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Local News

More Rapid-Response Tests Coming to Michigan

Michigan is part of an interstate compact to get rapid-response COVID-19 antigen tests in the hands of states that are trying to safely reopen their economies while still struggling with infections.

An antigen test reveals if a person is currently infected with the virus. The tests are in short supply and the federal government does not currently have a coordinated system of distributing tests. Six states, led by both Democratic and Republican governors, have entered into an agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation to ramp up test production and distribution. The Foundation’s goal is to facilitate 30 million tests per week, nationwide. 

The interstate compact would get a half million tests to Michigan to assist with expanding long-term testing in places like schools, workplaces, and nursing homes.

In announcing the compact, Governor Gretchen Whitmer pointed to widespread testing as “one of the most crucial tools we have to stop the spread of this virus and save lives”. She implored the federal government to follow the lead of the states.

Additional states, as well as local governments may join into the compact into the near future.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Loves Furniture & Mattresses Hiring for Port Huron Store

Port Huron, MI — Loves Furniture & Mattresses, a new home furnishings retailer, is hiring for several positions at their new location in Port Huron Twp. Loves Furniture is moving into the space previously occupied by Art Van Furniture across from Sam’s Club.

Positions are available in customer pick-up, general labor, and the housekeeping departments, and they are also hiring Home Specialists “to deliver an exceptional customer experience through a relationship and solution based selling process.”

Loves Furniture and Mattresses was founded in 2020, and they describe themselves as a neighborhood furniture store for the modern age. They recently took over most of the Art Van and Levin storefronts in the Midwest, and they are hiring around 1,000 employees to work in their stores in Metro Detroit, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Customers can shop online, by appointment, or as walk-ins to the store.

The Port Huron store is projected to open at the end of August.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Be on the Lookout for Asian Longhorn Beetles

On your next walk or hike in the woods, you can help Michigan’s environment and economy by checking the trees for signs of invasive beetles.

 Any invasive pests should be reported to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, but of particular concern is the Asian longhorned beetle. The beetle has not yet been spotted in Michigan, but if it makes its way here, it could cause trouble for the state’s environment and economy. 

August is “Tree Check Month”, as designated by the United States Department of Agriculture.Over $750 million dollars have been spent nationwide to eradicate the beetle since its arrival in 1996. It is believed to have arrived in wooden packing materials from Asia. 

Tell-tale signs of an Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation are perfectly round holes in trees, about the diameter of a pencil, wood shavings on the ground, and dead branches falling from otherwise healthy-looking trees.

According to MDARD, “Every known infestation of Asian longhorned beetle in the U.S. was discovered and reported by a member of the public who knew what to look for and how to report it.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Black River Canal Dredging on Friday

Weather permitting, the City of Port Huron will begin dredging sand from the mouth of the Black River Canal on Friday, August 7th , 2020. During dredging, the Black River Canal will be closed to watercraft from the Tainter gate, located east of Gratiot Avenue, to Lake Huron.

Also weather permitting, sand dredged from Black River Canal will be placed in Lake Huron from Holland Beach to the south on Tuesday, August 11 th and Wednesday August 12 th , 2020. Due to the work, Holland Beach will be closed.

The contractor will be utilizing Gratiot to LaSalle, Conger to Holland to haul sand from the mouth of the Black River Canal to Holland Beach. There will be intermittent slowed, and stop and go traffic in these areas. We encourage the public to not park on these streets during this time frame.

If there are any further questions regarding this matter, please contact the Department of Public Works 810 984-9730.

State Police Asked to Enforce COVID Laws

An Executive Directive was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier this week that directed state departments and heads of autonomous agencies to do a better job of enforcing COVID-19 laws. Those laws include capacity limitations and safety protocols. It was also announced that the State Police will be enforcing COVID laws just like any other laws.

Cases of COVID-19 have risen from 15 per million to 50 per million from mid-June to late July. Whitmer fears that Michigan could move back into Phase Three if the infection rate continues on the upward trajectory. She is relying on enforcement of the prevention practices to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus. Nursing homes, meat processing plants, and agricultural housing are singled out in the directive as requiring an increase in compliance enforcement.

Departments are asked to consider revoking licenses where violations are found. According to the press release from the Governor’s office, the Michigan State Police will be enforcing the laws, such as executive orders and DHHS epidemic orders, in the same manner as any other violation of law, applying their discretion as appropriate. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Black Leadership Advisory Council Created & Racism Recognized as Public Health Crisis

On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-163, which creates the Black Leadership Advisory Council. The governor also signed Executive Directive 2020-9, recognizing racism as a public health crisis and taking initial steps to address it within state government.

Under the Executive Directive, the governor asked MDHHS to make health equity a major goal, as well as required implicit bias training for all state employees.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said, “Today, we take the much-needed and long-overdue step of recognizing racism as a public health crisis. It is only after we have fully defined the injustice that we can begin to take steps to replace it with a greater system of justice that enables all Michiganders to pursue their fullest dreams and potential.”

The Black Leadership Advisory Council will be included among a set of diverse ethnic commissions within the state of Michigan. Although African Americans are the largest racial minority in the state, this Council is the first of its kind in Michigan to elevate Black leaders and representatives.

The Council will act in an advisory capacity to the governor and develop, review, and recommend policies and actions designed to eradicate and prevent discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan. To accomplish this goal, the Council is charged with:

  • Identifying state laws, or gaps in state law, that create or perpetuate inequities, with the goal of promoting economic growth and wealth equity for the Black community.
  • Collaborating with the governor’s office and the Black community to promote legislation and regulation that ensures equitable treatment of all Michiganders, and seeks to remedy structural inequities in this state.
  • Serving as a resource for community groups on issues, programs, sources of funding, and compliance requirements within state government in order to benefit and advance the interests of the Black community.
  • Promoting the cultural arts within the Black community through coordinated efforts, advocacy, and collaboration with state government.
  • Providing other information or advice or taking other actions as requested by the governor.

Housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Black Leadership Advisory Council will consist of 16 voting members representing Black leadership in economics, public policy, health and wellness, technology, the environment, agriculture, arts and culture, and more. It will also product an annual report on its activities.

To apply to the Black Leadership Advisory Council visit Michigan.gov/appointments and click “Black Leaders Advisory Council” from the drop menu of the application. Applications are due by Wednesday, August 19th.