George James

States Get Settlement in Opioid Pusher Case

Michigan is part of a $573 million settlement that is the result of suit brought against major players in the rise of the use of prescription opioids over the past two decades. The payout comes from McKinsey and Company, which is a consulting firm that worked for Purdue Pharma, among others, the maker of the highly addictive painkiller, OxyContin.

Michigan’s cut of the payout, $19.5 million, will be used to address some of the fallout of the opioid crisis that has ravaged many Michigan communities and destroyed families. There is further litigation still in the courts, with suit filed against Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. and Walgreens. The accusation is that the use of OxyContin and other schedule II and III narcotics increased drastically due to aggressive marketing schemes that focused on profits over health and safety of the users.

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel, said, “I want to be clear, this one case, while significant, is only the beginning, and our collective efforts are underway to obtain extensive additional support for those grappling with addiction and to ensure those responsible for creating it answer for their actions.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

James C. Harrison II Appointed to Michigan Council on Climate Solutions

A Port Huron resident has been named to the Michigan Council on Climate Solutions. According to a press release from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office, James C. Harrison, II, of Port Huron, has been appointed to the Council.

Harrison is the director of renewable energy for Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO. He also serves as the Utility Workers Union of America delegate on the BlueGreen Alliance National Steering Committee. His appointment is for a one-year term.

The Council is an advisory board that reports to Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to make a plan to implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which is the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward carbon neutrality across all sectors of the economy. 

The automotive industry is a key player in combatting global climate change. Director of EGLE, Liesl Eichler Clark, said, “In Michigan, we know that climate solutions are mobility solutions and mobility solutions are climate solutions. As the state that put the world on wheels, what we do on climate matters.”

Mr. Harrison is one of fourteen appointees to the Michigan Council on Climate Solutions.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Teachers to Get Rapid Covid Testing

Teachers can have easy access to COVID-19 testing with a new plan from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The idea is to get teachers tested weekly as in-person learning is expected to resume statewide on March 1st.

Rapid antigen testing has begun with approximately 300 schools and 900 staff signed up for testing at both public and private schools. The testing is free to the schools.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said, “Voluntary testing of educators is part of the larger state strategy of keeping students, staff and communities safe while giving children the in-person instruction that they need to learn, develop and grow. Our dedicated teachers are among the frontline workers who have stepped up during this pandemic. Giving them an opportunity to be regularly tested recognizes their sacrifices and keeps everyone safer.”

The program is modeled after the testing of coaches and athletes that was used in the fall. Of the 8,300 people tested, 69 COVID-19 infections were found. The complete plan still includes mask-wearing, ventilation improvements in schools, frequent hand washing and social distancing.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Influenza Rate Down Drastically This Year

What happened to the flu? This is usually the time of year when families get together for birthday parties and give gifts along with the flu virus, or have a team dinner at a restaurant and pass the flu germs around with the bread basket. But, with restrictions and precautions in place to prevent COVID, flu transmission is practically non-existent.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services still prints a weekly flu report, but there’s not much to report right now. No positive flu tests were reported, nor were there any outbreaks in nursing homes, as of the last report.

For the entire flu season so far, there have been six influenza hospitalizations statewide.  Nationally, the entire nation is in the lowest risk zone with the exception of Oklahoma which has a low/moderate risk designation. The first case of influenza A, commonly called swine flu, has been reported in Wisconsin by an individual living on a swine farm. Overall, influenza risk is very minimal at this point in the season, nationwide.

MDHHS pushed hard to get 4 million people to get the flu shot. They reached 75% of their goal with about 3.3 million flu shots given.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Women’s Initiative Hits $1 Million Mark

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s Women’s Initiative Endowment Fund has recently hit a major milestone. They now have a fund balance of over $1 million. 

The fund has over 300 contributing members who have grown the fund ten-fold over the last 19 years. The fund focuses on removing educational barriers for students. The Women’s Initiative partners with the St. Clair County RESA Great Start Collaborative to make sure every child can get a quality preschool education, no matter their family’s income level. The impact of a quality year of preschool can set the stage for successful school years and a life of learning. 

The Women’s Initiative hosts a yearly event, “100 Women Who Care”, which went virtual last fall. It will be held this fall, either virtual or in-person, depending on the ability to gather in large groups. The last live event had around 300 women in attendance. Small group socials are also on the agenda, once they are able to be held. 

The mission of the Initiative remains focused on large impact tuition assistance grants, according to Jackie Hanton, Vice President of the Community Foundation. Grant applications can be found on the Community Foundation website. 

https://www.stclairfoundation.org/grants/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Federal Money, National Guard Help State Work Toward Goal of 50,000 Shots Per Day

Michigan is in the top 20% of states in administering the COVID-19 vaccine. The state has administered around a million vaccines, using roughly 71% of the vaccines on hand in the state, according to the Center for Disease Control’s February 1st report.

Part of the success of the distribution plan, relative to the rest of the states, could be because of the utilization of Michigan’s National Guard.

Major General Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of Michigan’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said, “Our dedicated members of the Michigan National Guard are working hard to administer vaccines across the state. The men and women of the Michigan National Guard have been proud to assist the state in Michigan’s COVID-19 response, whether it’s by testing, administering vaccines, or ensuring families across the state have the food they need to get through the pandemic. We will continue working in partnership with the governor, Dr. Khaldun, and their teams to end the pandemic once and for all.” 

Michigan is using federal funding to increase distribution and try to get to the goal of 50,000 shots per day. The money will go to local health departments to pay for additional staffing and equipment. More money is expected to go toward testing, tracing, and lab capacity in Michigan as well.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland