George James

State Invests in Skilled Trade Training with “Going PRO Talent Fund”

The State of Michigan has granted over $39 million affecting 30,000 workers state-wide to secure employment, gain industry-recognized credentials, and earn strong wages. The money went to more than 850 Michigan businesses in the form of training grants from the “Going PRO Talent Fund”.

Susan Corbin, the acting director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), said, “With 545,000 professional trades job openings expected through the year 2026, this fund plays a vital role in helping Michigan employers meet their talent needs by investing in homegrown workers.” 

According to LEO, the training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry to be part of the program.

The Going Pro Talent Fund grants are available through Michigan Works! Agencies and are part of Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by 2030. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Grayfox Murder Suspect Arrested in Detroit

The Port Huron Police Department has announced the location and subsequent arrest of suspected murderer Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty. Grasty is suspected in the murder of William Michael Orlow, whose body was discovered on the Grayfox, a former Navy vessel that was docked on the St. Clair River near the Blue Water Riverwalk in June.

The search for Grasty has been ongoing with a warrant issued in December. Grasty was thought to be homeless somewhere in the Detroit area. No motive or details on the relationship between the suspect and the deceased were provided. The death was determined to be the result of trauma.

Grasty was apprehended by U.S. Marshalls in Detroit and was handed over to the custody of the Port Huron Police Department. Grasty was questioned and arraigned on charges of open murder and Disinterment/Mutilation of a Corpse. He is lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention Center.

Bond was set at $750,000 with a Probable Cause Conference set for February 2nd in front of Judge Mona Armstrong.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDHHS Targeting Ads at Vaccine Skeptics

No one wants the COVID-19 pandemic over with more than the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. They have been at the forefront of both managing the state’s response to the virus and promoting vaccination. The latest campaign by the MDHHS is a $1.5 million multimedia program designed to help Michiganders feel more comfortable with the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

There is significant hesitancy in getting the vaccine. According to MDHHS, 66% of Michiganders are likely or very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and 34% would like to get it as soon as possible. They report that 47% of white Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine while only 25% of black Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine.

The reasons that people don’t want to get the vaccine include concerns about side effects, reluctance to be a “test subject”, needing to know more about the vaccine’s safety, wanting to know more about the long-term performance of the vaccine, questions about effectiveness, and concerns about political motivations to pushing the vaccine through safety tests. 

The multimedia campaign will target the concerns and promote the safety of the vaccine. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Settles with DEA Over “Prescribing Irregularities”

McLaren Health Care entered into a legal settlement with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices pertaining to retail pharmacy operations at McLaren Port Huron.

According to a press release from McLaren, the agreement stems from a lengthy effort with the DEA, which discovered “prescribing irregularities” in 2018, which led to the firing of a pharmacist who was diverting opioids for personal use. The DEA found problems with recordkeeping, dispensing, and distributing controlled substances dating back to before McLaren acquired Port Huron Hospital.

April Rudoni, Interim Compliance Director and Chair of McLaren’s Controlled Substance Oversight Committee, said, “Our health system takes compliance very seriously and regrets any instance in which we do not meet our regulators’ requirements or our own high standards. From the moment the DEA’s first concern was brought to our attention we have worked diligently to strengthen protocols across our system. I am proud of the culture of accountability and compliance we maintain and look forward to continued collaboration with the DEA moving forward.”

McLaren reportedly paid over $7.7 million in the settlement and entered into a three-year plan to prevent future violations.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Anthony’s Autism Awareness” Provides Sensory Boxes to Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles throughout the county are now equipped with sensory boxes for use in assisting in contacts with people on the autism spectrum. The sensory boxes are being assembled and donated by Anthony’s Autism Awareness, a local non-profit.

The Marysville Police/Fire/EMS department, Port Huron City Police, Port Huron Fire Department, Fort Gratiot Fire Department, and St. Clair County Sheriff are the latest recipients of the boxes and the hope is to get more sensory boxes in the hands of more departments. Sensory boxes contain items like fidget spinners and small toys that might help those on the spectrum with relaxation during a stressful situation.

Anthony’s Autism Awareness is accepting donations to help buy the items. The boxes cost about $7 each with the goal being to have them in every police car or emergency responder vehicle in St. Clair County.

The mission of the non-profit is to “encourage awareness, acceptance and understanding in the community and offer support and resources to people with autism, and their families”.

More information is on the Anthony’s Autism Awareness Facebook page.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Cautious Optimism With State Budget Projections

Consensus has been reached in Michigan’s budget projection for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021 and upcoming 2022 and 2023 fiscal years by the State Treasurer, State Budget Director, Senate Fiscal Agency, and House Fiscal Agency. The change from January to August for 2021 is a reduction of $2.47 billion. The change from January to August 2022 is a reduction of $1.72 billion.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said, “While the pandemic has had a dramatic impact on our economy, the state of Michigan has outperformed national averages in a number of areas. While still down more than $1 billion compared to before the pandemic, today the state’s revenues were raised upwards primarily due to direct and indirect impacts from the federal stimulus.”

Eubanks went on to caution that the recovery depends on “the course of the pandemic and the additional economic relief coming from Washington D.C. There is cautious hope and optimism as we move forward as vaccines are administered, and we begin to put the pandemic behind us.”

Revenue estimates are based on the most recent economic projections and forecasting models. A link to the full report:

Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (mi.gov)

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland