George James

McLain and Huizenga Demand Answers from DOJ on Nursing Home COVID Deaths

Two Michigan Representatives in Congress, Lisa McLain and Bill Huizenga, both Republicans, sent a letter to the Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz demanding answers to several questions.

McLain and Huizenga are requesting a formal investigation and want to know who made the final decision to forgo investigation, what data exonerated Governor Gretchen Whitmer of any wrongdoing, if there was any contact with the Whitmer Administration and the Department of Justice, and whether anyone from the Office of President Biden was in contact with the DOJ regarding the Michigan inquiry.

The questions all have to do with the decision to place COVID-19 patients into long-term care facilities, and the subsequent infection and death of thousands of nursing home patients.

Congresswoman Lisa McLain said, “Thousands of Michigan families deserve to know why the State of Michigan and Governor Whitmer chose to put their loved ones’ lives at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. She continued, “We are demanding answers because no one seems to want to investigate Governor Whitmer’s mishandlings of this crisis.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Anxious Teens Can Sign Up for Free Virtual Support Group

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering free group counseling to teens who may be feeling anxious about going back to school. The sessions are online virtual support groups.

The pandemic has been especially hard for teenagers and the thought of going back to in-person school and all the social interactions that go with it can be very stressful for teens. It is a common worry.

The group counseling sessions are for teens aged 14-17. They can share their feelings and concerns with other teens and listen to their experiences. A trained “Stay Well” counselor will moderate the sessions and facilitate the meetings.

The emotional support groups are not meant to take the place of mental health treatment. No personal information will be retained.

Teens can sign up for one of four sessions that are held on every Wednesday in August at 4:00 p.m. 

MDHHS also has a 24/7 counseling telephone line that is staffed by a Michigan “Stay Well” counselor.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpcu6rqDooGdJDuHvQba3_y1TJc0BH3XU2?fbclid=IwAR1ZE5vak0jztfkMfdRV5wGXHSgWCmSEo2qdjQFh-YZDNSnoJp2OsB9oS1s

Dial 1-888-535-6136 and press “8”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Laws Extend License and Registration Expiration Dates

Driver’s license expired, but no appointment scheduled at the Secretary of State? Don’t worry; new laws have been signed to expand the validation of licenses and state IDs.

Expirations on vehicle registrations, driver licenses, and state IDs have been extended by 120 days after an original expiration date between March 31 and August 1st of this year. Late fees are waived and will be refunded if needed.

Senate Bill 507 extends the validity of an operator’s or chauffeur’s license. Senate Bill 508 extends the validity of enhanced driver’s licenses and IDs, and Senate Bill 509 extends the expiration dates on ID cards.

After signing the bills last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the laws “put Michigan drivers first”.

With a backlog of people waiting for appointments, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said, “We are glad to be entering a new era of services at our offices that are more efficient and convenient than ever before.”

Benson said all SOS offices are open to any residents, which they can access by “walking up or scheduling their visits online or by phone.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New Law Removes Requirement to Provide Phone Books

Say goodbye to telephone directories, or “phone books”. If you remember the days of getting wound up in a ten-foot-long phone cord and understand terms like “busy signal” and “collect calling”, you probably remember the days of easily looking up a phone number in a phone book. You probably also know the words to all the New Kids on the Block songs and have a set of encyclopedias on your bookshelf.

Michigan Senate Bill 372 has sent telephone directory publishing the way of party lines and rotary dials, by removing the requirement to provide a phone book from the Michigan Telecommunications Act.

The Bill was introduced by State Senators Horn, Hollier, and Schmidt, as well as local State Senator Dan Lauwers. The bill was supported by AT & T, Frontier Communications, and Telecommunications Associations of Michigan.

The bill also addresses something from a bygone era, 1-900 numbers, saying that telephone service providers must provide “the option of having access to 900 prefix services blocked”.  Once popular in the 1980s and 90s, 1-900 numbers are functionally obsolete with the development of the internet, but there are still a few “premium numbers” in use.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Look Out for Harmful Algal Blooms in the Water

Harmful algal blooms are kind of a big deal. They are naturally present in local waters but can cause serious harm to people and pets if ingested, thanks to cyanobacteria.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said, “Before going in the water, we recommend Michiganders look for visible algal blooms or scums on any lake, and that people and pets stay out of water in areas that look affected.”

Harmful algal blooms look like scums or mats, spilled paint or pea soup, or colored streaks on the water’s surface.

Symptoms of harmful algal bloom exposure in humans include rashes, runny eyes or nose, asthma-like symptoms, and gastrointestinal problems. Serious reactions require immediate medical attention. Dogs are especially susceptible to harm from exposure.

Algal blooms happen when the water nutrient level is too high. Prevention includes maintaining natural shorelines, keeping fertilizers away from the water, and keeping pet waste and detergents with phosphates out of the water.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sex Offender Registration Act Ruled Unconstitutional

After nine years of litigation, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the 2011 Sex Offenders Registration Act is unconstitutional ex post facto punishment. What does that mean?

According to a press release from the State Appellate Defender Office, it means that many of the Act’s requirements cannot be imposed against those whose offenses requiring registration came before the enactment of the 2011 Sex Offenders Registration Act.

Referencing the case People v Paul Betts, State Appellate Defender Jessica Zimbelman said, “The Court correctly recognized the extreme and unconstitutional burden placed on nearly 40,000 Michiganders by requiring registration with no determination as to who actually poses a risk to the public.”

The decision was based on the court’s view that being on the Sex Offender Registry restricts where registrants can live, work, and loiter and is comparable to shaming. The court also felt that the registry resembles parole, given the “significant amount of supervision by the state” and it imposes onerous burdens, all without any evidence of reducing crime.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland