Bipartisan Legislation Could Improve Healthcare for Veterans
One thing legislators on both sides of the aisle can usually agree on is that our veterans deserve good healthcare. A bipartisan effort from four Michigan legislators has been introduced with the goal of improving the lives of veterans.
Michigan members of the United States House of Representatives, Republicans Lisa McLain and John Moolenaar and Democrats Elissa Slotkin and Debbie Dingell, worked together on the bills.
The Patient Advocate Tracker Act would create an online portal where veterans can check the status of formal complaints filed through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act would require the VA to effectively staff its patient advocacy programs.
Both Slotkin and McLain said that the Tracker Act would increase transparency and work toward giving vets the best healthcare possible while streamlining the process. Moolenaar and Dingell said the Advocacy Act would increase the number of patient advocates available to veterans.
The idea for the legislation came from Cameron Zbikowski, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Student Veterans of America.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Old Newsboys Raising Funds to Keep Kids Warm
No one likes cold feet in the winter. Thanks to the Port Huron Old Newsboys, St. Clair County kids should be able to have toasty warm feet all winter long.
The local charitable organization has been providing access to warm socks, underwear, and boots to kids in need for over nine decades. Families who sign up for help from the Old Newsboys get a voucher to Meijer where they can purchase brand new socks, underwear, and boots of their liking to get them through the cold winter and beyond.
To pay for these necessities for around 1000 children, the Old Newsboys are trying to raise $70,000. Almost all of the money raised goes to the children. The organization is run by volunteers and there is no paid staff.
The Old Newsboys organization partners with MDHHS to verify eligibility for families that request assistance. Michelle Brown, a volunteer, said that the application period is closed because the target goal of 1000 children has been met. If donations pick up, they will be able to help more children.
To donate to the Old Newsboys, look for donation canisters in local restaurants, donate online, or mail a check.
https://www.facebook.com/PortHuronOldNewsboys/
Old Newsboys
PO Box 100
Marysville, MI 48040
Old Newsboys Fund at Community Foundation of St. Clair County
https://www.stclairfoundation.org/fund/old-newsboys-association-of-port-huron-fund/
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Beeler Has Plan to Help Veterans Become Teachers
There is a shortage of teachers in Michigan. There are also veterans looking for jobs. To possibly help both situations, State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican testified before the House Committee on Military, Veterans, and Homeland Security.
Beeler presented a plan to make it easier for qualified veterans to get a teaching certificate.
The bill would allow United States veterans to get teaching certificates more quickly if they have instructional experience in the military. Honorably discharged veterans with both a bachelor’s degree and military certification to train service members could be eligible for taking a subject area test to gain teaching credentials.
Beeler said, “The goal here is to help veterans with the requisite experience move past some of the red tape involved in earning a teaching certificate in order to expedite them getting into the classroom. By helping veterans translate their military training experience into civilian terms, we can make Michigan a more attractive place to move for transitioning service members.”
House Bill 4913 is under consideration by the Committee.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Chesterfield’s Cindy Berry Announces Candidacy for Secretary of State
The 2022 election is about a year away, but the race for Michigan’s Secretary of State position is heating up with the addition of another candidate. Republican Cindy Berry has joined Republican Kristina Karamo in the bid to unseat Democrat Jocelyn Benson.
Berry is the current Chesterfield Township Clerk and says that she has saved local taxpayers over $3 million and reduced election costs by 29%.
In her candidacy announcement, Berry said, “I am passionate about public service and believe we can – and need – to do better. Over the next several months I will present more on my background and specific plans to improve service for all Michiganders.”
Kristina Karamo, of Oak Park, announced her candidacy for Secretary of State earlier this year and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Karamo has been an outspoken critic of Michigan’s current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on the national media stage.
Benson had already raised $800,000 for her re-election campaign by mid-summer. Benson has consistently maintained that the 2020 elections were free and fair.
Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland
Fake Laced Pills Bring Urgent Warning from DEA
Local community agencies are echoing the urgent alarm from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency regarding the counterfeit pills that are flooding the nation. Fake pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine are being pushed by criminal enterprises nationwide.
The DEA says, “The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.”
The fake laced pills look like the real pills and people are definitely falling for the scam. The opioid dependence crisis is fueling the scam, giving the criminal enterprises a market for counterfeit opioids like Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, and others; and stimulants like Adderall. Parents need to warn kids and teens to never take an unprescribed pill. Fentanyl can kill with one pill.
The warning does not apply to legitimately prescribed medications from licensed pharmacies. The deadly fake pills are often marketed on social media and e-commerce platforms.
The DEA blames fentanyl for the unprecedented 93,000 overdose deaths reported last year.
A link to more information: www.DEA.gov/onepill
Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland