George James

$100K Gift to Help Equity and Inclusion Committee

As the saying goes, people put their time and their money into that which is important to them. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is putting both human resources and substantial funds, $100,000 to be exact, into supporting the Equity and Inclusion Committee.

According to an announcement from the Foundation, the major gift is intended to bolster efforts at advancing philanthropy in communities of color throughout the region. 

Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair Shawn Shackleford said, “The Equity and Inclusion effort is the result of dedication and hard work of many in this community. This gift from the Foundation is validation of that work. It will allow the Equity and Inclusion Committee to continue to support minority-related issues and opportunities.”   

During the start of the pandemic, the Committee hired experts to guide businesses through the process to get financial help. They also facilitated partnerships with the Economic Development Alliance and the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce to support long-term success.

The Committee has recently supported community organizations like SONS, the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, and Blue Water Indigenous Alliance.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Senate Bills Gives County Prosecutors Money to Investigate Nursing Home COVID Deaths

State Senator Dan Lauwers, a Brockway Township Republican who represents the 25th District, has announced that the Senate has appropriated $250,000 for county prosecutors to pursue investigations into the use of nursing homes to care for COVID-19 patients.

Nursing homes saw some of the highest rates of infection and death at the onset of the pandemic. The policy of moving convalescing COVID-19 patients into nursing homes has been a point of contention between Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and the Republican State Legislature for the past year.

In his Legistative Update, Lauwers said, “The families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic deserve to have closure. The governor’s failed policies are responsible for forcing our most vulnerable residents into living spaces with seniors who have tested positive for COVID-19. Our seniors now account for at least one-third of our state’s COVID-19 deaths.”

Senate Bill 27, introduced by Senator Jim Stamas of the 36th District, is an appropriations bill that will now move on to the House.

The Governor’s Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have consistently maintained that proper protocols were followed.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

PHPD Offers Elementary Summer Camp

Port Huron, MI — It’s never too early to learn about community service. Kids who are interested in learning more about how police departments work or what it’s like to be a police officer have a great opportunity this summer. The Port Huron Police Department is offering an Elementary Summer Camp for kids in grades 4th through 6th.

The Camp will be held from June 21st through June 24th at four different locations: Cleveland Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, and Holland Woods Middle School. There is transportation available if needed.

Camp participants will learn from School Resource Officers Dennis Huisman and Laura Phillips who will cover a variety of subjects with the children.

Campers will explore police equipment and vehicles, complete a police obstacle course, and design and race their very own police car. They will also learn about fingerprints and meet the Port Huron Police Department K9 unit.

Lunches are provided by the Port Huron School District and students get a t-shirt and pinewood derby car to take home. There is no cost to attend the camp and enrollment is limited.

Registration details can be found at:

https://www.porthuron.org/Police/2021_SummerCamp.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Jail Reform Council Looks to Reform Criminal Justice System

The Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council has been created by Executive Order of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. County jails are housing an increasing number of inmates costing taxpayers nearly half a billion dollars each year.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist said, “This council will do critical work to implement the recommendations of last year’s Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration that I was proud to co-chair. Together, we can make substantive, lasting changes to our justice system that make us all safer and help us live up to our highest ideals.”

The new council is Chaired by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and is made up of members of the law enforcement community, mental health care, and county government.

McCormack said, “Thanks to the data-driven, bipartisan work of the Jail and Pretrial Incarceration Task Force, Michigan is a national leader in reforming our criminal justice system to be more fair, effective, transparent, and accountable. The council will support the implementation of these pioneering improvements, making sure the vision of a justice system that makes us all safer and stronger that inspired us becomes reality.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sarnia Police and Fire Address Enforcing COVID Restrictions

Ontario’s strict lock-down continues in response to stress on hospitals from an influx of patients sick with COVID-19. The City of Sarnia has addressed how they will be enforcing the new restrictions within the city. 

The Sarnia Police Service said they will focus on educating and warning the public about the Provincial Government’s restrictions and will resort to enforcement when other measures have failed and if violations under the Re-Opening Act of Ontario and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act persist. 

The Police will not be randomly stopping pedestrians or vehicles to enforce the travel restrictions but will enforce based on observed violations or public complaints. The Police addressed this concern out of recognition of residents’ frustration with the virus and the measures taken by the Provincial Government. 

The Sarnia Fire Service reported that there is no ban on backyard recreational burning, but campfires can be burned only while following the guidelines on acceptable numbers of people and number of households. 

Ontario has imposed a ban on travel for reasons other than health care, essential shopping, and work that can not be done from home, as well as most travel between provinces. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Republicans: Biden Tax Plan Could Doom Family Farms

Local legislators are rallying against the Biden tax plan that they say could be the end of family farms.

The Biden administration’s proposed tax hikes, and particularly changes in the death tax and capital gains taxes, have the potential to put local farms out of business.

State Senator Dan Lauwers, himself a family farmer, said, “This is the kind of policy that eliminates family farms. Families can’t afford to tie up that kind of money. It’s going to be corporations that run farms as a business, not as a family.”

Referring to the changes proposed to the capital gains tax, Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski said, “With the loss of that stepped-up basis, the next generation may be forced to sell off large portions of the vital farm assets just to pay that capital gains tax. As a result, economic viability of our farms would be severely impacted, in fact, we may see farms discontinue and go out of business.”

Congresswoman Lisa McLain, a Republican from Michigan’s 10th District, authored a letter to President Biden explaining the need to rethink the policy proposals. A link to the letter:

https://mcclain.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/mcclain.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Ag%20letter.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland