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Local News

State GSRP Preschool Could Get Major Funding Increase

The Great Start Readiness Program, a publicly funded preschool, is getting money to expand. Publicly funded early childhood programs are only able to reach 66% of eligible four-year-olds due to funding and availability limitations.

State Budget Director David Massaron said, “There is bipartisan support to expand preschool access for kids across Michigan and I am pleased we can make this investment.

The plan to expand funding, announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on June 8th, proposes the allocation of $255 million in federal money and $150 million in state money. The total $405 million would be spent over the next three years.

While preschool has been shown to have both short-term and long-term benefits, the half and full-day programs also serve as free daycares, allowing parents to work. Jeff Donofrio, President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan said, “Investments in programs like GSRP not only will improve the lives of thousands of Michigan kids, it also will help many parents return to the workforce to build family-sustaining careers.”    

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Nominate an Outstanding Sarnia Lambton Business

Sarnia, Ontario — Nominations are now open for the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. Nominations close at 11:59 PM on July 11th.

The Outstanding Business Achievement Awards enable the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the innovation and achievement of local businesses. This year’s spotlight will be on entrepreneurs and organizations that have gone above and beyond to support their staff, customers, and clients during the last year.

The added stress and creativity required to adapt to the pandemic were unprecedented challenges for Sarnia Lambton’s business leaders, and the Chamber wants to recognize the unsung heroes in the broad range of industry sectors it represents.

A gala to celebrate the award winners will be held virtually on Friday, October 22, 2021 from 6 – 8 PM.

To nominate a business, visit their website: https://slcc.awardify.io/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michigan Crisis and Access Line Created to Streamline Access to Mental Health Care

The Michigan Crisis and Access Line, or MiCAL, has been established to bridge the gap between need and access regarding psychiatric care.

Access to mental health services in Michigan has been difficult to navigate, particularly for health care providers and loved ones of patients needing in-patient care. Legislation was recently passed with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of finding available “psychiatric beds”, which refers to inpatient mental health care.

MiCAL will offer assistance 24 hours per day, seven days per week providing crisis and non-crisis services as well as informational resources and coordination with local health care systems. MiCAL will coordinate with treatment registries to find those scarce psychiatric beds along with substance abuse and crisis residential services.

The legislation compels MDHHS to maintain a registry of services to MiCAL and to coordinate sharing of data. The legislation was introduced by State Representative Mary Whiteford, a Casco Township Republican.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Redistricting Commission Coming to Port Huron

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is holding public hearings throughout the state of Michigan, and they are coming to Port Huron on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 5:00 PM.

The public hearing will he at the Blue Water Convention Center on Harker Street in Port Huron, and doors open at 4:00 PM.

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was created by voters in 2018, when an amendment to the Michigan constitution was passed to redraw and adopt new boundaries for Congressional, House, and Senate voting districts in the state.

The public hearings are required by law, and they allow the public to receive information about the redistricting process, share the purpose and responsibilities of the commission, and contribute their comments on the redistricting plans.

Those interested in attending the hearing can sign-up to attend either in person or virtually here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZTQJXK6

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Secretary of State Adds More Appointments

The pandemic changed some things for good, and one of them may be never having to return to the old “take a number and wait” system at Michigan Secretary of State branch offices.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently announced that appointments are being added to the system to serve more customers, greeters at branch offices will help with scheduling, and a priority service will be added for those who need disability placards.

As a result of changes made during the pandemic, many services can be completed online or at a self-service station located inside Secretary of State branch offices or participating Meijer stores. The nearest self-service stations in St. Clair County are at the Marysville Meijer store and the Port Huron Secretary of State Office in Ft. Gratiot.

Those who need to schedule an appointment at a branch office should check the Secretary of State’s website just after 8 AM and Noon each weekday when next-day appointments are released.

On Monday, the department released 350,000 new appointments, so there are currently options for booking future appointments as early as the end of June. Appointment options are available for the next six months, but they tend to fill up quickly.

To learn more visit: https://www.michigan.gov/sos

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

Be Careful When Cleaning Up After Mice: Hantavirus Detected in Michigan

Health officials are raising awareness of a virus spread by mice. The Sin Nombre hantavirus has been confirmed in an infection in a woman from Washtenaw County. The virus comes from rodents and causes serious pulmonary illness. The infected woman is believed to have contracted the virus when cleaning an empty house that had mice in it.

Most cases of the hantavirus are associated with people who have come in contact with rodents through domestic, occupational, or recreational activities.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said that the virus is rare but severe and sometimes fatal. The respiratory disease can occur one to five weeks after a person has exposure to infected rodents or their droppings. Suspected cases should be reported to local health departments. 

According to MDHHS, the highest risk of infection comes from entering or cleaning rodent-infected structures. Common household cleaners can kill the virus. Ventilation helps decrease the risk of exposure. Wearing gloves when cleaning also reduces the risk.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland