George James

Workplace COVID-19 Rules Extended

Emergency rules for Michigan workers, businesses, customers, and communities have been extended to October 14th, 2021. The rules include things like COVID-19 emergency response plans, employee training, workplace infection control practices, proper use of personal protection equipment like masks, and protocol for reporting COVID-19 infections for contact tracing.

Remote work is recommended when possible. The process for reporting unsafe working conditions remains in place as well.

The extension of the emergency rules is a response to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Since then, there have been over 1600 outbreaks reported, with manufacturing and construction reporting the most.

Enforcing the rules falls on the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).

MIOSHA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan said, “As we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the rules reinforce the importance of keeping workplaces safe for employees from COVID-19 transmission. We want employers to create a safe work environment for their employees, which is why we will continue to work with employees and businesses to help them understand how to safely stay open.”

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Playworks Michigan Wants Kids to Get Recess Time

Kids need recess. That is the message from Playworks Michigan, a coalition of a diverse group of state leaders, athletes, and educators, that advocates for statewide awareness and an increase in playtime and recess in schools.

Even though many students are learning remotely right now, the Playworks Michigan Coalition is working to make recess time happen for all students once school is back to being in-person.

Paul Liabenow, Executive Director of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal’s Association said, “Following the recent online and in-person learning changes throughout the pandemic, curriculum is being reshaped for the fall. As these conversations are happening, we want educators and parents to be aware of the benefits of recess especially after a year of online learning and limited interaction.”

According to Playworks Michigan, Michigan schools have no guidelines for providing recess time nor for removing recess.

Playworks reports that over the past ten years, nearly half of all school districts nationwide have either completely eliminated or reduced recess time and of the few schools that require recess, most kids only get 20 minutes or so per day, far below the recommended minimum of 60 minutes of activity. This is especially alarming as 30.6% of children in Michigan are considered either overweight or obese.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

DNR: Don’t Trim Oak Trees until Mid-July

With Spring in the air, it might seem like the perfect time to clean up the trees in your yard. But hold off on trimming oak trees.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that oak trees shouldn’t be trimmed between April 15th and July 15th because of the risk of spreading “oak wilt”.

Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease that is a microscopic killer of oak trees. The fungus is spread by flying beetles. The disease is especially deadly for red oak trees and can kill them within weeks. It can also weaken white oak trees.

James Wieferich, forest health specialist in the DNR’s Forest Resources Division, said, “The guidelines against pruning oak trees during this time can help prevent the spread of the disease.”

Freshly cut firewood can also spread the disease.

Trees will show symptoms of oak wilt by wilting from the top down and rapidly dropping leaves. The disease usually shows up from late June to September.

The DNR warns that if you have a tree that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint.

Oak wilt outbreaks should be reported to the DNR.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

I-69/M-19 Road Work Begins

Orange barrels are out as a big road construction project in St. Clair County gets underway. The Michigan Department of Transportation is putting major investment into fixing the pavement on both I-69 and M-19 near the village of Emmett.  

The pavement on I-69 and M-19 has been deteriorating and in need of repair. The state is putting $38 million into the project, which is expected to last until November of 2022.

The roadwork will stretch from Miller Road to I-69, covering six miles, and will also take care of the slice of M-19 from I-69 to Burt Road.

MDOT says there will be single-lane closures and traffic shifts. The ramp at Riley Center Road will be affected intermittently throughout the project and M-19 traffic will be maintained with a temporary signal.

The work is being done to address the impact on commerce, tourism, and commuter traffic on the heavily traveled roads. I-69 is part of the International Trade Corridor.

The road work is part of the Rebuilding Michigan program which uses bond sales to finance the statewide infrastructure initiative.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission Addresses Alarming Suicide Rate

Michigan has a lot of problems right now, and one of them is an average of four lives lost each day to suicide. The Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission has made it a priority to address this heart-breaking problem.

The rate of people dying from self-harm has increased steadily over the past decade. The Commission is working to minimize risk by promoting safe environments, resiliency, and connectedness. They are also working to expand access to care for at-risk people, improve prevention and training, and implement best practices in suicide prevention for health care systems. There is also an initiative to enhance data collection specifically pertaining to suicide.

MDHHS Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said, “Suicide is preventable, and Michigan’s current suicide rates are unacceptable. However, through our plans and intentional actions, we can provide the help and resources necessary to save lives. Together, we can make Michigan a model state for suicide prevention, and a place where everyone gets the help they need, when they need it.”

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/coronavirus/Suicide_Prevention_Commission_Initial_Report_Final_Draft_719896_7.pdf

Anyone who needs help can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-273-TALK. Press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. Anyone under age 21 can ask to talk to a peer at Teen Link, 1-866-833-6546.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State School Board Makes Attendance Exceptions for Standardized Tests

With more plot twists than a daytime soap opera, the question of whether state testing in public schools will take place has finally been settled. Kind of.

Schools still have to offer the tests, which usually take place around this time of the year, but, according to a statement adopted by the Michigan State Board of Education, parents can choose to have their kids sit this year out if they would just be coming to the school for the test.

The statement says that the Board supports the right of parents and guardians to make decisions about the education of their children. The statement notes that the testing waiver was not granted by the United States Department of Education, but there is no penalty if not everyone takes the test.

The statement ends with, “Given that coronavirus infection rates are increasing in Michigan, and many students are still attending school remotely, the State Board of Education supports the guidance to parents and legal guardians that these students need not be brought into school solely for the purpose of state assessment, and will not be required to come into school for the sole purpose of taking the assessments.”

How individual school districts decide to administer the tests and how they will use the data is being worked out, but for now, the pressure is off individual students to be physically present for the testing.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland