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

A teenage girl was injured Monday evening after crashing an ATV along Urban Road near Townline Road in Moore Township. Deputies say the 17-year-old lost control of a 2007 Polaris Hawkeye while heading east, causing the vehicle to veer into a ditch and throw her off. Emergency crews arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. and rushed her to McKenzie Health System with injuries. Investigators say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be involved, and the crash is still under review.

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

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