Local News

The St. Clair County Health Department is passing on a warning in a report recently released by Consumer Reports. An investigation by Consumer Reports is warning people with small children about new potential dangers for sleep products. According to data from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) fatalities associated with in-bed sleepers such as DockATot and Snuggle Nest have been reported. In-bed sleepers are often used by parents to keep their baby close to them at night to help the baby sleep better or for greater ease in nighttime feeding. 

The in-bed sleepers currently do not have their own federal safety standards and could have dangerous design flaws. One potential danger according to the CPSC is the soft padding which can block a baby’s airflow if the infant’s face comes in contact with it. The commission cites data that says a handful of deaths were found to have occurred in the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Infant Sleeper, SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper, and DockATot. Consumer Reports also noted that none of the products had been adequately safety-tested and none adhere to safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP says in its infant sleep guidelines that babies should sleep on their backs, alone, unrestrained, on a firm, flat surface, free of padding, bumpers, and other soft bedding.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

St. Clair native and University of Michigan standout Jake Cronenworth has been placed on the roster for Team USA as they try to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Cronenworth, a member of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball club, played last season on the AAA Durham Bulls team. Cronenworth has been a part of the Rays organization for the past 4 years playing both shortstop and pitcher for the Bulls while hitting a .334 average with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. Cronenworth was also a two-time All-Big Ten Conference second-team honoree, and was the Big Ten Tournament’s MVP in 2015.

Team USA will compete in Mexico the first week in November as part of Group A in the tournament. They will play against teams from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Netherlands. The top two teams from Group A will play in Tokyo, in what is billed as a “super round.” Teams that make it to the super round qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo.  Team USA is managed by four-time World Series champion Joe Girardi.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The Michigan State Police want to remind Michigan residents that the Click it or Ticket campaign is underway. The campaign runs from now until the end of the month, and is in place to remind Michiganders that seat belts save lives. According to the state police, October is the second deadliest month after July for unrestrained passengers in a vehicle.  In October, many people are out and about, tailgating at football games, going to bonfires, or attending Halloween parties, so the campaign is appropriate this time of year.  

The campaign may be paying off. Michiganders are doing better than the national rate when it comes to seat belt usage. In Michigan, the seat belt usage rate is estimated at 94.4 percent while the national rate was just under 90 percent. 192 of those killed in traffic crashes in 2018 were not wearing a seatbelt. Michigan law requires drivers, front seat passengers and passengers 15 and younger in any seating position to be buckled up. Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are eight years old or four feet nine inches tall. Children under four years old must be in the back seat. The Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) Director, Michael Prince said, “Wearing a seatbelt is the simplest thing you can do to save lives and reduce injuries in a crash.” He also said, “When out enjoying fall in Michigan it’s important to remember to buckle up – every trip, every time, every passenger.”  The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $65.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The Experience Center at Saint Clair County Community College (SC4) offers many ways for students and residents to engage in STEAM based learning throughout the year, but new exhibits and displays have recently been added. Included in the new exhibits is a new electromagnetic exhibit, boulder rock garden, a Notable Women in Science display, and Tarbosaurus skeleton cast. The Experience Center features interactive displays, traveling exhibits, 3-D pens and technology, a circuit center, a coding station, a virtual reality simulation, and an augmented reality sandbox. The Bassam H. Nasr Science Museum, which is part of the Experience Center, includes, a fossil dig area and larger-than-life exhibits, including a woolly rhinoceros skeleton replica, T-Rex and Mastodon skull replicas. 

Becky Gentner, SC4 executive director of budget and project management said the “goal is to consistently provide guests with new and exciting opportunities to engage in STEAM-based learning activities.” Thanks to the new experience center, SC4 recently received an Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College. SC4 won the award in the Community Engagement Education and Forward-Thinking Partnerships category. Residents can drop in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 to 2 on Saturday.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Cyber security is a growing concern for Michiganders as they are relying more heavily on the internet in everyday life, and now Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed October as Michigan Cybersecurity Month. 

According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Michigan residents and businesses have lost more than $42 million to cybercriminal activities so far this year. In 2013, the Michigan Cyber Command Center was established by Governor Rick Snyder. The center is the main contact point for the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes, and is responsible for the coordination of efforts during critical cyber incidents in Michigan. 

On October 28th, the state of Michigan will host the eighth annual North American International Cyber Summit in Detroit to highlight emerging trends in cybersecurity and share best practices in policy, law, and all manner of public and private interests. Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) Director Tricia Foster said, “When it comes to preventing cybercrime, individuals must be educated and remain vigilant.”

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

Today AT&T Michigan’s “Pioneer” organization will be on hand at the Literacy Academy at Cleveland Elementary School in Port Huron donating 79 backpacks filled with school supplies to students. The event begins at 10 a.m. and schools along with government officials will be present. The AT&T Michigan Pioneers have participated in the backpack donation program for 20 years throughout the state. David Lewis, President of AT&T Michigan said, “The AT&T Michigan Pioneers consist of company employees and retirees who go above and beyond to better communities across the state of Michigan.” He added that AT&T is “proud to provide these much-needed school supplies to the students and bring this initiative to Port Huron.” This fall, the company will distribute nearly 2,500 backpacks in the state of Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv