Little Black Dress Event Moves to Facebook Live for 2021

Port Huron, MI — The 15th Annual Betty Kearns Little Black Dress Event is moving to Facebook live for 2021. On  Friday, March 5th at 6 PM,  the committee will be streaming live from Kate’s Downtown Café. They have lots of fun planned for the event including raffles, memories, and support.

Raffle tickets can be purchased online at bluewaterlittleblackdress.org and sponsorships can be purchased in amounts from $500 to $3,000. There are no tickets needed for the event, simply visit the Facebook page <HERE> to view.

The Betty Kearns Little Black Dress Event was established in 2007 to raise money for local Breast Cancer Programs. The Betty Kearns Cancer Fund was established in 2016 to help all people fighting cancer. In 2020, the fund helped McLaren Port Huron purchase new equipment to help diagnose and treat prostate cancer. It also established a donor advised fund at the Ct. Clair County Community foundation to help St. Clair and Sanilac County residents who may need cancer treatment outside the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

New Law Allows First Responders to Use EpiPens

Senate Bill 417 was signed into law by Governor Whitmer last week, and now firefighters and police officers in Michigan will be allowed to carry and use EpiPens to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. The law also provides protection for school employees who administer EpiPens in good faith.

The bill’s sponsor, former State Senator Pete Lucido, said, “EpiPens are such a common tool used to help people experiencing allergic reactions, and our first responders will now be able to carry them while on duty.”

Lucido left the Senate after being elected Macomb county Prosecutor in the November election.

“These commonsense bills will make it easier for first responders and school workers to do their jobs and help save the lives of people in need. I can’t think of a better way to end my legislative career than having these bills become law,” said Lucido.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Mainstreet Memories Car Show Moving to Waterfront

Port Huron, MI — Mainstreet Memories, an annual car show in Downtown Port Huron, has announced plans for expansion in 2021. The non-profit is rolling out its plans for a bigger and better show this summer.

The group has raised $65,000 to benefit the Council on Aging serving St. Clair County since they started the event. They have had exponential growth in the car show each year since starting in 2015.

Previously held on Huron Avenue, this year’s show will be held at the Acheson Ventures downtown waterfront area. The advantages of the new location are cost savings, greater area for cars to park, and no need to close streets. In a statement on their facebook page, President Ron Steward said, “In discussions with the DDA, both groups feel comfortable with this change, and feel it opens new opportunities to grow and expand the event into a weekend long experience, the opportunities are endless.”

This year’s Mainstreet Memories Car Show is scheduled for July 31, 2021 and will be sponsored by Moran Automotive. More information is at mainstreetmemoriesph.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lansing’s Year Ends with Several Bills Signed and Several Bills Vetoed

‘Tis the season for end of the year bill signing and vetoing in Lansing. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed and vetoed a flurry of bills as 2020 wound down.

The signed bills address a variety of issues. Senate bills 1090 and 1092 adjust the expectations of incarcerated parents regarding child support when the parent has no ability to pay. Several other bills were signed pertaining to veterans’ facilities, one-year tax adjustments in response to the pandemic, as well as bills related to public interests in bridges, tasting rooms, social service complaint notifications, and others.

Several bills were vetoed as well. Those covered a variety of topics, including the use of Executive Powers. A bill sponsored by Senator Dan Lauwers, a St. Clair County Republican, pertaining to defining “authority” in the Small Wireless Communications Act was vetoed. Several bills related to the pandemic were also vetoed, including a bill that would create the Pandemic Health Care Immunity Act, which would provide immunity from liability for health care facilities for any injury, including death, sustained by an individual in relation to the provision of COVID-19-related services. 

A link to more information, including the veto letters, can be found at WGRT.com.

https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-548570–,00.html

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland