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Local News

Free COVID Testing at Memorial Stadium

Port Huron, MI — In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as a result of spring break travel and social gatherings, Port Huron Schools is hosting free rapid testing at Memorial Stadium on Sunday, April 4th.

The school district is partnering with the St. Clair County Health Department and Honu Management Group to provide drive-through rapid antigen testing to anyone in the community. Testing will be from noon to 6 PM, and results will be available in about 15 minutes.

No appointment is necessary to participate, but pre-registration is available on the web <HERE>. Pre-registration involves submitting your personal information along with answering questions related to demographics, health, recent travel, and accommodations for the day of the test.

Jamie Cain, Port Huron Schools Superintendent, said, “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority at Port Huron Schools. With people returning from Spring Break activities and other social gatherings on this week off, we want to give them an opportunity to test before they return to the classroom or workplace.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Benson, Clerks Association Denounce Voter Reform Bills

A series of voting reform bills are making their way through the state legislature. The bills aim to pare down the state’s voter list, clarify absentee voting laws, and make voter fraud a 5-year felony.

The attempt by Republican lawmakers to amend the voting laws well in advance of the next election has not been well-received by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Benson has maintained that the 2020 election was completely free and fair. Benson said, “Many of the bills in this package will make it harder for citizens to vote. Rather than introducing bills based on disproven lies and copied from other states, lawmakers should be codifying what worked in 2020.”

Some of the bills are focused on the responsibilities of municipal clerks and would publicize whether or not the clerks have met accreditation standards.

Chris Swope, President of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks disagreed with the idea, saying, “This package of bills contains some of the most egregious voter suppression ideas Michigan has seen. With nearly 30 percent of Michiganders not participating, we need to focus on expanding ballot access, not attempts to disenfranchise certain voters.”

The bills have passed the House and have been referred to the Senate Committee on Elections.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Treasury Urges Unemployment Beneficiaries to File Taxes Soon

Waiting until the last minute to file taxes could be a mistake this year. The Michigan Department of Treasury is urging those who collected unemployment benefits in 2020 to get their taxes done and filed.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said, “Please don’t hesitate to file your individual income tax return. Taxpayers who think they owe taxes often wait to file right up to the filing deadline. The American Rescue Plan changes the dynamic of the 2020 tax year and this year’s filing season. A larger than anticipated refund could provide much-needed assistance during the pandemic.”

According to the Treasury, the federal American Rescue Plan Act excludes unemployment benefits up to $10,200 from income for tax year 2020 for those within certain income brackets. 

If taxes are already filed, taxpayers who collected unemployment should not file an amended state or federal return. The Treasury awaits federal guidance as to how to process refunds but expects to have more information soon.

Filing online and choosing direct deposit is the fastest and the Treasury’s preferred way to file. 2020 taxes are due at 11:59 p.m. on May 17, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

PHPD’s Special Needs and Autism Day Planned for April 10th

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department will be having Special Needs and Autism Day on Saturday, April 10th in the St. Clair County Community College parking lot. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The project is meant to bring awareness to special needs community members.

The Police Department has established a process where information is gathered that helps them assist in interacting with or locating someone with special needs. Caregivers can fill out a form to share that information at the April 10th event, or at the Police Station, or online. The forms will be kept on file and available in case of an emergency.

Special Needs and Autism Day is being held in conjunction with the Port Huron Fire Department, TRI Hospital EMS, St. Clair County Community Mental Health, and Anthony’s Autism Awareness.

At the event, participants will be able to meet police officers, check out the police cars, and get some safety information. There will also be games and informational handouts.

Contact Officer Duane Hunger at hungerd@porthuron.org or 810-984-9715, extension 1030.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Virtual Town Hall for Vaccine Questions

The State of Michigan is holding a virtual Town Hall event this evening focused on the COVID-19 Vaccine & older adults. The meeting will be held virtually and address the “safety, efficacy, and importance of the COVID-19 vaccines for safely reopening Michigan.”

The Town Hall will be moderated by Dr. Alex Travis, PhD, Senior Deputy Director of the MDHHS Aging Adult Services Agency. The panel will also feature health care professionals, community leaders, and representatives from the faith-based community.

Those interested in submitting questions for the panel, can visit the website <HERE>. The panel will address as many questions as possible during the town hall meeting.

The State of Michigan Virtual Town Hall will be livestreamed on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Facebook page <HERE> from 4 – 5 PM tonight. If you miss the live event, the video will be available to watch at any time after the livestream ends.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Hope Blooms from Home

Port Huron, MI — It’s been a tough year for event planners and fundraisers, and businesses and organizations have learned to be flexible and adapt to changing rules on social gatherings. Hunter Hospitality House had to cancel their Hope Blooms event twice, and has now decided to go virtual for 2021.

The Hope Blooms from Home event give supporters an opportunity to donate to the nonprofit while entering drawings for a wide range of prizes. They are also accepting sponsorships along with regular donations to support their work.

Tracy Willard,  Executive Director of Hunter Hospitality House , said, “The Hope Blooms from Home idea started out as Plan D to our annual fundraising banquet.  Plans A, B & C had all been cancelled over the past two years, due to the pandemic, and we really needed to come up with an idea that would work well for HHH and our supporters in these uncertain times to bring some much needed funds in for the organization.  We’ve been overwhelmed with the response.  Even former guests, who live in other states, have been able to join in, providing free hospital lodging for people in the very same situations they’d experienced.  Hope Blooms from Home is going so well, we’re considering a “From Home” option to all of our future Hope Blooms live events!”

Hunter Hospitality House transferred all gifts to their cancelled events into their operational budget, but any tickets purchased for those events will be honored for entry to the next live event.

To participate in the Hope Blooms at Home raffle, visit Hunter Hospitality House’s website <HERE> and print the order form. Prize options are displayed on the website and include a kayak, a Smart TV, a Schwinn Cruiser, and overnight stays at several hotels and resorts.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand