George James

Secretary of State Extensions Run Out September 30

Extensions on driver’s licenses, ID cards, and vehicle renewals expire on September 30th. So, it’s time to make an appointment at a Secretary of State Office if needed, and be prepared to pay those registration and renewal fees that you may have been putting off.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to address customer needs during the pandemic, we have expanded our branch hours and added a number of appointments to ensure everyone who needs to is able to renew their driver’s license or ID ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. There are still many available appointments, and anyone who has not handled their renewals is encouraged to do so immediately.”

If your renewal can not be completed online, the Secretary of State offices have expanded their branch hours to make room for the last-minute transactions. The appointments reserved for renewals are available from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday from now until September 30.

Appointments can be made at Michigan.gov/SOS or by calling 888-SOS-MICH. Some transactions can be completed online at EXPRESS SOS at Michigan.gov.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Huntington Bank Announces $5 Billion Lending Program

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a private lending investment program on Wednesday. While the whole state anxiously awaited a ruling on the expected opening of gyms, movie theaters, and other facilities that have been shuttered since March, Whitmer laid out an investment plan from Huntington Bank.

The plan is a $5 billion five-year lending, investment, and philanthropic venture to create financial opportunities for Michigan businesses, consumers, and communities, according to a press release from Whitmer’s office.

The announcement isn’t exactly what owners of bowling alleys and ice rinks were waiting for, but the initiative is intended to provide borrowing opportunities for hard-hit businesses.

Whitmer said, “This is great news for Michigan’s small-business owners who have faced unprecedented challenges as we have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic over the past six months. These are Michiganders who have spent their lives building their businesses and who need our help now more than ever.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

SC4 Program Gets $1.3 Million Grant

Port Huron, MI — The TRIO Student Support Services Program at St. Clair County Community College has received a $1.3 million grant. The program provides opportunities for academic success and is intended to motivate students toward completing their educational goals after high school.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education and had previously been awarded money in 2010 and 2015. It is one of eight TRIO programs nationwide that is funded by the Department of Education this year.

TRIO serves mainly low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities.

Shawne Jowett, interim director of the program at SC4, said, “These students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with their own challenges, but with the help of the TRIO program, and as importantly, the support they give each other, they’ve been successful at achieving their college goals at SC4.”

The program served 140 students last year. More information can be found at sc4.edu/trio.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Athletic Factory Moves into Trinity Lutheran Church Space

Port Huron, MI — The Athletic Factory, a Port Huron non-profit, is on the move. They will soon be calling the gym at Trinity Lutheran Church home.

Executive Director of the Athletic Factory, Cliff Thomason, said, “This move allows us to have more space for our program. We will have a full-size gym, storage area for our equipment, and a room for tutoring services. With this additional space, we will be able to run our own biddy ball leagues, basketball leagues for middle school and high school, training camps, volleyball leagues, and provide a closer tutoring service location for the south end student-athletes.”

The Athletic Factory was able to run an ACT/SAT test course for 32 students over the summer and continues to train college-bound athletes for success after graduation.

The organization won a $20,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation earlier this year and is looking forward to a successful year in their new headquarters.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan AG Education Lawsuit Gains Traction; Environmental Lawsuit Filed

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel continues to push back against the federal government’s policies regarding both education and the environment..

Nessel won a preliminary injunction to suspend a CARES Act Rule that allows COVID-19 response money to be shared with non-public schools. Nessel argued that the rule would set the stage for unfairly siphoning money away from public schools. The preliminary injunction was upheld and is prohibiting the Department of Education from enforcing its rule until a decision on the merits of the case can be rendered, according to a release from Nessel’s office.

Nessel and other democratic AGs are also going after the Trump Administration by filing a lawsuit to challenge curtailed requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act.

While the Trump Administration says the changes to the Act modernize and streamline environmental policy to “promote better decision making by the Federal government”, Nessel argued that, “This rule not only weakens the federal government’s obligation to ensure it minimizes impact on the environment, but limits the public’s ability to participate in the process.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Return to School” Planned for Port Huron Schools

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Area School District has published a “Return to School Plan” and has emailed it to all parents in the district.

The Port Huron School Board approved the offering of both virtual school and a hybrid option where students alternate between in-person instruction and virtual instruction, which is online at home.

For those attending in-person classes, students are divided into two groups. Group A consists of those with last names A-K. Group A will attend in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and every other Friday starting September 11. Group B consists of students with last names L-Z. They will attend in-person classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Friday starting September 18. On the “off” days, students will attend classes online from home.

Families choosing all-virtual instruction can pick up a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches on Mondays at the high schools. For those attending in-person, face coverings will be worn at school and many measures are in place to keep students safe, including adjustments to furniture in classrooms, procedures for lunchrooms, and minimized congregating of students.

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8th. The full plan can be read here.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland