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Local News

National School Choice Week Celebrates Educational Options

National School Choice Week has been celebrated since 2011, and it’s America’s largest celebration of educational choice. This year’s events will take place virtually, and the kickoff is scheduled for January 25th at noon.

Michigan families, schools, and organizations are hosting over 1,000 virtual celebrations across the state from January 25 – 30th. The events are non-partisan, non-political, and not related to any legislative advocacy campaign. They are simply opportunities for Michigan families to raise awareness about school choice.

In Michigan, families can choose a variety of options for educating their children. Students can be enrolled in public, private, charter, or magnet schools, or they can be educated at home through online academies or homeschooling. Parents are free to choose which option works best for their families.

More information about school choice and National School Choice Week is available at schoolchoiceweek.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Bridge Card Recipients Getting a 15% Increase

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Benefits will increase 15% per month for Michiganders eligible for the program. The first of the additional payments will be added to Bridge Cards by the end of January and continue each month ending in June.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow led the initiative for the increase and it was approved by congress as part of the Congressional relief bill.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling a customer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.

 

Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty

Grayfox Homicide Suspect Arrested and Arraigned

On January 19, 2021, at the request of the Port Huron Police Department, the United States Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team did locate and arrest Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty in the City of Detroit near Jefferson and Conner Street.

Grasty was taken into custody without incident. He was transferred to Port Huron and placed in custody of the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit. Grasty was interviewed and lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center on the charges of Open Murder and Disinterment / Mutilation of a Corpse. Grasty was arraigned yesterday on those charges.

His bond was set at $750,000.00. Grasty has a Probable Cause Conference scheduled for February 2, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Honorable Judge Mona Armstrong. 

On June 23, 2020, the Port Huron Police Department responded to the Grayfox (a former Navy vessel) at 60 Griswold Street, regarding a deceased person. On June 25, 2020 the St. Clair County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victim. The death was ruled a homicide, cause of death was trauma related. 

On July 1, 2020, the victim of the homicide on the Grayfox was identified as William Michael Orlow, a 44 year old male Port Huron resident.

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home Kicks Off Friendraising Campaign

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home is a nonprofit assisted living facility in Port Huron that cares for low income seniors. Their mission includes providing an affordable, comfortable, and safe home while also providing activities that improve their resident’s quality of life.

The home is managed by Blue Water Developmental Housing, Inc, and it’s Executive Director, Kathy Swantek, is encouraging the community to support this year’s Friendraising Campaign.

This year’s fundraising event will take place virtually and support the efforts of Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home to reserve space for residents who are unable to pay for services. They work with community partners to identify those in need, and provide them with housing and medical care.

“Donations from fundraisers like this one help us help those who are most vulnerable in our community. Your dollars make a direct impact on the care they receive,” said Swantek.

The campaign goal is to raise $10,000, and donations can be made online by visiting their event page on Eventbrite <HERE> from now until March 31, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

MDHHS Targeting Ads at Vaccine Skeptics

No one wants the COVID-19 pandemic over with more than the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. They have been at the forefront of both managing the state’s response to the virus and promoting vaccination. The latest campaign by the MDHHS is a $1.5 million multimedia program designed to help Michiganders feel more comfortable with the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

There is significant hesitancy in getting the vaccine. According to MDHHS, 66% of Michiganders are likely or very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and 34% would like to get it as soon as possible. They report that 47% of white Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine while only 25% of black Michiganders are very likely to get the vaccine.

The reasons that people don’t want to get the vaccine include concerns about side effects, reluctance to be a “test subject”, needing to know more about the vaccine’s safety, wanting to know more about the long-term performance of the vaccine, questions about effectiveness, and concerns about political motivations to pushing the vaccine through safety tests. 

The multimedia campaign will target the concerns and promote the safety of the vaccine. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Settles with DEA Over “Prescribing Irregularities”

McLaren Health Care entered into a legal settlement with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices pertaining to retail pharmacy operations at McLaren Port Huron.

According to a press release from McLaren, the agreement stems from a lengthy effort with the DEA, which discovered “prescribing irregularities” in 2018, which led to the firing of a pharmacist who was diverting opioids for personal use. The DEA found problems with recordkeeping, dispensing, and distributing controlled substances dating back to before McLaren acquired Port Huron Hospital.

April Rudoni, Interim Compliance Director and Chair of McLaren’s Controlled Substance Oversight Committee, said, “Our health system takes compliance very seriously and regrets any instance in which we do not meet our regulators’ requirements or our own high standards. From the moment the DEA’s first concern was brought to our attention we have worked diligently to strengthen protocols across our system. I am proud of the culture of accountability and compliance we maintain and look forward to continued collaboration with the DEA moving forward.”

McLaren reportedly paid over $7.7 million in the settlement and entered into a three-year plan to prevent future violations.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland