Governor, AG Change Legal Strategy to Shut Down Line 5 Pipeline

The State of Michigan has voluntarily dismissed its federal lawsuit against Enbridge regarding the Line 5 pipeline. The withdrawal of the litigation is part of a legal strategy to give state courts the final say, according to the office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed suit in state court.

The federal court continued to hear the case, which was the result of Enbridge’s reaction to a shut-down notice from the state, despite previous attempts to send it to state court.  This prompted the voluntary dismissal and the administration’s hope that it can have a favorable state judgment.

Nessel voiced her agreement, saying, “I fully support the Governor in her decision to dismiss the federal court case and instead focus on our ongoing litigation in state court. The state court case is the quickest and most viable path to permanently decommission Line 5” 

Whitmer remains determined to shut down Enbridge’s 68-year-old Line 5 dual oil pipelines that carry 23 million gallons of oil every day under the Straits of Mackinac. Whitmer said, “Our goal here remains the same: protecting the Great Lakes, protecting Michigan jobs, and protecting Michigan’s economy.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

When it Comes to Mental Health, No One Stands Alone

No One Stands Alone. That is the message that visitors to popular gathering places in Ontario’s Lambton County and the Chatham-Kent community will see on free brochures placed throughout the region.

The booklets are provided by the No One Stands Alone organization whose mission is to connect people to resources for Mental Health care and support.

The group has placed over 35,000 copies of the booklet at places like arenas, skating and hockey clubs, restaurants, libraries, and more, since May of 2021.

The publication of the booklet is made possible by fundraising and sponsors as well as partnerships with municipalities and service groups.

The booklets are meant to be referenced in emergencies or when help is needed. Referrals for mental health situations like grief, depression, anxiety, and others are provided in the No One Stands Alone booklet. The idea for the booklet came in part from Debb Pitel, who has been working through the loss of a child and struggled to find mental health resources.

The organization’s website noonestandsalone.ca has information on the locations of the booklets and ways to help, as well as personal stories about mental health journeys.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Natacha Hayden Named New DDA Director

Natacha Hayden has worked in downtown Port Huron for 13 years, most recently as the Marketing Specialist for McMorran Place & Parks & Recreation. Now, she has been named the next Downtown Development Authority Director for the City of Port Huron.

Hayden has been working with downtown businesses as she managed events and programming for McMorran and Parks & Rec, and it gave her plenty of time to get to develop relationships.

“This time working with these business leaders and entrepreneurs has given me good insight on the needs for downtown, both infrastructure- and economic development-wise,” said Hayden.

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), a Downtown Development Authority’s focus is to improve downtown districts and be a catalyst for new developments. As DDA Director, Hayden will work directly with the City Manager James Freed on existing and future projects that would benefit Downtown Port Huron.

In a press release, Freed said, “We are at a critical moment for downtown. We have a lot of projects going and new investment. These developments, coupled with our emergence from the COVID pandemic, required someone for this position that could hit the ground running. Mrs. Hayden has played a huge role in downtown and was a key player in the McMorran turnaround.”

Hayden starts her new position on Monday, December 6, 2021, taking over for Cynthia Cutright who was promoted to Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Port Huron. Hayden said, “I love downtown, it’s the heart of our city. Being able to begin my career, complete my education, and then have the opportunity to serve the community I love is very exciting.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

No Car Insurance? Time is Running Out to Get it Penalty-Free

Driving without auto insurance is illegal, but it’s a reality for a lot of drivers for a variety of reasons. Those who have been driving while uninsured can take advantage of Michigan’s uninsured motorist amnesty period to get legally insured without penalty fees..

The grace period expires on January 1st of 2022. Over 100,000 people have been able to get insurance penalty-free since the program began.

Anita Fox, Director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services said, “Prior to the amnesty period, drivers who had let their insurance lapse faced potentially expensive penalties and fees if they later tried to purchase an auto insurance policy.”

Fox said that the amnesty period ensures that those fees will not be charged if the driver applies for a policy before the January 1, 2022 deadline. She said that now is the time to shop for insurance because, after the deadline, those penalty fees can once again be charged.

Twenty percent of Michigan drivers were estimated to be driving uninsured in 2019, often because they can’t afford insurance. The Detroit area has had the highest rates in the nation, but there have been some rate reductions since the passing of the bipartisan Michigan auto insurance reform law.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Plenty of Winter Fun Planned by Port Huron Recreation

Port Huron’s Recreation Department has a winter full of fun on tap for all ages. The 2022 Winter Events and Programs publication has been released and there is a lot going on.

Lunches for senior citizens are back at Palmer Park. The site is a congregate meal site for the St. Clair County Council on Aging. Lunches are served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

There is also the “Oldies Get Goodies” program that delivers “Goodie Bags” to local seniors.

The Recreation Department is hoping for snow and cold with Sledfest on the calendar for January 22nd and the ice rinks at Lincoln and Palmer Parks are open for skaters once the ice freezes.

There are also the usual sports offerings like dance, fencing, drums alive, and karate. Tennis is also offered this year.

Registration begins December 16th for Port Huron residents and December 17th for non-residents. There are scholarship opportunities available.

Looking ahead to summer, registration for Camp Palmer, the summer day camp, begins February 28th for returning families.

A link to the full brochure can be found below.

https://www.porthuronrec.com/_files/ugd/fc6623_35d656b5e3d34091a236a61cec431e18.pdf

Historic Michigan License Plate Now Available

The “Water-Winter Wonderland” license plate is the newest addition to the Michigan Secretary of State’s License Plate Store.

Listed under the “Standard Plates” section of the online store, the “Water-Winter Wonderland” plate is here to bring back an old favorite.

According to the website, the plate was first issued in 1965 and was among the first license plates made of galvanized steel. The current version of the plate is a dark, navy blue with yellow lettering, and it’s made of rust-resistant aluminum.

The cost of ordering the new plate is $5, and you can have it personalized for an additional $15 on top of regular renewal or new license plate fees.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson remarked on the historical significance of the plate that was used in the year the National Voting Rights Act became law. She said, “I am proud to give Michiganders back a longtime favorite license plate that also marks a critical moment in the history of our nation’s democracy. In 1965, we worked together as a nation to protect and advance voting rights in pursuit of a more perfect union, just as today we must come together as a nonpartisan, pro-democracy coalition to protect and advance our elections.”

To learn more, visit the SOS website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand