George James

Michigan’s Infant Mortality Rate Drops to Lowest Recorded Level

There is encouraging news coming from the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Section of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. After analyzing the data, 2019, the most recent year analyzed, had the lowest infant mortality rates- 6.4 per thousand- in recorded history for the state of Michigan.

The legacy of racial disparity in infant mortality rates is also showing signs of decreasing. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of MDHHS said, “It is encouraging that Michigan achieved an all-time low infant mortality rate in 2019, as well as the fact that we are starting to see a decreasing trend in the infant mortality disparity ratio between Black and white infants.”

Khaldun noted that the department used “vigilance and intentionality” to fight infant mortality. She said the effort must continue to assure healthy outcomes for Michigan mothers and babies.

The 2020-2023 Mother-Infant Health & Equity Improvement Plan uses strategies to work toward the goal of Zero Preventable Deaths and Zero Health Disparities. The 2019 report shows a good start toward the goal.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

SBA Rolls Out Grants for Restaurants, Bars, Foodservice

Help could be on the way for struggling restaurants and bars. The U.S. Small Business Administration is reaching out to restaurants and other foodservice businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic. $28.6 billion in Restaurant Revitalization Funds are allocated toward relief nationwide.

The first three weeks of the enrollment period, with the application period having started Monday, is reserved for eligible owners who are women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged. After that, it is a first-come, first-serve application. The application will remain open until the funds are spent.

The minimum amount awarded is $1,000, but goes way up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location, to make up for pandemic losses. Eligible businesses include restaurants, food trucks, bars, saloons, wineries and distilleries, bakeries, and others.

Brian Calley, President of the Small Business Association of Michigan said, “This is critical relief to some of our hardest hit small businesses. Funds are limited, so I encourage eligible businesses apply as soon as the application window opens to ensure they get the support they need.”

For more information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Detours in Store for Drivers as Road Work Ramps Up

Lapeer Road between Wadhams and Allen Roads is going to be closed to westbound traffic starting today, according to the St. Clair County Road Commission. The closure is in effect for 50 days.

The work includes milling the existing asphalt and rubblizing the underlying concrete. The work also includes widening the road for a left turn lane and paving a portion of the shoulder of the road. There will also be drainage improvements, new pavement markings, and site restoration. The work is being done by Boddy Construction.

The Lapeer Road work will completely close the westbound lanes, but the eastbound traffic will be maintained. The posted detour is Allen Road to Griswold Road to Wadhams Road. Local access to homes and businesses will be maintained also with access for emergency vehicles. 

The road work has been budgeted to cost $750,000 and is being paid for with St. Clair County Road Commission Funds.

Smaller projects in the county include painting of the Masters Road bridge over the Belle River between Riley Center Road and Eagling Road, which is taking place between May 6th and June 5th.

At the north end of the county, the Fisher Road Bridge over Burtch Creek, between State Road and M-25, will be getting a new coat of paint from today until June 2nd.

Detour routes are posted for traffic in both directions for both of the bridge painting projects.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Private Wells Are Focus of this Year’s Drinking Water Awareness Week

It’s Drinking Water Awareness Week. With over 20% of the world’s fresh water in the Great Lakes, keeping water clean is a priority for the state and is vital to the Blue Water Area.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Clean Water Public Advocate, Ninah Sasy, said, “Regardless of whether your water comes from a municipal supply or private well, there are still things you can do to make sure you’re serving our families healthy drinking water.”

Those steps to ensure clean water will be highlighted through virtual events and public service messages to connect people to water resources.

For Michigan, PFAS contamination, along with the not-so-distant memory of Flint’s lead contamination, has put the state in the spotlight for water resource management. Residential wells are also a focus this year, with Tuesday being “Private Residential Well Awareness Day”. One-quarter of Michigan residents have residential wells.

Sasy said, “Proper well maintenance and testing are critical to ensuring that your family has healthy drinking water.”

Links to Drinking Water Awareness Resources:

https://www.michigan.gov/cleanwater/0,9779,7-411-106430_106431_106434—,00.html

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

House Bill Addresses Unclaimed Bottle Return Money

The amount of unredeemed deposits on bottles and cans is huge this year, with millions of dollars worth of eligible deposit returns sitting in basements, garages, and likely landfills. What to do with the unclaimed money has prompted action that has been called both “commonsense” and “misguided”, depending on who is talking.

The Michigan House passed house bills 4443 and 4444 that would put more money from unclaimed bottle returns into updates for equipment that processes the returns. The bill would allocate more money for the bottling industry and less for the Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund which currently gets 75% of the money.

Spencer Nevins of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers praised the legislation, saying, “Our members have spent millions of dollars to purchase large, expensive equipment — which takes up valuable warehouse space — to process returnables without seeing a dime from the state.”

Environmentalists are less impressed. Nick Occhipinti, government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, argued that more money is needed to “fight contamination in our drinking water, rivers, streams, lakes, and land” and he urged lawmakers to “oppose this misguided legislation.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Huron Lightship to Remain Rust-free Thanks to City Funding

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Museum always makes the best of whatever surprises are thrown at it and managing a freak natural disaster is no exception. When a meteotsunami hit Lake Huron in July of 2020, the Huron Lightship sustained serious damage. The sudden and devastating erosion destroyed the mechanical systems and caused an unwelcome moat to appear.

Andrew Kercher, Manager of Community Engagement for Port Huron Museums, said that the City of Port Huron is helping the Museum with the restoration of the cathodic system that was exposed with the storm. The system is a series of cathodes that attract rust away from the ship, allowing it to remain intact while being buried partially underground for the past half-century.

If there was any silver lining to the unexpected excavation, it’s that the cathodic system, which needed eventual replacement anyway, was able to be accessed. Further work will be needed to shore up the erosion and stabilize the buried ship. Kercher said he is grateful for the partnership with the City of Port Huron.

The Huron Lightship, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, is planned to be open for visitors after Memorial Day. Full schedules can be found at phmuseum.org.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland