George James

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

Highway Trash Cleanup Starts Saturday

Good news! Highway litter is about to get cleaned up. If it seems like there is more litter along the highways, there’s a reason. Not all of the pickups were able to be completed last year and the trash piled up in some areas.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is starting “Adopt-a-Highway” pickup on April 17th for the southern half of the lower peninsula. The pickup goes until April 25th.

Volunteers work with an organization that adopts a stretch of road to clean up. MDOT then picks up the bags of trash and takes them to the dump.

Motorists are asked to stay on the lookout for the volunteers who should be wearing high-visibility safety vests, provided by MDOT. Use caution when driving near the volunteers.

Typically, 2,900 groups volunteer to clean up 6,000 miles of highway in Michigan, filling up nearly 70,000 bags. Last year, only 20,000 bags were filled. There are pickups in July and late September also.

MDOT has been organizing the “Adopt-a-Highway” Program since 1990, with an estimated cost savings of $5 million annually by using volunteer labor. There are still stretches of road that need adoption. Groups are asked to commit to their zone for two years. 

For more information on Adopting a Highway:

www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Record Expungement Process Explained on New Webpage

The saying goes, “You commit the crime; you do the time.” But what about when the time has been served and having a record prevents employment and otherwise getting on with life? Or when the crime is no longer a crime under new laws? There’s a webpage for that.

The new webpage, created by Michigan’s Department of Attorney General, lays out the criteria for expungement. While cleared records are not automatic, there is a process for making it happen. The webpage explains the new law, clarifies eligibility, and provides checklists to make sure all the steps are filled for completing the expungement process.

A new law went into effect on April 11th specifically addressing misdemeanors and local ordinance marijuana crimes. A person convicted of such crimes can petition for expungement if the convictions were based on activity that would not have been illegal after December 6th, 2018, when recreational marijuana use was legalized.

There is also an email address dedicated to questions about the process. A link to the email address and the expungement webpage can be found at:

https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-82917_104464_104524—,00.html

For questions, use this email address: ag-expungements@michigan.gov

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Cities Get “Tree City USA” Designation

Port Huron, MI — Trees make communities better. The cities of St. Clair, Marysville, and Port Huron have all been given the “Tree City USA” designation for 2020. The cities are recognized for their work in promoting and caring for trees in the community.

The honor went to 124 Michigan communities, nine college campuses, one hospital, and one utility: ITC. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources certifies the Tree City USA recipients.

Kevin Sayers, urban and community forestry specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said, “Michigan ranks eighth nationally in the number of communities with Tree City designations.”

To earn the designation, organizations must have a city department or tree board, a public tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and a proclamation about and celebration of Arbor Day, which takes place April 30 this year.

Sayers said that trees help to cool sidewalks in the summer and clean the air. He said, “Michigan is still looking forward to seeing its first K-12 school become certified through the newest program, Tree Campus K-12. “

More information about getting certified with Tree City USA can be found at ArborDay.org/Programs.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Treasury Announces Homestead Property Tax Credit

Working families and individuals with a total household income of $60,000 or less who own or rent a home could be getting a little more tax relief on their 2020 taxes with the Homestead Property Tax Credit.

The tax credit is related to total household income and the amount paid in property taxes, whether directly through homeownership or indirectly when paying rent.

More than one million taxpayers claimed the credit on their 2019 taxes with an average credit of $669 per household.

To get the credit, taxpayers’ homestead must be in Michigan, whether they own or rent. They must also have been a resident of Michigan for at least six months in 2020, and own or pay rent on a Michigan homestead on which property taxes were levied. The value of the home cannot exceed $135,000.

Deputy State Treasurer Glenn White, head of Michigan Treasury’s Revenue Services programs, said, “Homestead Property Tax Credits provide tax relief for Michigan’s working families and individuals. These tax credits can reduce tax owed and may provide a refund.”

2020 Income Taxes are due to be filed by May 17th, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland