Preliminary Ruling Issued for Flint Water Crisis Payouts

Flint residents who were affected by contaminated water are one step closer to getting their share of the $641.25 million settlement, but there are still some details to be worked out. An approval order was issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, effective January 27th, 2021.

The settlement is effectively a class action process through which Flint residents can file claims. A final ruling is pending upon completion of a fairness hearing scheduled for July. While getting the actual restitution is still many months away, the steps are finally in place to resolve the crisis, which started in 2014.

Flint residents will have sixty days to file the claim and then 120 days after filing to submit the necessary paperwork.

The State of Michigan is paying $600 million in the settlement, while the City of Flint, which was under emergency management at the time of the crisis, is paying $20 million through its insurer. McLaren Regional Medical Center, the epicenter of the Legionnaires outbreak, is paying $20 million, and Rowe Professional Services, a contractor involved in the switch to drawing water from the Flint River, is paying $1.25 million.

A link to the full ruling:

Order Granting Motion for Preliminary Approval – Flint (michigan.gov)

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Drug Task Force Releases 2020 Incident Map

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office has released the Drug Task Force incident map. The interactive map shows DTF cases countywide, with the ability to zoom in to street level and see details of the activity.

2020 was a busy year for the Drug Task Force. They took 2,606 grams of crystal meth, 180 grams of cocaine, and 121 grams of heroin off the streets. The DTF also executed 34 search warrants and 183 drug related traffic stops. In all, 218 people were arrested, with 262 felonies and 145 misdemeanors charged.

Sheriff Mat King said, “The St. Clair County Drug Task Force faced new challenges in 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the members of the DTF continued to fight to get drugs and weapons off the streets and bring criminals to justice.” King said he was proud of the work done by members of the Drug Task Force for the community.

The Drug Task Force relies on tips from community members. Tips can be left anonymously at (800) 243-DRUG. 

A link to the map:

https://scc-gis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=3a00cf874b944e8c87052eaa1dd78ca3&extent=-82.4664,42.9569,-82.4209,42.9861

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer: Indoor Dining Resumes Feb 1st

In a press conference today, Governor Whitmer stated that due to positive trends in COVID-19 cases MDHHS is lifting the ban on indoor dining as of February 1st.

Restaurants must limit the amount of people indoors to 25% of their normal capacity along with collecting names and phone numbers of their patrons for contact tracing purposes. Ventilation systems must be in working order, and the state is providing grant money for businesses that need to update their systems.

Along with opening indoor dining, concessions at entertainment venues may also resume, and gathering limits will be increased at funerals and outdoor gatherings. The only activities that will remain closed after February 1st are night clubs, contact sports, and water parks.

A full reading of the order with detailed guidelines and restrictions is available <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Kasey Wolak McLaren Port Huron Employee of the month

McLaren Port Huron December Employee of the Month

Kasey Wolak has been named the Employee of the Month for December. Wolak has worked at McLaren Port Huron for 13 years and is currently a unit assistant on 4 South.

Wolak was nominated by her peers because she exemplifies the hospital values. Her customer service skills are amazing. She goes above and beyond to help patients and visitors, making their visit to the hospital better. Wolak is sincerely compassionate and caring, ready and willing to help anyone who needs it. Her coworkers look forward to working with her because she is always happy, helpful, and a joy to work with. Wolak is friendly, happy, bright, has a positive attitude and smiles all the time. She is an example of what all employees should strive to be and is without a doubt worthy of this award.

This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.

To learn more about McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.

Submitted by McLaren Port Huron.

State Invests in Skilled Trade Training with “Going PRO Talent Fund”

The State of Michigan has granted over $39 million affecting 30,000 workers state-wide to secure employment, gain industry-recognized credentials, and earn strong wages. The money went to more than 850 Michigan businesses in the form of training grants from the “Going PRO Talent Fund”.

Susan Corbin, the acting director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), said, “With 545,000 professional trades job openings expected through the year 2026, this fund plays a vital role in helping Michigan employers meet their talent needs by investing in homegrown workers.” 

According to LEO, the training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry to be part of the program.

The Going Pro Talent Fund grants are available through Michigan Works! Agencies and are part of Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by 2030. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Grayfox Murder Suspect Arrested in Detroit

The Port Huron Police Department has announced the location and subsequent arrest of suspected murderer Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty. Grasty is suspected in the murder of William Michael Orlow, whose body was discovered on the Grayfox, a former Navy vessel that was docked on the St. Clair River near the Blue Water Riverwalk in June.

The search for Grasty has been ongoing with a warrant issued in December. Grasty was thought to be homeless somewhere in the Detroit area. No motive or details on the relationship between the suspect and the deceased were provided. The death was determined to be the result of trauma.

Grasty was apprehended by U.S. Marshalls in Detroit and was handed over to the custody of the Port Huron Police Department. Grasty was questioned and arraigned on charges of open murder and Disinterment/Mutilation of a Corpse. He is lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention Center.

Bond was set at $750,000 with a Probable Cause Conference set for February 2nd in front of Judge Mona Armstrong.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland