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Whitmer: Bars Must Close Indoor Seating by 11 PM Tonight

Lansing, MI— Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-143 closing indoor service at bars throughout most of lower Michigan to protect the progress Michigan has made against COVID-19. Regions 6 and 8, which include the Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan, are excluded from the order, and bars statewide can continue to serve outdoors. The governor also signed a package of bills allowing cocktails-to-go at bars and restaurants to help these businesses serve more Michiganders during this time.

Over the past week, every region in Michigan has seen an uptick in new cases, and daily case counts now exceed 20 cases per million in the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo regions. Nearly 25% of diagnoses in June were of people ages 20 to 29, up from roughly 16% in May. That shift aligns with national trends, and the evidence suggests that young people may be driving a new phase of the pandemic.

As bars have reopened for indoor service across the country, some have been linked to a growing number of large outbreaks. In Michigan, for example, health officials in Ingham County have linked 107 confirmed COVID-19 cases to an outbreak in a single bar in East Lansing.

Bars are often crowded, indoors and poorly ventilated — all of which make it easy to spread COVID-19 from person to person. Bars also encourage mingling among groups and facilitate close contact over an extended period of time. They are noisy, requiring raised voices and allowing for more projection of viral droplets. And they serve alcohol, which reduces inhibitions and decreases compliance with mask use and physical distancing rules.

The governor’s order applies to establishments with on-premises retailer liquor licenses that earn more than 70% of their gross receipts from alcohol sales. That means that most brewpubs, distilleries, and vineyards can stay open indoors. Traditional bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs will have to end indoor service.

Governor Whitmer today also signed Senate Bill 942 and House Bills 5781 and 5811 into law, which allow bars and restaurants to sell cocktails-to-go and expand social districts to allow for more outdoor seating and areas for people to safely congregate while practicing physical distancing.

“Bars will not have to close down completely, but may still offer outdoor seating and use creative methods like cocktails-to-go in hopes that we can bring our numbers down,” Governor Whitmer said. “I am hopeful providing options for cocktails-to-go and expanded social districts will ensure these businesses can remain open and Michiganders can safely and responsibly enjoy their summer outdoors.”

Return to School Roadmap Details Multiple Plans Districts Must Adopt

On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed an Executive Order requiring every school district in Michigan to develop and adopt a plan based on several public health scenarios. Each plan is required to follow details outlined in the MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap which was created by the Return to Schools Advisory Council and the COVID-19 Task Force on Education.

The Roadmap details requirements for PPE, hygiene, cleaning, spacing in classrooms, screening for symptoms, and athletics among other things. It is divided up into required, strongly recommended, and recommended practices. Required safety protocols must be implemented by all schools that serve students in grades preK – 12.

Four scenarios were presented in the Roadmap based on which phase of the MI Safe Start Plan a region is in when the Fall 2020 school year starts.

  • Schools open for in-person instruction with minimal required safety protocols (MI Safe Start Phase 6)
  • Schools open for in-person instruction with moderate required safety protocols (MI Safe Start Phase 5).
  • Schools open for in-person instruction with more stringent required safety protocols (MI Safe Start Phase 4).
  • Schools do not open for in-person instruction and instruction is provided remotely (MI Safe Start Phases 1-3).

Schools are not permitted to provide in-person instruction of any kind in their region if they are within Phase 1-3 of the pandemic, and all athletics are suspended. Remote learning would be activated, and technology support would be required for students and teachers. In-person instruction can resume during Phase 4, and most safety protocols are required until a region reaches Phase 5 and strongly recommended until a region reaches Phase 6.

Michigan is currently in Phase 4, which means the state can begin in-person instruction with more stringent safety protocols if nothing changes between now and fall. Protocols include face coverings for all staff and students (except during meals), access to supplies and encouragement of proper to hygiene, screening students & staff for COVID-19 under cooperation with the local health department (along with responding to positive results), prohibiting indoor assemblies, and other requirements for transportation, athletics, and protecting medically vulnerable students and staff.

$256 million in new funding is being provided to implement school safety measures.

You can read the full MI Safe Schools Roadmap <HERE>

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

Sarnia Launches Community Improvement Plan

Sarnia, ON — The city of Sarnia is looking for community help in reviewing and updating its Community Improvement Plans. The goals of the project are affordable housing, neighborhood and downtown revitalization, and public space improvements.

The plan will help target public investments to spur private investment. The investments are intended to enhance the quality of the public realm while creating a focus for community activities. There are opportunities for addressing beautification along the waterfront along with identifying changes needed pertaining to land use, zoning, and other policies.

The three commercial areas that the Plan will focus on are Downtown Sarnia, Mitton Village, and Northgate. There is a schedule of events that involve the public, kicking off on July 7th with a public engagement program. Residents, business owners, community groups, and others are invited to sign up for the program.

The website SpeakUpSarnia.ca has more information. The project is being led by Eric Hyatt, Planner with the City of Sarnia and The Planning Partnership/MDB Insight.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Farmers to Grow Hemp

Lansing, MI — Last week, the Michigan Legislature passed a bill sponsored by Republican Senator Dan Lauwers that would allow farmers in the state to grow hemp for commercial purposes. Senate Bill 850 would create the Industrial Hemp Growers Act and establish a state-operated program for industrial hemp.

“Hemp is best known for CBD oil, but also produces fibers used in fabrics, textiles, yarns, paper, home furnishings and a number of other objects,” said Lauwers, R-Brockway Township. “While it is a variety of the the same plant species as marijuana, it contains almost none of marijuana’s psychoactive component, THC, and has long been cultivated for non-drug use. Michigan farmers will benefit greatly from being able to grow hemp.”

With the passage of the 2018 federal Farm Bill, industrial hemp became legal under United States Department of Agriculture oversight.

While the USDA worked to create rules for industrial hemp, states were allowed to use the authority granted under the 2014 Farm Bill to create pilot programs. Michigan passed a law in 2018 to allow the commercial farming and processing of industrial hemp under a licensing and registration program for hemp growers and processors.

“Michigan’s pilot program for industrial hemp has been a great success,” Lauwers said. “There is increasing interest in this crop in a wide variety of sectors.”

Walmart Recalls Marketside Bagged Iceberg Salad

Michigan — Out of an abundance of caution, Walmart is recalling bags of Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad for possible cyclospora contamination. There have been no reports of illness, but Walmart is asking that affected products be discarded immediately and not consumed.

The recall affect all product codes of Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad sold in 12 and 24-ounce packages with best-if-used-by-dates of May 19th – July 4th which were distributed in stores in Michigan between June 1st & June 21st.

Details from recalled products are:

  • Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad: 12-ounce, UPC Code 6 81131 32894 4
  • Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad: 24-ounce, UPC Code 6 81131 32895 1
  • Best-If-Used-By-Date: May 19 through July 04

Walmart is removing recalled products from store shelves and inventory, and customers can call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at 1-800-242-5272 with questions or to obtain refunds.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Four Arraigned in Port Huron Twp. Stabbing Case

Port Huron, MI — Four people have been arraigned on multiple charges following an incident on June 24th in Port Huron Township which left one dead and another injured.

In 72nd District Court in Port Huron Friday, 19 year old Brandon Williams of Roseville was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm or attempted murder, felony firearm with a pneumatic gun and habitual 2nd offender.  Joseph Gigliotti, a 21 year old man from Macomb County’s Washington Township was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, and felony firearm with a pneumatic gun.  Eighteen year old Joseph Smith of Burtchville Township was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, felony firearm with a pneumatic gun, resist and obstruct and being a habitual 4th offender.  Alexandra Dillon, an 18 year old woman from Warren was charged with armed robbery.

Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area of 25th Street and Dixon Street about 4:15 a.m. on June 24th for a felonious assault complaint.  They located 21 year old Nathan Chavarria of Port Huron Township lying on the ground with several stab wounds.  He was able to give information on his attackers prior to being transported to the hospital.

Officers from the Port Huron Police Department were able to locate the suspects a short time later in a red Cadillac.  Upon making contact with the subjects in the vehicle, it was discovered that 19 year old Jovonte Thurman of Mt. Clemens was deceased inside.  Gigliotti had also suffered stab wounds and was transported to a local hospital.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime and determined that the four who were charged and Thurman had made plans to rob Chavarria, who had agreed to sell them narcotics that morning.

Williams, Gigliotti and Smith had their bonds set at $250,000, while Dillon’s bond was set at $25,000.  All four are next expected in 72nd District Court for a probable cause hearing on July 14th at 9:00 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.  If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Kelsey Wade at (810) 987-1738.