George James

McIvor Appointed to Michigan Veterans Board of Trustees

Paul McIvor, a resident of Yale, has been appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Veterans Trust Board of Trustees. His term began on March 5th and expires on February 25th, 2024.

The Trust Fund was created in 1946, starting with $50 million in postwar reserves to assist with the emergency needs of veterans. The Board governs grant policies adjudication, makes appointments to county committees, and discerns expenditures from trust savings.

Mr. McIvor is the post commander for the Yale VFW Post 8594, along with being a member of the St. Clair County Veterans Affairs Committee and participating in Honor Guard ceremonies for veterans in the Blue Water area. McIvor served his country in the United States Army as an engineer.

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund helps with unexpected expenses that veterans may incur, and pays things like utility bills and home repair bills, to help veterans remain financially stable. 

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board meets monthly in Lansing.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies and Grill Open for Business in Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Fast food enthusiasts in the area are excited about a new eatery that opened up last week. After much anticipation, Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies and Grill is open for business. Their motto is, “If you don’t eat left, you don’t eat right”.

The chain restaurant opened its first Thumb area location in the former White Castle building in the north end of Port Huron. The restaurant is built for drive-through orders and has a counter for ordering, but there is no seating.  

Originating in 2012 in suburban Detroit, Lefty’s has a few locations in Houston and Southern California, but the franchise’s major territory is Southeast Michigan, with the Flint and Port Huron locations being the farthest north.

The Lefty’s menu is unique with plenty for carnivores, from cheesesteaks and hoagies to burgers. They also have fried chicken sandwiches and a variety of French fries. There are a few salads are on the menu, but overall the menu is generously portioned meat sandwiches ranging from $1.99 for a hot dog to $12.79 for a full-sized hoagie. They also have a selection of cheesecakes for dessert.

Lefty’s is located at 2852 Pine Grove, Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Massive Michigan Charity Fraud Shut Down

Unscrupulous telephone marketers posing as charitable organizations but using the money for non-charitable purposes have been exposed and prosecuted in a landmark case. More than $110 million are believed to have been misappropriated by telemarketers posing as legitimate charities, keeping up to 90 cents of each dollar donated.

Charitable tendencies were exploited to the tune of 1.3 billion robocalls to 67 million consumers. Some victims were called hourly, daily, or several times a week, in violation of robocall laws.

Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, was part of the multi-jurisdiction effort. She said, “Robocall technology such as soundboards allows users to reach a significant target population, and when utilized for deceptive or misleading practices – especially in charitable solicitations – it unfortunately means a significant number of potential victims.”

The agencies charged, Associated Community Services and its subsidiaries, based in Southeast Michigan, agreed to settle the case for their role in representing fake charities, but most of the money is long gone. The sham charities claimed to support children, firefighters, and veterans. Any restitution collected will go into escrow and eventually go to real charities.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

More Teachers Eligible for $500 Checks

The MI Classroom Heroes COVID-19 Grants have been expanded to include teachers in the Great Start Readiness Program, Head Start, adult education, and young adult special education classrooms.

Teachers can get up to $500 for extra hours worked and extra supplies purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new appropriation adds another $2.5 million to the program to allow for the teachers who were not previously included.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said, “My staff has been working with school districts and other stakeholders to help ensure that all eligible teachers and support staff receive the MI Classroom Heroes Grants. We will work urgently to ensure these specific program teachers receive their much-deserved grant payments.”  

Teachers are eligible if they had performed at least 75% of their standard instruction workload in brick-and-mortar classrooms before moving to remote instruction on April 2, 2020.  The checks will be sent from the treasury in June. Eligible specific program teachers should consult the school entity where they worked during the 2019-2020 school year to ensure they receive a grant, according to the Treasury. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Beeler Introduces Bill to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs

State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, has introduced a bill that would push down prescription drug costs by removing co-pay and deductible irregularities.

Beeler said, “I am extremely proud to sponsor this legislation which will actually reduce the cost of prescription drugs for Michigan families. Anytime I can help give patients more control over their healthcare decisions, I’m happy to do so.”

The bill is part of a larger health care package that focuses on patients. According to Beeler, his bill, House Bill 4345, prohibits insurance companies from penalizing consumers when they go out of network to get cheaper drugs. Shopping around for lower prices on medications can often have a detrimental effect on co-pays or out-of-pocket deductibles.

Beeler commented, “I support lowering prescription drug costs without creating bloated government bureaucracies. This is a great example of how we as elected officials can help cut costs without spending taxpayer dollars in the process.”

The Bill has been introduced and read and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Limits on Gatherings Loosened Up Starting Friday

Starting Friday, restaurants can increase their capacity from 25% to 50% with safety protocols still in place. Indoor residential gatherings with up to 15 people from three households are allowed, and indoor entertainment facilities can operate at 50% capacity to have up to 300 people if following safety protocols.

The ruling also allows for small groups such as city councils and boards to meet in person with a 25-person limit. Governor Gretchen Whitmer had been petitioned by a coalition of State Senators last week asking for “common sense” guidelines that would permit business to be done in municipalities.

 The updated orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are based on three metrics: hospital capacity, overall case rates, and COVID-19 test positivity rates.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health was cautiously optimistic, even as more contagious virus variants on the rise. She said, “I am glad we continue to make progress, but that progress is fragile.” She urged continued vigilance and encouraged Michiganders to get the vaccine.

The vaccine rollout process is picking up, with the White House saying there will be vaccines for every American who wants it by the end of May.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland