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Local News

PPP Loan Forgiveness Window Opens

Port Huron, MI — As the time for businesses to use SBA payroll protection funds begins to expire, financial institutions are preparing to process millions of applications for loan forgiveness. Companies that received funds in early April can start to submit forgiveness applications at the end of May.

Lenders will be called on to help prepare detailed application documents and turn them over to the Small Business Administration for approval. Banks made about 4.3 million Paycheck Protection Program or PPP loans for a total of more than $500 billion. The program allows every borrower to request forgiveness.

The SBA released an 11-page document last week listing the criteria small businesses must follow to get their PPP loans forgiven. Among the guidelines are directions on how to calculate payroll costs, which must account for 75% of loan proceeds spent. The document is complex, so it will fall to lenders to help borrowers complete it.

Over the two rounds of the PPP, which began in April, Michigan companies received 103,811 total PPP loans totaling $15.9 billion in funding.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

Social Isolation Connected to Increase in Health Problems

Port Huron, MI  –Social isolation is a word everyone is familiar with these days. Staying away from others during this pandemic is promoted as a key to keeping us safe, but a new study finds that prolonged social isolation is also quite dangerous.

The study was conducted by Dr. Janine Gronewold and Professor Dirk M. Hermann from the University Hospital in Essen, Germany, and they analyzed data on 4,316 people who had been recruited for research.

The study found that socially isolated people are over 40% more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular events. Moreover, the socially isolated are nearly 50% more likely to die from any cause.

Similar studies have found that social isolation is associated with an increased risk in health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated stress hormones, and weakened immune systems.  According to a study co-authored by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking, alcohol use disorder, and obesity.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

Memorial Day Moment of Silence at Noon

Port Huron, MI — Memorial Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay respect to the members of our military who lost their lives in service to our country. Even though we can’t gather in large groups or pay tribute with our traditional parades and ceremonies this year, we can all take a moment to stop and reflect on what Memorial Day means to us and our country.

At WGRT, we have two military moms on staff, so it’s natural for us to recognize the significance of this holiday for many families. The act of enlisting in the military, leaving ones family to serve our country, and the discipline required for training and deployments demand a great deal of sacrifice from service members and their families. The uncertainty of military life and the weight of responsibility borne by our service members is tremendous, and the reality that some will give their lives in service is sobering.

This Memorial Day, the staff at WGRT joins in our local moment of remembrance for military members that have fallen in service to our country. We will observe a moment of silence on our station at 12 noon today, and we ask you to join us in reflecting, honoring, and appreciating what those brave men and women sacrificed for our freedom.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Black River Canal Gate – Low Clearance

Port Huron, MI — The Black River Canal Tainter Gate is fully raised. However, due to historic high water levels, clearance from the water to the gate is only around 4ft.

Many boats and watercraft that usually could clear the gate will not be able to this season. As canal users approach the gate they should do so with caution.

Please also provide watercraft in front of you plenty of space to maneuver. Enjoy the weekend!

Submitted by James Freed, Port Huron City Manager

Whitmer Extends Safer at Home Order Until June 12, 2020

Lansing, MI — On Friday evening, Governor Whitmer released a few new updates concerning Michigan’s response to COVID-19.  They included extension of the summer gasoline waiver, extension of watercraft registrations, and an extension of Michigan’s Safer at Home order until June 12, 2020. She also extended her emergency declaration until June 19, 2020.

The summer gasoline waiver extension extends the temporary extension of Michigan’s Reid Vapor Pressure standards to prevent a gasoline shortage and subsequent high prices at the pump. Any gasoline that doesn’t meet the requirements can be distributed to retailers through May 31, 2020.

Michiganders who own a watercraft that is registered in the state or who purchase new watercraft can operate it in Michigan waters until July 31st without displaying an identifying number and decal, provided the operator of the vessel possesses a proof of purchase or equivalent evidence that the vessel was acquired after January 1, 2020. Additionally, law enforcement cannot issue tickets as a result of watercraft decals that expired after September 30, 2019. The state cannot assess late fees for expired decals as long as boaters renew their registration by July 31.

Under the recently signed Executive Order 2020-96, the Governor allowed for the immediate authorization of small gatherings of 10 people or less (as long as they practice social distancing), the reopening of retail businesses and car dealerships by appointment on May 26th, and a green light for health care providers to perform nonessential medical, dental, and veterinary procedures on May 29th. This new Executive Order (2020-100) however, extends the temporary closure of certain places of public accommodation such as theaters, gyms, and casinos until June 12th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update for May 22, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 22nd at  9 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 53,510 confirmed cases; 5,129 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 422 confirmed cases; 33 deaths
  • Ontario: 24,187  confirmed cases;  1,993 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 243 confirmed cases; 19 deaths

Confirmed Cases in St. Clair County rose by 28 last week, and the county suffered five additional deaths. There are currently 80 active cases of COVID-19 reported in St. Clair County, and 3% of all hospital beds are being used for COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department, said that community transmission of COVID-19 in St. Clair County is currently at a stable level. As we begin the reopening of businesses next week, she is encouraged by the effort being made by local businesses and community leaders to make workplaces as safe as possible for both employees and customers. These efforts reduce the risk for transmission of COVID-19, but they do not eliminate the possibility of contracting the virus.  The best way to protect yourself and others continues to be through social distancing, proper hygiene, and wearing a mask in enclosed spaces.

The St. Clair County Health Department created a new digital dashboard (available <HERE>) for more detailed reports of COVID-19 cases, that dashboard breaks down data into several segments such as confirmed and probable cases, hospitalizations, and recovered cases.

Cases in Sarnia rose by 30 since last week, and the county suffered 2 additional deaths. There are currently 3 outbreaks reported in long term care facilities in Lambton County, and 62% of the deaths reported in Ontario were of residents in long-term care facilities.

The Ontario government is quickly moving forward with innovative research to prevent, detect, and treat COVID-19. These projects, part of the government’s $20 million Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund, focus on areas of research such as vaccine development, diagnostics, drug trials and development, and social sciences. Additionally, Ontario is leading the country with 22 clinical trials investigating COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

 

*** It is important to note that WGRT is continuing to report confirmed cases from each area, not total cases which are a combination of confirmed and probable cases. We have chosen to approach the data this way to simplify our reports and to create uniformity in the numbers we are reporting for each region, St.Clair County, Lambton County, Michigan, and Ontario.

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

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand