Local News

The Board of Directors of the Lexington Arts Council has announced the cancellation of its summer 2020 season of Music in the Park and the 2020 Lexington Bach Festival. They are deeply saddened to have to cancel, but feel it is the only step to take in these uncertain times.   

The Lexington Bach Festival, a fall favorite, was in full planning mode with an outstanding lineup of beautiful classical music.  The 2020 Festival information along with previous festival highlights is available on our website as well as Lexington Bach Festival website; https://www.lexingtonbachfestival.org.

The committee wishes to tell the community that they will certainly miss all of their volunteers, patrons, sponsors, attendees and performers, and they look forward to the Lexington Arts Council’s return next year and are eager to share great live music in the Thumb of Michigan in the future. 

Keep your eye out for Music in the Park and the Lexington Bach Festival in the summer of 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended an executive order prohibiting home evictions  during the coronavirus pandemic until June 11th. The original executive order prohibiting evictions went into effect on March 20th.

The extended order protects tenants from being evicted unless they pose a substantial risk to property or another person. It also provides courts the ability to stay eviction-related proceedings until after the COVID-19 emergency. Whitmer said, “It’s critical Michiganders can self-quarantine and continue staying safer at home without fear of being evicted. This Executive Order gives renters and mobile home owners some peace of mind as we continue to flatten the curve.”

Michigan is currently under a Stay Home executive order until May 28th. Violating the order can result in a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each offense, as well as licensing penalties for businesses and other entities that disregard the order.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major health crisis for the nation and ironically a major financial crisis for the health care industry. The government’s response to COVID-19 is also quickly becoming a source of major political, and now legal contention.

Last week, a group of medical professionals filed a lawsuit against Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Whitmer’s “drastic and unprecedented” executive actions were based on “grossly inaccurate” models that no longer apply and therefore should be lifted.”  The filing goes on to say that, “Medical providers are on the brink of financial ruin, facing extreme revenue shortages caused by the governor’s order forcing the postponement or cancellation of so-called ‘non-essential’ procedures.”

The law suit has been filed by the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation and the Miller Johnson Law Firm. The lawsuit further claims that thousands of healthcare workers across Michigan have been furloughed, and hospitals and patients are left facing backlogs on procedures that will create a public health catastrophe of its own.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

LANSING, Mich. — Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Stamas and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Shane Hernandez on Friday called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to issue a new executive budget recommendation for fiscal year 2021 and to sit down with legislative leaders to begin state spending reductions immediately to balance the current state budget.

“The combination of coronavirus and the governor’s stay-at-home lockdown have caused a reduction of over $3 billion in state revenues this year, and it continues to get worse,” said Stamas, R-Midland. “While the governor has time for regular press conferences and appearances on national news shows, it’s time to put a priority on resolving this budget crisis. I stand ready to work with the governor to enact a budget correction plan as soon as possible that puts Michigan families first. Every day she waits leaves us with fewer options and less money.”

The legislative budget chairmen on Friday sent a letter to the governor with their request after the state fiscal and economic leaders at the annual May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference projected reductions in state revenues of $3.2 billion in FY2020 and $3 billion in FY2021, which starts on Oct. 1.

“Today’s CREC report confirmed the budget-impact numbers we have been hearing for weeks,” said Hernandez, R-Port Huron. “We have a massive revenue shortfall brought on by this economic shutdown that will affect our families, schools, local governments and vulnerable citizens. The people need to hear from the governor what her priorities are that reflect this new reality facing our state. Time is of the essence and we look forward to resolving this challenge.”

Stamas said that a $3 billion revenue reduction represents over 30% of the remaining resources in the General Fund and School Aid Fund for the current fiscal year.

“The challenge is extremely daunting,” Stamas said. “For example, if we cut state employees by 30%, cut the remaining payments to public universities, community colleges and local governments, and cut Medicaid coverage in our state, it would cover just over half of the shortfall. Again, those are just examples to illustrate the gravity of the problem we’re facing.”

Hernandez said, “This budget hole will continue to get bigger if we cannot come together and protect our citizens while reopening our economy. We are ready to do the work necessary to move Michigan forward.”

Submitted by the Senate Majority Communications Office

Fourteen Digital Media Technology seniors at St. Clair TEC won or shared 9 awards at the 2020 Michigan Student Film Festival. The students worked remotely to create or complete their projects. The TEC building has been closed since March 16.

Lesley Murphy, DMT instructor at TEC, said, “All of our DMT entries won an award, with one earning the Best in Show, which is the highest honor.”

The Michigan Student Film Festival provides a public venue for the work of students in grades K-12, as well as giving recognition and significant awards to young media artists. The film festival is presented through the nonprofit organization DAFT (Digital Arts, Film, and Television).

Typically, the festival would screen the Best in Show nominees at the Detroit Institute of Art, but this year they will be streaming the award winners. Here are the TEC winners:

1. “The Bear” by Sydney Lewis, Algonac High School, won the “merit” award

2. “AI Conflict” by Christian Gary, Port Huron Northern High School, won the “honor” award

3. “The Taxman” by Gabby Hand, Port Huron High School, and Emily Lask,  Blue Water Middle College, won the “honor” award

4. “Bated Breath” by Faith Serio, Memphis High School, and Maya Scott, Capac High School,  won “excellence” award

5. “Foreign Love” by Jackie Rodriguez, Capac High School, and Emily Whitehead, Marine City High School, won the “excellence” award

6. “Kuru” by Angela Mugan and Mikayla Madley, both from Port Huron Northern High School, won the “excellence” award

7. “SuperLosers Mockumentary” by Sam Eipperle, Port Huron High School, and Matt Cornejo, Marine City High School, won the “excellence” award

8. “Blue Water Area on Rails” by Jared Bryson, Marine City High School, won the “Best in Show” award for documentaries.

9. “The Other Guy” by Jade Rattee and Lacei Fuller, both of Port Huron High School, also received the “excellence” award for their film

DAFT will stream Michigan Student Film Festival awards on DAFT’s Facebook event page at this link.