to report the correct amounts for stimulus payments and advance Child Tax Credits.

Filing season began on January 24th and getting started early is a good idea. The IRS is bracing for a “challenging” season, according to IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. Rettig said, “Filing electronically with direct deposit and avoiding a paper tax return is more important than ever this year.”

For those who think they don’t have to file taxes this year, they might be wrong. A 2021 return is needed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit or reconcile advance payments of the Child Tax Credit.

Michigan’s Department of Treasury is echoing the sentiments of the IRS: file electronically. State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said, “Filing electronically is the easiest and quickest way for Michigan taxpayers to get any refund due. This helps ensure tax returns are accurate and improves tax refund turnaround times.”

Taxes must be filed by April 18th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland