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Local News

Futures for Frontliners Program Logs 60,000 Applicants in Two Weeks

The Futures for Frontliners program, which has the goal of providing tuition-free college and technical training for essential workers, has reached 60,000 applicants in its first two weeks.

Jeff Donofrio, Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said, “Good paying jobs and a stronger Michigan economy require more of us to have an education beyond high school. The strong interest in Futures for Frontliners shows us that Michiganders are ready to build a brighter, more secure future for themselves and their loved ones. With the economic uncertainty that comes with the COVID-19 pandemic and the thousands of high-skilled jobs going unfilled, there’s no better time to add new skills.” 

The state’s goal is to have 60% of the state’s workforce gain an industry recognized certificate or college degree by 2030. Virtual Town Hall sessions are scheduled to answer questions about Futures for Frontliners and explain how essential workers can take advantage of the program. The Southeast Michigan session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13th from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. More information can be found at michigan.gov/Frontliners.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Gov Whitmer Press Conference April 6, 2020

Whitmer Extends State of Emergency

Governor Whitmer extended the State of Emergency for Michiganders until October 27, 2020 at 11:59 PM. She also extended four executive orders pertaining to e-notaries and e-signatures, restrictions on the entry of individuals into health care facilities, protections for inmate populations, and safety measures for workers and customers at grocery stores.

Whitmer cited the need for these extensions to protect the lives of vulnerable populations. Michigan was once among the states hit hardest by COVID-19, but cases have now plateaued at a level well below the national average.

“This emergency will end, and it is a matter of months. But we are not out of the woods yet. Right now, the federal government and all 50 states have been under some form of state of emergency. We must continue doing our part to fight this virus on behalf of our families, frontline workers, and our small businesses, ” said Whitmer.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Suspect Shot After Breaking Into Clyde Twp. Barn

Cylde Twp, MI —  A man who was caught breaking in to a pole barn in Clyde Township was shot after allegedly driving his vehicle at the owner of the property.

Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 6000 block of Lapeer Road Monday afternoon shortly after 3:30.  Dispatch told deputies that there was a breaking and entering in progress.  While they were enroute, they were told that shots had been fired at the scene of the break-in and the suspect had fled the location in his vehicle.

A deputy went to the property, while other deputies searched the area for the suspect, who was driving a black Dodge Avenger.  The deputy located the property owner, a 50 year old man from Port Huron, in front of the barn.  When asked to explain what had happened, the man said he had made a report to Michigan State Police on Sunday about the barn being broken into.  He said he came back earlier Monday and discovered more of his property sitting outside the pole barn.  He decided to wait to see if the suspect would return.  When the suspect, a 23 year old man from Port Huron Township, came back to the property, the man, who was armed with a pistol, called dispatch and decided to try to stop suspect from leaving.  The property owner said the suspect jumped into his car and drove at him. The man said he shot his pistol at the vehicle in self-defense.  It was later discovered that the suspect had been shot in the face.

The suspect vehicle was located a short time later.  It had driven through a barrier for the Wadhams to Avoca Bike Trail, went off the trail and was located behind a residence on Bartlett Road that belonged to a relative.  The suspect then took off in a vehicle that was parked in the yard.

Deputies and members of the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit went to the suspect’s residence, where they located bloody clothing.  While at the residence, they were told the suspect was being driven to McLaren Port Huron Hospital.  Deputies and members of the Major Crimes Unit located the suspect in the emergency room at the hospital.

The investigation has been turned over to the Major Crimes Unit.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Manufacturing Week Highlights High Skill, High Paying Jobs

It’s Manufacturing Week in Michigan. From September 28th to October 2nd this year, the impact of manufacturing on the state economy is recognized.

It is estimated that manufacturing produces $98.64 billion annually while providing 626,000 jobs from 11,368 manufacturing firms. The Blue Water Area is home to many manufacturing firms, including Tier I automotive suppliers, and advanced manufacturing that supports everything from the medical field to aeronautics. It also supports extensive energy generation and distribution, along with a strong mobility and logistics sector that is uniquely positioned on the I-69 NAFTA international corridor.

For local residents looking for careers in manufacturing, they can explore high-tech, high-skilled, and well-paying careers at going-pro.com. There is financial assistance for job training with the Futures for Frontliners program.

Michigan leads the nation in creating manufacturing jobs, which have increased 42.8% in the last eleven years.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

City Council Passes Marihuana Ordinance

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron City Council passed a marihuana ordinance at their regular meeting Monday night that allows six licenses for marihuana establishments in the city. The ordinance will allow for 3 retail locations, 1 microbusiness, a safety compliance facility, and a secure transporter. The ordinance will become effective in the first part of October.

According to Mayor Pauline Repp, there is a ballot issue going before voters in the November 3rd election that is in conflict with the ordinance passed by the City Council and would negate it if passed. The ballot initiative takes the city council out of the mix of approving what types of marihuana businesses would be allowed in the city and allows closer to 20 businesses to receive a license from the City Clerk’s office.

Repp said, “We wanted to step into this lightly. We’ve been researching it for well over a year prior to this ordinance coming forward that was put on the ballot. We’ve been doing a lot of research and certainly felt that what we should do was start slow. We also wanted to give an opportunity by only allowing so many licenses because at this point the law only allows you to have a license if you have a medical marihuana license.” She said the main reason to keep the number of licenses low at this point was so that more could be added in the future when the laws change in Michigan.

“We felt is was better for our residents to step into this a little bit and see how it goes. Then, we can tweak it and make changes. If they pass the ordinance through the ballot initiative, we can’t make any changes. It stays that way for at least two years,” said Repp.

A copy of the initiatory petition for an ordinance to authorize and regulate Marihuana Establishments and Marihuana Facilities from the City Clerk’s office is an 8 page document included in the Port Huron City Council Agenda Packet for the September 15th meeting.  The petition allows for a much higher number of Marihuana licenses along with more types of businesses such as growers and processors. The document is available <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

U.S. Reps Choose Region Over Politics in Urging Selfridge as Space Force HQ

A possible United States Space Command Headquarters in the region has brought together U.S. Representatives Paul Mitchell and Elissa Slotkin. The rare collaboration across party lines has Mitchell, a Republican, and Slotkin, a Democrat, lobbying the Air Force to locate the HQ at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County’s Harrison Township.

Congressman Mitchell, who represents the 10th District, said. “The road to military readiness starts in Michigan, and Selfridge is the optimal location that would best serve the mission of USSPACECOM and Air Force personnel. I urge the Air Force to select Selfridge as home to the new USSPACECOM Headquarters.”

Congresswoman Slotkin, who represents the 8th District, said, “I’m glad to partner with Representative Paul Mitchell and our colleagues in the Michigan congressional delegation in a bipartisan push to bring these jobs and opportunities here to Michigan.”

 The letter to the Air Force highlighted the strong manufacturing business climate in the region, the defense industry corridor, and the infrastructure already in place at Selfridge.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland