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Local News

Project Underway to Create Driverless Corridor from Detroit to Ann Arbor

Lansing, MI — Governor Whitmer announced an initiative last week to develop the Michigan Connected Corridor, a project that includes exploring the viability of a more than 40-mile driverless vehicle corridor between Downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Cavnu, a subsidiary of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners,  the company selected to lead the project, will work with state and local partners, stakeholders and communities across the corridor from Detroit to Ann Arbor. Phase One of their efforts is expected to last approximately 24 months.

The goal is to develop a sophisticated roadway that enhances the full potential of connected and autonomous vehicles. Cavnue will work to make the project “future proof” and evolve to meet transportation goals. They plan to begin by focusing on connected buses and shared mobility vehicles and then expand to freight and personal vehicles.

“This project, and the decision by Cavnue and Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners to invest here, continues to reinforce that the future of mobility will be designed and built in Detroit and Southeast Michigan,” said Mayor Mike Duggan, Mayor of the City of Detroit.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Denise Brooks Retires from Blue Water YMCA

Port Huron, MI — The YMCA of the Blue Water Area President and Chief Executive Officer, Denise Brooks, announced her decision to retire after more than 11 years with the YMCA of the Blue Water Area, effective December 31, 2020.

“Denise is recognized as an outstanding, dedicated and community-focused executive leader. She successfully guided the Y though some of its most difficult times, and her leadership efforts helped transform the lives of those who need our Y the most,” said YMCA Board Chairman and Chief Volunteer Officer, Geof Kusch. “I am happy for Denise that she can take this next step, looking back at a successful career here in Port Huron, making a difference in the lives of thousands of people.”

Under Brooks’ leadership, the YMCA of the Blue Water Area:

  • Grew to serve more than 1 out of every 8 people in St. Clair and Sanilac counties
  • Implemented chronic disease management programs like LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program®, and Enhance® Fitness
  • Expanded the YMCA’s drowning prevention efforts to not only include swim lessons but Safety Around Water, a free program, and taking it on the road to pools throughout the area
  • Completed a $850,000+ PACE project focused on energy savings improvements to the facility
  • Restored financial viability in the wake of the 2008-2010 recession
  • Created partnerships with area schools and other organizations to better serve our community

“I am proud and thankful to have served this YMCA since 2009 and this community most of my life,” Brooks said. “I’ve been honored to build relationships with so many talented and committed volunteers, staff, donors and community partners, who have guided and encouraged me and all of our Y leaders. Here in Port Huron, they’ve strengthened the very foundation of this community by bringing incredible programs and services to so many.”

Brooks will retire at the end of the year. The YMCA Board will partner with the YMCA of the USA to conduct a nationwide search for the the new President and CEO.

Local Private Schools Planning In-Person Full-Time Instruction

While public schools statewide are struggling to come up with plans for getting kids safely back to school or successfully learning from home, private schools in the area have come up with their own plans.

New Life Christian Academy in Kimball is offering both a five-days-a-week in-person instruction plan and a modified hybrid plan that offers the same curriculum as the full in-person instruction. Classes begin on August 31.

Catholic Schools in the Blue Water Vicariate are offering full day five-day-a-week instruction for preschool through twelfth grade. They have a very detailed plan, created by the Archdiocese of Detroit, for online instruction in the event that the state goes back to Phase Three and schools are closed.

Principal Mike Gibson of St. Mary/McCormick Catholic Academy in Port Huron said that his school “is enrolling for the 2020/2021 school year and will begin with live instruction five days per week.”  He went on to say they “have purchased masks, infrared thermometers, table and desk dividers, and other PPE gear to prepare for the start of the school year.” Local Catholic grade schools begin class on August 27. Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School begins on September 8. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Millions in Federal Funds Being Used to Facilitate Mail-In Voting

The state of Michigan is spending $1.4 million to send postcards to 4.4 million active registered voters who are not already receiving absentee ballots. The postcard is a reminder of the right to vote from home in the November election. The postcards will be mailed between August 20 and September 20. Clerks can start mailing out ballots on September 24.

The Bureau of Elections has allocated $5.5 million of federal CARES act money toward reimbursing jurisdictions for postage and other expenses. There are also matching funds for ballot tabulators and high-speed scanners for some jurisdictions. $11.2 million of federal funding has already been spent on elections this year.

The mail in effort relies heavily on the Postal Service delivering on time. Many campaign materials for the August election arrived long after the polls were closed and inefficiencies with USPS have been part of a national conversation. 

To avoid relying on the postal service, absentee ballots can be hand delivered to local clerks until the polls close on election day. Some jurisdictions have dedicated ballot boxes.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bluewater Area COVID-19 Update for August 14, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 14, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 90,392 confirmed cases; 6,289 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 712 confirmed cases; 52 deaths
  • Ontario: 40,367  confirmed cases;  2,787 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 331 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County currently has 89 active cases of the virus, down 12 cases from last week, and 4% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients. The last death in the county attributed to a confirmed  case of COVID-19 was on July 8, 2020.

Lambton County currently has 13 active cases, and is still experiencing a low rate of hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19. There hasn’t been any new hospital admissions among COVID-19 cases in Lambton since May 31, 2020, and the daily average of hospital admissions has been zero since mid-April.

Mitigation efforts are still important while the virus is active in our communities. Wearing masks in enclosed public spaces, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick will help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Improvements Being Made to Maternal and Infant Health Programs

The health of mothers and babies in Michigan could be getting a boost thanks to a grant from Arnold Ventures and a collaboration between the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant will fund a full review of the Maternal Infant Health Program, the state’s largest evidence-based home visiting program. Michigan’s infant and maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average, with worse outcomes for racial minorities. The evaluation will investigate those disparities. The grant will also direct $350,000 to hiring community workers to do intensive community outreach.

The current Maternal Infant Health program partners moms and babies with nurses, social workers, dietitians, lactation consultants, and mental health specialists. Over 15,000 moms and 20,000 infants are served each year statewide. St. Clair County offers the program to Medicare and Medicaid eligible mothers and infants up to age one.

According to Robert Gordon, MDHHS Director, “Careful program evaluation can help us to make our home visiting programs more effective.”

The program continues through 2025.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland