Demetrius Starling New Head of Children’s Services Agency for MDHHS

Demetrius Starling has been named the new executive director of the Children’s Services Agency for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). He has over 20 years of experience protecting children and assisting families in Michigan.

The MDHHS Children’s Services Agency oversees the state’s child welfare systems which includes Children’s Protective Services or CPS.

Starling has worked for MDHHS and CPS in a variety of capacities in many Southeast Michigan counties including St. Clair, Sanilac, and Macomb.

Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS Director, said, “Demetrius Starling knows what it takes to protect the well-being of children by helping them stay with their families when it is safe and finding the most family-like settings for them when it’s unsafe for them to return home. He has a proven track record of success working in the child welfare system in both urban and rural communities. He is committed to diversity and equity and has the skills to continue the ongoing transformation of Michigan’s child protection system.”

Starling is also a member of the statewide Children’s Services Agency Anti-Racism Transformation Team and Court Improvement Process Team, and he has developed initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and address human trafficking.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

PHPD Offers Elementary Summer Camp

Port Huron, MI — It’s never too early to learn about community service. Kids who are interested in learning more about how police departments work or what it’s like to be a police officer have a great opportunity this summer. The Port Huron Police Department is offering an Elementary Summer Camp for kids in grades 4th through 6th.

The Camp will be held from June 21st through June 24th at four different locations: Cleveland Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, and Holland Woods Middle School. There is transportation available if needed.

Camp participants will learn from School Resource Officers Dennis Huisman and Laura Phillips who will cover a variety of subjects with the children.

Campers will explore police equipment and vehicles, complete a police obstacle course, and design and race their very own police car. They will also learn about fingerprints and meet the Port Huron Police Department K9 unit.

Lunches are provided by the Port Huron School District and students get a t-shirt and pinewood derby car to take home. There is no cost to attend the camp and enrollment is limited.

Registration details can be found at:

https://www.porthuron.org/Police/2021_SummerCamp.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Post Election Audit Report Completed

On April 21, 2021, The Michigan Bureau of Elections released a forty-one page Post Election Audit Report for the November 2020 election. The bureau found “no evidence of intentional misconduct of fraud by election officials.”

The election audit was the most extensive in state history and included an audit of every ballot cast in Antrim County which was “conducted specifically to provide additional assurance in light of misinformation in that county.”

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, said in a press release, “The audits are concrete evidence that November’s election was fair, secure and accurate, and that the results reflect the will of Michigan voters. Legislators should be working to build on this success, rather than seeking to undo the policies that made it possible.”

The full Post Election Audit Report includes the findings of the Michigan Bureau of Elections along with a description of each type of audit performed, details on how the audit was performed, and explanations of discovered imbalances.

The report is available in its entirety <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michigan Jail Reform Council Looks to Reform Criminal Justice System

The Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council has been created by Executive Order of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. County jails are housing an increasing number of inmates costing taxpayers nearly half a billion dollars each year.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist said, “This council will do critical work to implement the recommendations of last year’s Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration that I was proud to co-chair. Together, we can make substantive, lasting changes to our justice system that make us all safer and help us live up to our highest ideals.”

The new council is Chaired by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and is made up of members of the law enforcement community, mental health care, and county government.

McCormack said, “Thanks to the data-driven, bipartisan work of the Jail and Pretrial Incarceration Task Force, Michigan is a national leader in reforming our criminal justice system to be more fair, effective, transparent, and accountable. The council will support the implementation of these pioneering improvements, making sure the vision of a justice system that makes us all safer and stronger that inspired us becomes reality.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Announces State Offices 100% Carbon Neutral by 2025

On, April 22, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that state-owned facilities will utilize 100% renewable energy by 2025, which is made possible through partnerships with DTE, Consumers Energy, and Lansing Board of Water and Light.

 The state’s clean energy target will protect public health and our environment, while attracting more clean energy jobs to Michigan. Actions like this along with the MI Healthy Climate Plan will be key to reducing the harmful impacts of climate change within the next 10 years. In addition to moving towards 100% renewable energy for state-owned buildings, the state is also launching an interagency team across state government departments to identify our potential solar footprint and develop and implement a plan to deploy solar across our state-owned lands and properties.

Previously, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2020-10 and Executive Order 2020-182 and announced that Michigan is now on a path to decarbonization by 2050. Michigan joins eights other states to be committed to 100% economy-wide carbon neutrality.

Submitted by Governor Whitmer’s Office

Police Conduct Underage Alcohol Purchasing Sting

Port Huron, M–On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 the Port Huron Police Department conducted a compliance  check operation focusing on the underage sales of alcohol to minors. 

During the operation, police sent underage decoys into 32 Port Huron stores licensed by the  Michigan Liquor Control Commission to sell alcohol. Of the 32 businesses checked, 26 were  found to be in compliance by refusing to sell alcohol to the underage decoys. 

Six establishments were not in compliance and were cited for selling alcohol to a minor:

  1. CVS, 940 Lapeer Ave., Port Huron 
  2. Liquor Locker, 520 24th Street, Port Huron 
  3. Party Express, 937 Oak Street, Port Huron 
  4. Speedway, 2611 Ravenswood Road, Port Huron 
  5. Brians Drive Thru Eggery, 1635 Pine Grove Ave, Port Huron 
  6. Joe’s Party Shop, 2304 Hancock Street, Port Huron 

The Port Huron Police Department would like to thank all of the stores who were found to be  in compliance and encourage all licensed establishments to check ID’s to prevent the use of  alcohol by underage minors. 

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department