George James

Redistricting was a hot topic at this time last year, when Michigan voters took to the polls to amend the constitution to empower an independent commission to redraw the state Senate, House, and U.S. Congressional districts in time for the 2022 election. 

That commission is in the early stages of formation and interested citizens can apply online or by paper application from now until June. The entire commission will consist of 13 voters, four of whom identify as Republican, four as Democrats, and five as independent voters, with no party affiliation. Members can not be directly tied to the parties as lobbyists, candidates, or politicians. 

There will be a series of random drawings to choose the members. Information from the 2020 Federal Census will be used in the redistricting effort, and there will be efforts made to have fair demographic representation. The attempt to reduce gerrymandering, or the practice of drawing boundaries for political gains, is hoped to be complete by November of 2021. 

The process will be overseen by a third-party accounting firm, the Rehmann Group. To ensure that Michiganders are aware of the opportunity to be a part of the redistricting commission, 250,000 randomly chosen registered voters will be getting a mailing with the application instructions, so check your mail to see if you are part of this group. More information is on the Secretary of State website.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The Office for Victims of Crime, the federal agency that administers the Crime Victims Fund, has received multiple reports that its name is being used as part of an imposter scam targeting individuals throughout the country. These scammers are calling from local numbers and may suggest your social security number has been compromised and even provide a “case number,” but be warned, it is a fraud. Do not give them any of your personal information — and do not send any money.

Contact from someone claiming to be the government gets your attention, but don’t be fooled. Criminals use legitimate government references and the threat of government action to trick individuals into taking action that facilitates theft. The initial communication could come in any form—letter, phone call, email, or text message. No matter the form, the goal is the same: to get personal or business information and steal money. If you receive a text or email from any source claiming to come from a government agency or employee with an attachment or link asking you to open it or click on it, do not do it until you verify it is authentic.

With this scam in particular, be alert for calls from anyone representing themselves as an OVC employee or being from the “OVC Fraud Prevention Unit.” The OVC has no such unit. If you receive one of these calls, report it to the OVC Resource Center at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at 800-851-3420. You may also file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at the contact information below or with the Federal Trade Commission online or by calling 877-382-4357.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

If you can’t get your favorite craft cocktail at your local bar or restaurant, don’t blame the owner. There is a statewide breakdown in the distribution of liquor. With holiday celebrating right around the corner, the last thing local bar and restaurant owners need is to have their orders delayed. But, that is exactly what is happening with one of Michigan’s three liquor distributors being unable to deliver on its orders. 

The State of Michigan ultimately controls the sale of hard liquor through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, but the the privatized warehousing and distribution system is where the current problem lies. 

Carrie and Casey Harris, owners of Casey’s in Port Huron, told us that with the popularity of craft cocktails, specific products are needed to complete the recipe. That means it’s harder to make substitutions for unavailable ingredients. Bar and restaurant owners like the Harrises want to make their customers happy and give them what they want, but this distribution problem is making that harder. 

Owners are generally hesitant to stock up on liquor because of the expense and space issues with having that type of inventory, but they haven’t had much choice this year. The Harrises told us that it has been a real headache for them and all other bars and restaurants, starting with Boat Week over the summer, and there is no end in sight until maybe early 2020. Businesses have been forced to adapt and are hoping that their customers understand the reason for the problem.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Inspired by the beauty and lore of lighthouses throughout the state—as well as their sheer number—University of Michigan assistant professor of music William Lucas launched the Michigan Lighthouse Landmark Legacy project, an artistic collaboration aimed at raising awareness and supporting preservation of the state’s beloved, historic buildings. The multimedia tribute to landmarks and lighthouses features Fort Gratiot’s own famed lighthouse. 

According to a recent article on the University of Michigan’s website, Bill Lucas’ pet project has evolved into the Landmark Legacy encompassing 15 composers made up of professors, students, and alumni. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was one of the first finished pieces and features a poem authored for the tune that is narrated between a musical symphony. The video was completed last year, but the project is picking up steam around the state.

According to the article, “Since 2014, Lucas, who plays trumpet, has worked with many U-M faculty, student and alumni composers to create more than 40 original fanfares for the lighthouses. So far, 20 of them have been recorded by the ‘Lighthouse Brass Quintet.’” 

The Michigan Lighthouse Landmark Legacy has now been split up into three phases to include pieces for lighthouses in the lower peninsula, fanfares celebrating the state’s physical landscapes like Isle Royal and Beaver Island for phase two, and phase three will do the offshore lights further north.

Lucas said going forward he hopes, “that the project would continue to be able to obtain donations and grants to commission and record fanfares for all 129 lighthouses in the state. In addition, while we already have fanfares for a few Michigan landmarks including Sleeping Bear Dunes, Tahquamenon Falls and the Porcupine Mountains, I’d love to explore that route as well.” To view the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse video and others that the group has completed, search MLLL Fanfares on Facebook.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Thirteen hundred Americans die from cigarette smoking related causes every day and electronic cigarettes, or “vapes” have been thought to be a safer alternative. But, recent reports have called the safety of vaping in to question, especially when substances are added to the vaping liquids. 

A Michigan teen was the recipient of a double lung transplant at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. His symptoms are directly tied to vaping, but medical experts don’t exactly know why. The prevalent theory is that most injuries are caused when substances are added to the vaping liquids, particularly cannabis derivatives. Vaping or “Juuling” is heavily marketed to teens in a variety of ways.

According to the St. Clair County Health Department 2019 Community Health Improvement Plan, 31.9% of area high school students used an electronic vapor product in the last 30 days, at the time of the survey. The Health Department recommends against using e-cigarettes or “vapes” and that smoking cessation be chosen over vaping for those who are addicted to nicotine. If local residents do choose to vape, the Health Department says to be  very careful about avoiding any additives. Tomorrow is also the “Great American Smokeout”, as designated by the American Cancer Society, a day when smokers and vapers are encouraged to try to kick the habit.

Did you know that heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States? More than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year. As Blue Water Area residents plug in the Christmas trees, space heaters and general electrical appliances that make for a cozy evening at home, it’s important to remember that safety, sometimes, has to come first. 

Portable electric space heaters, specifically, can be a convenient source of supplemental heat for your home in cold weather. Unfortunately, they can pose significant fire and electric shock hazards if not used properly. Fire and electrical hazards can be caused by space heaters without adequate safety features, space heaters placed near combustibles, or space heaters that are improperly plugged in.

Here are a few simple things to remember this cold winter season. Did you know that  your space heater should have a label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory? The proper placement of space heaters is also critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs. The biggest one to remember? Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.