George James

New Traffic Shifts Planned for I-69 Road Work

Interstate 69 in St. Clair County is at the heart of the Rebuilding Michigan program that is targeting roads that are critical to the state’s economy and carry heavy traffic loads. While the work is going on, drivers will need to be prepared for new traffic shifts and closures of lanes and ramps.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says that the investment in roads is aimed at making longer useful lives of the roads and improving the condition of the state’s infrastructure. The work is planned to make the roads smoother and improve the driving experience.

The work going on right now involves moving the eastbound I-69 traffic onto the newly built lanes on the eastbound roadbed. The eastbound Riley Center Road ramps will reopen.

The westbound ramps at M-19 near Emmett will be closed and detoured. The ramps will be closed through October of this year.

Next week, the westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound roadway and the westbound ramp at Riley Center will be closed and detoured.

The latest work on I-69 started over the weekend and is scheduled to be completed in November of 2022. The project has a $38 million price tag.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

MiLEAP Grants Lead Workers to Jobs

The Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program, or MiLEAP, is an effort to help job seekers transition from education and training to high skill, high-wage careers.

MiLEAP grants totaling $15.6 million were just awarded to ten recipients, including the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance.

Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Acting Director Susan Corbin said, “By bringing a mix of economic development, education, non-profit and business partners together to serve as the MiLEAP consortia partners, we can ensure the customized programs developed will meet the unique needs of the over 5,000 program participants.”

The grants will support individuals who are dislocated, underemployed, serving as essential workers, living in distressed rural and urban communities or economically disadvantaged. The money will also pay for MiLEAP Navigators who will help find employment for job seekers. Individualized testing and learning plans will be offered to help increase the skill level of the work force. 

Funding for MiLEAP comes from a Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grant from the United States Department of Education.

 Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Pharmacists Can Provide Emergency Insulin Thanks to New Bills Signed into Law

Getting insulin is a matter of life or death for many people living with diabetes in Michigan. New legislation has passed to make an emergency insulin supply available to those who need it.

Senate Bill 155 allows pharmacists to use their discretion to give emergency insulin to those who may have an expired prescription, with some limitations. Senate Bill 156 requires insurance to pay for the emergency insulin.

The emergency insulin bills are being praised by pharmacists. Ed Saleh of the Arab American Pharmacist Association said, “The bill provides access to lifesaving drugs to Michiganders most prone to experiencing emergency health crisis.  A diabetic emergency can not wait till your doctor’s office reopens on Monday morning.”  

Fellow pharmacist Sammy Salem remarked, “Your community pharmacist is the most accessible provider of healthcare. Allowing them to provide insulin when the patient needs it most saves Michigan healthcare costs and Michiganders’ lives.”  

The bill was sponsored by Senator Kevin Daley who called the bills a safety net for diabetics who need the medication to survive.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Leadership Change for County Parks

St. Clair County Parks Department has had a change of leadership. Mark Brochu has retired after 26 years as Director of County Parks. Nancy Winzer has stepped in as the new Director.

Brochu is credited with developing the Wadhams to Avoca Trail. He also oversaw $13 million in improvements to the county parks system. Over his tenure, the county parks system grew to seven unique parks.

Winzer already has a job as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Port Huron. She will be keeping that job while also directing the County Parks. Winzer has been the Port Huron Parks and Recreation Director since 2010 and has earned a slew of regional and state awards for her many accomplishments in providing a variety of recreational opportunities for all abilities and age groups in the Blue Water area.

The St. Clair County Parks department has a few projects lined up for the near future. They are developing a six-acre parcel on the North Channel of the St. Clair River near Algonac. There is also a disc golf course going in at Columbus County Park, along with several other enhancements throughout the park system.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Rallying for Park Improvement Spending

Michigan’s windfall of federal COVID relief money is being proposed to be spent in a multitude of ways, including a $400 million investment in parks and trails.

The investment is hoped to create new jobs and increase tourism while sprucing up and modernizing the parks and trails system in the state.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is on the trail herself garnering support for her plan. She has made a few stops statewide to draw attention to the need for park upgrades.

Whitmer said her investment program marks “a once-in-a-generation chance to improve quality of life for our residents, support local economies and bring people back to Michigan as the state continues its recovery from the effects of the pandemic.”

Whitmer continued, saying, “These investments will ensure our children and grandchildren continue to enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of natural beauty and outdoor spaces so prized by Michiganders.” Whitmer said she looks forward to working with the Legislature to secure the investment.

Tourism and recreation-related industry sustain 126,000 jobs and over $4.7 billion in wages and salaries in Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland