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Local News

Thumb Land Conservancy to Name and Dedicate Nature Preserves

The Thumb Land Conservancy is naming and dedicating an exciting new addition to outdoor recreation in the Blue Water Area. A stretch of natural areas from Burtchville to Marysville will be officially brought into the portfolio this weekend. The land is part of a major investment from multiple community donors to allow nature enthusiasts to experience a lakeshore coastal forest.

A public naming ceremony is being held in partnership with the Blue Water Indigenous Alliance. Names for each of the preserves, using languages that are native to First Nations people will be implemented.

The naming ceremony is at 1:00 on Saturday, October 3rd at 8759 Lakeshore Road, a ½ mile north of Jeddo Road. The area is called Ode Zibi. After the naming ceremony, the Bidwell Sanctuary will be dedicated. It is located at 3540 Metcalf Road. The group will then head to Dead End Woods Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot, located on Wilson Drive. The final leg of the dedication journey will be at Loznak Sanctuary in Marysville located on Wills Street, about 1/3 mile north of Busha Highway.

The public is invited and asked to RSVP. More information is at thumbland.org.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

COVID Cases in Sarnia Traced to Commercial Ship

Sarnia, Ontario — Lambton Public Health is investigating verified COVID-19 cases the originated from a commercial ship docked in Sarnia Harbor. The members of the ship’s crew have been transported to a hotel in Point Edward while the situation is handled by public health experts.

If the public has questions or concerns, they can contact Lambton Public Health directly at their main phone number Monday through Sunday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, or visit their website <HERE>.

The last update from Lambton Public Heath on September 30th, showed only two active cases of COVID-19 in the county, and cases have been stable in the county since August.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Court Rules Against CARES Money for Private Schools

Private schools that were counting on assistance from the CARES Act will need to make alternative plans, as the U.S. Department of Education is not appealing the ruling that shut down the funding.

Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, along with other Democratic Attorneys General nationwide, went after Republican Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, accusing her of diverting $16 million away from public schools in Michigan.

DeVos said the Department of Education will “respect the rule of law and will enforce the law as the courts have opined. The Department will not appeal these rulings.”  

Quick to share DeVos’ concession of defeat, Nessel recounted the ruling from Judge James Donato of the U.S. District Court Northern District of California. The fight was over the interpretation of the wording of the CARES Act, which DeVos referred to as ambiguous, and not prohibitive of sharing with private schools. Nessel’s argument was that the wording was clear and that the money was intended for the public schools that needed it the most. Donato ruled that the wording was indeed very clear. 

The full CARES Act allocation for K-12 schools nationwide is $13.2 billion, according to FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

United Way Grant Helps Childcare Providers

Ten childcare providers will receive funds from the United Way of St. Clair County to help with cleaning and sanitization supplies. These grants will relieve the burden on childcare providers to secure supplies and maintain the increased levels of sanitization required for safe operations during the pandemic.

In collaboration with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, the funds will be distributed to St. Clair County RESA and go from there to the childcare providers. This is a great example of collaboration between funding sources and community partners.

Grants are still available through the United Way of St. Clair County’s Emergency Services Fund – COVID-19 Relief for any businesses experiencing unexpected costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the United Way’s website for more information <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

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