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Local News

Make Sure You Have Insurance Coverage for Winter Weather Hazards

Are you covered if winter weather wreaks havoc on your home or vehicle? The message from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is that if you don’t know, you need to find out.

DIFS Director Anita Fox says, “Dealing with damage to a home or vehicle caused by severe weather is stressful enough, so we encourage Michiganders to review their insurance coverage before experiencing a loss to protect themselves financially.

Fox said, “If you are unsure of your policy coverages, contact your insurance agent or company today. Understanding your insurance coverage can provide considerable peace of mind in the event of severe weather damage.”

The Department offered tips on keeping your property safe including keeping your home heated to at least 65 degrees to prevent frozen pipes, keeping gutters clear to prevent ice damming, and taking care of trees that could lead to branches falling on the house.

Auto owners are required to have coverage that protects property in the case of sliding off the road and causing damage. Drivers are warned not to park under snow-covered tree limbs to avoid severe vehicle damage.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDARD Awards Benefit Thumb Wine Producer, Bean Co-op

A select group of Michigan agribusinesses has received grants from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Two of the businesses are located in the Thumb and have impacts on the region.

Cooperative Elevator Company of Pigeon and Youngblood Vineyard of Ray Township each received grants.

MDARD Director Gary McDowell said, “With this funding, these businesses will be able to increase production and product quality, focus on scalability, and create good-paying jobs for Michiganders.”    

Cooperative Elevator Company is a farmer-owned cooperative of 1,100 patron-owners that provides agricultural production supplies and marketing services for the Thumb’s farmers. They will be using the grant money to expand processing in their bean plant, implement new technology, and fill four new positions.

Youngblood Vineyard is a thriving vineyard that grows six different grape varieties and processes 100% estate-grown wine on-site. The grant will fund four new positions at the family-owned winery and increase production as well as increase their event hosting capabilities.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

COVID-19 Antiviral Oral Meds are Now Available

New antiviral medications are now available in Michigan for those who test positive for COVID-19. The medications, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, are treatments for mild to moderate COVID infections.

The medication has been shown to reduce symptoms and the risk of hospitalization in people who have conditions that put them at high risk of severe illness. The drugs need to be given within five days of onset of symptoms.

The medications are distributed using Priority Eligibility Criteria. Those at the highest risk, such as elderly, pregnant, or immunocompromised patients are at the front of the line to get the treatment.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive said, “We urge Michiganders to talk to their health care provider if they test positive for COVID-19 to determine the best treatment course. However, it’s important to remember these drugs are still in limited supply and are not a substitution for protecting yourself by getting vaccinated and wearing a mask in public places.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Protest Reroutes Traffic to Blue Water Bridge

UPDATED 2/9/22 – 10:00 AM – The backup of trucks on eastbound I-69 and I-94 headed toward the Blue Water Bridge continues even though the Ambassador Bridge reopened Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic is currently backed up on I-94 just south of the Dove Road exit, and it slows down just west of Wadhams Road on I-69.

Wait times for commercial vehicles headed into Canada are reported to be 4 hours and 30 minutes as of 9:37 AM this morning.

Those who live in the area and commute to the Flint or Detroit areas are advised to take alternate routes until the situation resolves.

Sheriff Mat King said in a press release, “all eastbound on ramps to I-94 in St. Clair County are closed, as are eastbound on ramps to I-69 out to and including M-19. All off ramps remain open.”

UPDATED 2/8/22 – 12:29 PM – Backups at the Blue Water Bridge are causing significant traffic issues on east-bound I-94 and I-69. The on ramp to Blue Water Bridge from Pine Grove Avenue has been closed. There is currently a 1 hour 45 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into Canada and an 85 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into the U.S. on the Blue Water Bridge.

2/8/22 – 6:30 AM: A Canadian protest is showing signs of affecting travel in the Blue Water Area. The Ambassador Bridge in Detroit was closed last night, and Canadian Border Services advised travelers to reroute to the Blue Water Bridge. This morning, trucks are beginning to line I-94 and fill up area rest stops.

The protest is in response to vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and started when unvaccinated truckers were refused entry to Canada. It began as a truck convoy on January 9th and moved to a demonstration in Ottawa that has been going on for almost 2 weeks.

A truck convoy lined up at the Ambassador Bridge on Monday night, and the bridge was closed to all traffic. It remains closed this morning, and it’s unclear how this will affect cross-border travel at the Blue Water Bridge.

At 6:30 AM this morning, wait times at the bridge were being reported as no delay for personal vehicles and a 15 minute wait for commercial vehicles, but commuters were observing trucks parked along the shoulder of I-94 and packing area rest stops.

Protestors insist they will not stop until COVID-19 mandates and restrictions are lifted.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

PIPES Act Legislation Introduced to Keep Disposable Wipes Out of Sewer Systems

The PIPES Act legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democratic Congressman Dan Lowenthal of California and local Republican Representative Lisa McLain of Michigan’s 10th District. PIPES stands for “Protecting Infrastructure and Promoting Environmental Stewardship”.

The Act pertains to disposable wipes that are causing severe damage to municipal sewer systems. The Act would establish standards for “flushability”.

Representative McClain said that the PIPES Act would help address the “damage to our sewage systems made by wipes that have caused massive clogs that can’t be easily removed.”

If passed, the legislation would impose penalties on manufacturers who do not comply with the labeling standards.

A longtime critic of flushable wipes, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller said, “This is extremely important legislation to help us all protect our critical underground infrastructure. Packaging on all wipes should clearly say ‘Do Not Flush.’ They may be flushable but they are not biodegradable and these wipes are wreaking havoc on our sewers.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Snowy Owls Make Annual Appearance

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is reminding Michiganders that the elusive Great Snowy Owl could be making an appearance in backyards around the state. Catching a glimpse of the rare, large bird is a highlight of the winter for many bird watchers.

The DNR warns that winter is a stressful time for the bird that spends most of its time in the arctic tundra. Being around humans and urban landscapes are unfamiliar experiences for the owls. Great snowy owls face threats like collision with vehicles and power lines, ingestion of rodent poison, and invasion of their personal space from curious humans.

The DNR says to give snowy owls space. Expect to use binoculars to view the seasonal visitors. If you make the owl fly away, you got too close.

While it might be tempting to call in the owl with audio recordings, don’t do it. Hearing another owl’s call is very stressful for Great Snowy Owls.

Finally, leave “live baiting” to professionals. This is only done for the sake of the owls and can be harmful if used for photography. Owls will start hanging around dangerous places to get easy meals and it will ultimately be detrimental to the owl.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland