McLain and Huizenga Demand Answers from DOJ on Nursing Home COVID Deaths

Two Michigan Representatives in Congress, Lisa McLain and Bill Huizenga, both Republicans, sent a letter to the Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz demanding answers to several questions.

McLain and Huizenga are requesting a formal investigation and want to know who made the final decision to forgo investigation, what data exonerated Governor Gretchen Whitmer of any wrongdoing, if there was any contact with the Whitmer Administration and the Department of Justice, and whether anyone from the Office of President Biden was in contact with the DOJ regarding the Michigan inquiry.

The questions all have to do with the decision to place COVID-19 patients into long-term care facilities, and the subsequent infection and death of thousands of nursing home patients.

Congresswoman Lisa McLain said, “Thousands of Michigan families deserve to know why the State of Michigan and Governor Whitmer chose to put their loved ones’ lives at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. She continued, “We are demanding answers because no one seems to want to investigate Governor Whitmer’s mishandlings of this crisis.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

QCS Recognized by Governor

Governor Whitmer recognized four St. Clair County companies for going above and beyond during the pandemic, and Quality Computer Solutions (QCS) was one of them. QCS developed a way to manufacture face shields early in the pandemic to help healthcare workers stay safe.

Andy Paul, Solutions Engineer for QCS, said their business is all about using technology to solve problems. Early in the pandemic when access to personal protective equipment was limited, their team figured out how to use raw material they already possessed to 3D print face shields.

Paul said, “I don’t know how we got on the list to be recognized, but when we received the letter [from the Governor], we were really grateful for it.”

With financial help from DTE, private donors, and a fund set up by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, QCS was able to deliver 520 face shields and 848 ear relief straps to six different hospitals and 14 medical related businesses by April 15, 2020. They also made intubation boxes that allowed medical personnel to intubate patients more safely.

Marysville Robotics and B’s 3D Print also became involved in the project and contributed resources and labor to increase production.

Like many businesses, QCS transitioned to working from home at the beginning of the pandemic. Because of their work, they also became busy helping their clients transition their staff to a WFH model as well.

“We really learned how to be really efficient to help a lot of people at once,” said Paul. “Almost overnight nobody can work unless they can work from home, so [we learned how] to divide up our humble little company and help as many people as possible.”

To learn more about Quality Computer Solutions, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

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