Local News

Michigan’s gray wolves were taken off of the endangered species list, but are now back on the list, thanks to a ruling from the U.S. District Court. That means that hunting the wolves is prohibited.

Michigan was part of an amicus brief that fought the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s delisting of the wolf. The brief argued that delisting was contrary to the Endangered Species Act and would be detrimental to gray wolf populations.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commented on the ruling, saying, “Michigan is proud to be home to approximately 700 gray wolves.  These magnificent animals serve important roles in our Great Lakes ecosystems, and they show us that dedication to family is not unique to humans.”

Nessel said that she “refused to stand idly by when the federal government tried to use the Great Lakes wolf recovery success story to remove needed Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in other states.”

The vacating of the previous ruling keeps protections in place for Michigan wolves. Killing a gray wolf can only be done for immediate threats and needs to be reported to the DNR.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Amy Dickinson, syndicated columnist of “Ask Amy”, shared her wisdom at McMorran Place during this month’s Port Huron Town Hall speaker event. Dickinson’s warm and friendly personality lit up the room in her first appearance since the pandemic.

In an interview with WGRT, Dickinson shared, “This is my first trip! I mean, I put on mascara for the first time I think in two years. Honestly, it’s ten in the morning and I’m acting like I’m on spring break because I’m away and feeling good and just hearing the sound of the audience in the background is really a thrill for me.”

As Anne Landers’ successor, Dickinson shares her advice in over 150 newspapers around the U.S.

“After two years of tackling unsolvable pandemic problems…I knew that the pandemic was on the wane or taking a pause or something when just last week I started getting stupid questions again,” said Dickinson.

Amy Dickinson is also the bestselling author of two memoirs, Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home, and The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, A Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them.

The personal stories she shared during her Port Huron Town Hall presentation were drawn largely from her experience being raised by strong women and paying close attention to the lessons life has taught her through her own struggles.

You can learn more about Amy here: https://amydickinson.com/

Port Huron Town Hall shared its upcoming speakers today, and there was a buzz of excitement as the lineup was announced. The series will include four speakers and the series spans from September – December 2022.

Speakers for the 2022 Series are:

• Brooke Shields – September 12th
• Kate Andersen Brower – October 10th
• Elliot Engel – November 14th
• Javier Munoz – December 12th

Tickets are now on sale for the 2022 series and can be secured by following the directions at

porthurontownhall.com/tickets/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

First-time Home Buyers can now have tax-exempt savings accounts and deduct contributions from their taxes. A new law has been signed that would establish the Michigan First-Time Home Buyer Savings Program housed within the Department of Treasury.

On signing the bill, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “Homeownership creates opportunity for Michigan families and sets a foundation for economic success.” 

The bill was met with praise from real estate industry leaders.  James Iodice, Michigan Realtors President, said, “This new law sets up the state’s first dedicated savings vehicle for a new home purchase. These accounts will help individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership, retain our talented college graduates, and promote financial literacy and smart savings.”

The law allows for tax exemption for accounts that are used to save for and purchase a single-family residence. Michigan home buyers can claim up to $5,000 for a single return and $10,000 for a joint return.

The average price for a single-family home is over $200,000 in Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

For businesses looking to recruit employees, there’s no need to look any further than downtown Port Huron. St. Clair County Community College is hosting an in-person Career Fair this spring and the time for employers to reserve their spot is now.

The Career Fair will be held on April 28th in the SC4 Fieldhouse. The popular event is part of a partnership between the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, the City of Port Huron/McMorran Place, and SC4’s TRIO Program.

Bonnie DiNardo, Executive Director of Community and Public Relations at SC4, said, “The Career Fair is a great opportunity for employers in our region to showcase their company, network with other employers, and above all, find the best candidates from our community’s rich talent pool.”

The annual Career Fair is expected to quickly reach capacity, so employers should sign up as soon as possible.

For registration details, go to the news section at WGRT.com.

https://sc4.edu/employment/career-fair/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland