St. Clair County leaders have rolled out a new plan to protect residents during dangerous heat waves and freezing temperatures, creating a coordinated system to open emergency shelters when conditions turn life-threatening. Blue Water Community Action will lead efforts, managing shelter space, transportation, and support once alerts are triggered, such as wind chills below zero or heat indexes over 105 degrees. A new $20,000 crisis fund will help cover overflow needs, while local shelters and partners step in to expand capacity.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Voters in St. Clair County are being urged to renew a local ambulance millage on the August 4th ballot to keep emergency services running at current levels without raising taxes. Officials say the funding has led to faster response times, more ambulances on the road, and stronger staffing, including dozens of new hires and sharply reduced turnover. An expanded fleet and improved EMT training have also boosted reliability and care quality. Leaders warn that if the millage is not renewed, recent gains in emergency response could be lost.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron police and fire officials are gearing up for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4th, inviting residents to step outside and connect with neighbors and first responders. Several neighborhood events are already planned, including gatherings on the 900 block of Huron Avenue from 6 to 9 p.m., 11th and Howard streets from 3 to 10 p.m., and St. Joseph’s Church on 7th Street from 5 to 7 p.m. More block parties are expected as organizers encourage last-minute sign-ups to promote safety.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A massive 740-foot cargo ship that ran aground along a busy stretch of the St. Clair River near Sarnia is back on the move after a coordinated recovery effort. The Algoma Equinox, loaded with grain and headed to Baie-Comeau, struck bottom Tuesday afternoon but remained stable with no injuries, leaks, or hull damage reported. By Wednesday afternoon, tugboats helped free the vessel, which then powered away on its original route as normal shipping traffic continued through the area without disruption.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A 46-year-old woman has pleaded no contest to running a large-scale human trafficking operation tied to two massage parlors in Macomb County. Jingyu Jin, a Chinese national, owned businesses in St. Clair Shores and Sterling Heights that investigators say were used to exploit women brought from overseas for forced commercial sex. Authorities describe the case as one of the largest of its kind uncovered locally, with multiple victims rescued. Jin is scheduled to be sentenced September 3rd, while a co-defendant is already serving a lengthy prison term.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet