Anxious Teens Can Sign Up for Free Virtual Support Group

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering free group counseling to teens who may be feeling anxious about going back to school. The sessions are online virtual support groups.

The pandemic has been especially hard for teenagers and the thought of going back to in-person school and all the social interactions that go with it can be very stressful for teens. It is a common worry.

The group counseling sessions are for teens aged 14-17. They can share their feelings and concerns with other teens and listen to their experiences. A trained “Stay Well” counselor will moderate the sessions and facilitate the meetings.

The emotional support groups are not meant to take the place of mental health treatment. No personal information will be retained.

Teens can sign up for one of four sessions that are held on every Wednesday in August at 4:00 p.m. 

MDHHS also has a 24/7 counseling telephone line that is staffed by a Michigan “Stay Well” counselor.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpcu6rqDooGdJDuHvQba3_y1TJc0BH3XU2?fbclid=IwAR1ZE5vak0jztfkMfdRV5wGXHSgWCmSEo2qdjQFh-YZDNSnoJp2OsB9oS1s

Dial 1-888-535-6136 and press “8”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

2022 Unified Cup Coming to Detroit

Detroit, MI — Special Olympics Michigan announced last week that the 2022 Unified Cup will take place in Detroit from July 31 – August 6, 2022. The Unified Cup is a global football (soccer) tournament featuring nearly 600 athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from up to 31 nations.

Mary Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics International said, “Special Olympics is proud to host the Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 in the city of Detroit. Detroit’s commitment to inclusion, along with its passionate fan base, make the city a powerful platform to showcase the unifying power of sport. This event will demonstrate the talent, dedication, and leadership of Special Olympics athletes from around the world.”

The Special Olympics Unified Cup Detroit 2022 will be the second-ever tournament of its kind in the Special Olympics’ 53-year history. Single-sport tournaments are opportunities for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together on the same team which promotes inclusion and camaraderie.

The Unified Cup will be held at Keyworth Stadium, home of the Detroit City Football Club, and millions of viewer’s across the globe will be able to experience it on ESPN.

The Special Olympics Unified Cup Detroit 2022 has received sponsorship support from Toyota, ESPN, Ally Financial, Gallagher, The Coca-Cola Company, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Laws Extend License and Registration Expiration Dates

Driver’s license expired, but no appointment scheduled at the Secretary of State? Don’t worry; new laws have been signed to expand the validation of licenses and state IDs.

Expirations on vehicle registrations, driver licenses, and state IDs have been extended by 120 days after an original expiration date between March 31 and August 1st of this year. Late fees are waived and will be refunded if needed.

Senate Bill 507 extends the validity of an operator’s or chauffeur’s license. Senate Bill 508 extends the validity of enhanced driver’s licenses and IDs, and Senate Bill 509 extends the expiration dates on ID cards.

After signing the bills last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the laws “put Michigan drivers first”.

With a backlog of people waiting for appointments, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said, “We are glad to be entering a new era of services at our offices that are more efficient and convenient than ever before.”

Benson said all SOS offices are open to any residents, which they can access by “walking up or scheduling their visits online or by phone.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New Law Removes Requirement to Provide Phone Books

Say goodbye to telephone directories, or “phone books”. If you remember the days of getting wound up in a ten-foot-long phone cord and understand terms like “busy signal” and “collect calling”, you probably remember the days of easily looking up a phone number in a phone book. You probably also know the words to all the New Kids on the Block songs and have a set of encyclopedias on your bookshelf.

Michigan Senate Bill 372 has sent telephone directory publishing the way of party lines and rotary dials, by removing the requirement to provide a phone book from the Michigan Telecommunications Act.

The Bill was introduced by State Senators Horn, Hollier, and Schmidt, as well as local State Senator Dan Lauwers. The bill was supported by AT & T, Frontier Communications, and Telecommunications Associations of Michigan.

The bill also addresses something from a bygone era, 1-900 numbers, saying that telephone service providers must provide “the option of having access to 900 prefix services blocked”.  Once popular in the 1980s and 90s, 1-900 numbers are functionally obsolete with the development of the internet, but there are still a few “premium numbers” in use.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Runaway Bride 5K On August 14th

The Runaway Bride 5K run and 2 mile walk is coming up on Saturday, August 14th at the Double Tree by Hilton in Port Huron. This is one of the most unique runs in the area with participants dressed in wedding themed attire to raise money for A Beautiful Me.

Registration is now open for runners and walkers at ABeautifulMe.com, and raffle tickets are also on sale for a week-long condo vacation for 6 on Hilton Head Island.

Karen Palka, A Beautiful Me’s Founder and Executive Director, said, “Our beloved ‘Ruby the Runner’ has been seen around town with a new friend named ‘Wally the Walker. A mock wedding is held at the start of our fun run and each year Ruby has run from her groom – as she had cold feet. We will patiently wait to see if Ruby will take Wally’s hand in marriage this year – or run to start the race.”

All proceeds from The Runaway Bride benefit girls in the community by providing confidence-building programs and workshops.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand