Detroit Hosting 77th Annual Midwestern Legislative Conference
Hundreds of state and provincial legislators are meeting in Detroit for a four-day annual meeting aimed at enhancing their roles as policy leaders while exploring the vibrant city. Organized by Michigan Sen. Roger Victory, chair of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC), the event will take place from July 9th – 12th.
Celebrating its 77th year, the Annual Meeting provides a nonpartisan platform for participants to learn from each other, policy experts, and thought leaders. This year, the focus is on “Food Security: Feeding the Future,” as part of Sen. Victory’s MLC Chair’s Initiative for 2023.
The agenda features various sessions, including visits to Detroit’s Eastern Market, discussions on improving food security, and debates on the future of farmland in the Midwest. Additionally, the program covers topics such as agriculture, criminal justice, education, energy, health, budgets, workforce development, and the U.S.-Canada border.
For more information, visit: csgmidwest.org.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
Professional Actress And Port Huron Native, Teams Up With Port Huron Recreation Department To Teach Future Thespians
Professional actress McKale Jude Bingham returns to Port Huron for the fourth consecutive year, for the Port Huron Recreation Department’s summer Theatre Bootcamp for children.
The program spans five days, and equips over 100 young actors, in grades 1 – 12, with fundamental theater skills culminating in a grand musical production. Students embrace their creativity and teamwork within the condensed time frame, benefiting from a transformative experience that prepares them for future theatrical endeavors.
Bingham, a native of Port Huron and successful actress, delights in sharing her passion for acting with budding artists and considers teaching the program the highlight of her summer.
Audiences can catch “The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever” on July 14th, 21st, and 28th, and the high school cabaret on August 4th, all at 6 p.m. in the McMorran Place Theatre, with free admission for the public.
Registration remains open until July 24th. To register, visit: porthuronrec.com.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
The Rotary International Parade Welcomes You To Celebrate
The Rotary International Day Parade, organized by the Port Huron Rotary Club and local sponsors, celebrates with the theme “All Together Now: Kindness/Friendship/Unity.”
The parade begins at 6:30 pm and will start at Huron and Glenwood Avenue, proceeding through the downtown business district before turning onto Oak Street and ending at Desmond Landing. The Municipal Office Center (MOC) in Port Huron will be closing early that day to accommodate the parade.
The highly anticipated event will feature a variety of floats competing for cash prizes. Entries will be evaluated on their adherence to the parade’s theme, originality, craftsmanship, costuming, and difficulty.
The first-place winner will receive $450, while the second and third-place winners will receive $300 and $150, respectively. The application deadline for participation is Monday, July 10th, at 4 pm.
For more information, visit: paradeday.net.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
No Strike, McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital Nurses Have Reached Agreement
After threats of going on strike, registered nurses at McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new 3-year contract, effective immediately. The contract, celebrated by the local Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) bargaining unit, prioritizes safe staffing and competitive compensation.
Carie Babcock, RN and president of the MNA unit, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, emphasizing the focus on patient safety and high-quality care. The contract entails a substantial average wage increase of 19 percent over its duration to attract and retain qualified nurses. It also includes provisions for hospital fines if administrators fail to meet nurse-to-patient ratios as agreed upon, holding executives accountable for safe staffing.
Additionally, the emergency department will see improved staffing, a vital enhancement given McLaren Lapeer Region’s status as the sole Level II Trauma Center in the Thumb area.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell