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Local News

$100K Gift to Help Equity and Inclusion Committee

As the saying goes, people put their time and their money into that which is important to them. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is putting both human resources and substantial funds, $100,000 to be exact, into supporting the Equity and Inclusion Committee.

According to an announcement from the Foundation, the major gift is intended to bolster efforts at advancing philanthropy in communities of color throughout the region. 

Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair Shawn Shackleford said, “The Equity and Inclusion effort is the result of dedication and hard work of many in this community. This gift from the Foundation is validation of that work. It will allow the Equity and Inclusion Committee to continue to support minority-related issues and opportunities.”   

During the start of the pandemic, the Committee hired experts to guide businesses through the process to get financial help. They also facilitated partnerships with the Economic Development Alliance and the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce to support long-term success.

The Committee has recently supported community organizations like SONS, the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, and Blue Water Indigenous Alliance.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Senate Bills Gives County Prosecutors Money to Investigate Nursing Home COVID Deaths

State Senator Dan Lauwers, a Brockway Township Republican who represents the 25th District, has announced that the Senate has appropriated $250,000 for county prosecutors to pursue investigations into the use of nursing homes to care for COVID-19 patients.

Nursing homes saw some of the highest rates of infection and death at the onset of the pandemic. The policy of moving convalescing COVID-19 patients into nursing homes has been a point of contention between Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and the Republican State Legislature for the past year.

In his Legistative Update, Lauwers said, “The families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic deserve to have closure. The governor’s failed policies are responsible for forcing our most vulnerable residents into living spaces with seniors who have tested positive for COVID-19. Our seniors now account for at least one-third of our state’s COVID-19 deaths.”

Senate Bill 27, introduced by Senator Jim Stamas of the 36th District, is an appropriations bill that will now move on to the House.

The Governor’s Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have consistently maintained that proper protocols were followed.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Payroll Tax Credits Available to Small Businesses for Paid Leave

The American Rescue Plan extends two important tax benefits to small businesses: the Employee Retention Credit and the Paid Leave Credit. The Paid Leave Credit helps small businesses provide paid sick leave to their employees who had to take time off work to care for themselves or family members with COVID-19, and the plan was recently extended to include leave taken to receive or recover from the COVID-19 vaccine.

The original Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act went into effect on March 31, 2020 and applied throughout the year. If a small business provided paid leave to their employees in 2020 and has not claimed the credit, they should contact their tax advisor to see if they can file an amended payroll tax form and receive their refund.

The Paid Leave Credit is related to the amount of payroll taxes an employer pays for their employees, not the amount of income tax paid. Therefore, the tax credit applies to nonprofit organizations with paid employees and to those who are self-employed.

Under the extension of the Paid Leave Credit provided for in the American Rescue Plan, businesses with fewer than 500 employees can receive a payroll tax credit if they provide paid sick and family leave to their employees dealing with COVID-19 by claiming the credits on quarterly payroll taxes from now until September 30, 2021.

According to the Department of Treasury, the goal of these credits is to keep employees safe and encourage people to take time off when they are sick and schedule time to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

More information is available <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

 

 

Ft. Gratiot Vaccine Clinic Friday, April 30, 2021

Ft. Gratiot, MI — A coordinated effort by the St. Clair County Health Department, the Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County, and Fort Gratiot Charter Township is bringing a COVID-19 vaccine clinic to Fort Gratiot on Friday April 30, 2021.

The clinic will be held at the Fort Gratiot Fire Department at 3720 Keewahdin Road from 11 AM – 1 PM. It is open to all Fort Gratiot businesses and their employees.

Registration is required and the deadline to register is Tuesday, April 27th at 4 PM. The registration form is available on the EDA’s website <HERE> or by clicking on the COVID-19 Resources banner at the top of the page.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at this clinic, so participants must be at least 18 years old. The follow up date for the second dose of the vaccine is Friday, May 28th.

For more information, visit the EDA’s website.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Demetrius Starling New Head of Children’s Services Agency for MDHHS

Demetrius Starling has been named the new executive director of the Children’s Services Agency for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). He has over 20 years of experience protecting children and assisting families in Michigan.

The MDHHS Children’s Services Agency oversees the state’s child welfare systems which includes Children’s Protective Services or CPS.

Starling has worked for MDHHS and CPS in a variety of capacities in many Southeast Michigan counties including St. Clair, Sanilac, and Macomb.

Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS Director, said, “Demetrius Starling knows what it takes to protect the well-being of children by helping them stay with their families when it is safe and finding the most family-like settings for them when it’s unsafe for them to return home. He has a proven track record of success working in the child welfare system in both urban and rural communities. He is committed to diversity and equity and has the skills to continue the ongoing transformation of Michigan’s child protection system.”

Starling is also a member of the statewide Children’s Services Agency Anti-Racism Transformation Team and Court Improvement Process Team, and he has developed initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and address human trafficking.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

PHPD Offers Elementary Summer Camp

Port Huron, MI — It’s never too early to learn about community service. Kids who are interested in learning more about how police departments work or what it’s like to be a police officer have a great opportunity this summer. The Port Huron Police Department is offering an Elementary Summer Camp for kids in grades 4th through 6th.

The Camp will be held from June 21st through June 24th at four different locations: Cleveland Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, and Holland Woods Middle School. There is transportation available if needed.

Camp participants will learn from School Resource Officers Dennis Huisman and Laura Phillips who will cover a variety of subjects with the children.

Campers will explore police equipment and vehicles, complete a police obstacle course, and design and race their very own police car. They will also learn about fingerprints and meet the Port Huron Police Department K9 unit.

Lunches are provided by the Port Huron School District and students get a t-shirt and pinewood derby car to take home. There is no cost to attend the camp and enrollment is limited.

Registration details can be found at:

https://www.porthuron.org/Police/2021_SummerCamp.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland