port huron

Blue Water Woman of the Year Awards 2024 Recognize Remarkable Achievements

The prestigious Blue Water Woman of the Year Awards is set to honor extraordinary women in the Blue Water Area of Michigan for their outstanding contributions as volunteers, mentors, professionals, or community leaders. 

The 2024 Awards Ceremony, taking place on March 13th, at McMorran Place Theatre, will showcase women who exemplify excellence, creativity, and innovation in their respective fields.

Nominees for the coveted Blue Water Woman of the Year title must meet rigorous criteria, emphasizing their commitment to excellence in professional, volunteer, mentoring, passion, or educational pursuits. Nominators play a crucial role in ensuring nominees receive the recognition they deserve, with a call to actively promote attendance at the ceremony. This year, the focus is on creating a supportive and celebratory atmosphere where each award recipient can bask in the well-deserved applause from a dedicated fan club.

Click here for more details. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

T-Mobile Implements Stricter Measures Against A2P Traffic Violations With New Fines Starting January 1st

Commencing January 1st, 2024, T-Mobile is set to enforce three new fines for non-compliant Application-to-Person (A2P) traffic leading to Severity-0 violations, the most severe form of consumer harm. 

The fines, applicable to all A2P products utilizing T-Mobile’s network, are structured as follows: Tier 1 – $2,000 for offenses like phishing and social engineering; Tier 2 – $1,000 for illegal content, encompassing substances like Cannabis and solicitations; and Tier 3 – $500 for various violations, including but not limited to SHAFT, which is Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco. 

The move underscores T-Mobile’s commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant messaging environment, reinforcing penalties for severe violations.

For more information, refer to Section 5 in the T-Mobile Code of Conduct.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Blue Water Area Transportation Commission Offers Free Rides On New Year’s Eve To Curb Drunk Driving Risks

In a move to enhance public safety during the New Year’s Eve festivities, the Blue Water Area Transportation Commission (BWAT) has announced free ride services for residents. 

From 6:30 p.m. on December 31st to 2:30 a.m. on January 1st, BWAT will be offering complimentary transportation to individuals in Port Huron, Marysville, Fort Gratiot, Port Huron, and Burtchville townships. The initiative aims to reduce the likelihood of drunk driving accidents over the holiday period. 

To streamline the process, the commission urges residents to schedule their rides in advance, enabling them to allocate resources effectively. This thoughtful initiative reflects BWAT’s commitment to promoting a safe and responsible environment for the community’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron’s Sanborn Park Secures $500,000 Boost For Major Upgrades

In a significant development for Port Huron residents, the City proudly announces that Sanborn Park has been awarded a substantial $250,000 grant from the DNR Trust Fund. Coupled with a local match of $250,000, these funds are set to create major changes within the park. 

The allocated budget will be directed towards essential upgrades, including a new boiler at Sanborn Pool, extensive repairs to the parking lot for enhanced accessibility, the addition of new park amenities, and the continuation of trail expansion in Phase 3. 

This success follows a prior DNR grant used for replacing the playscape and expanding trails in Phase 2, illustrating the city’s adept use of park millage funds in conjunction with state resources for community improvement.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Sad News For Those Dreaming Of A White Christmas, Mild Holiday Temperatures May Prevent Michiganders From Seeing Snow

In a surprising turn of events, Michigan residents are in for an unusually warm Christmas this year, with no signs of the traditional white landscape. 

Bucking the trend of chilly winters, temperatures are expected to soar, deviating significantly from the norm. Typically, cities like Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Flint, and Detroit experience an average high of 34 degrees on Christmas Day, while Saginaw and Bay City hover around 33 degrees. 

However, this Christmas will defy expectations, as the temperature is predicted to rise by a staggering 20 degrees above the usual highs. The warmth extends beyond the holiday itself, as the days leading up to Christmas are also set to be milder than what we are used to here. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we can always wish for a Christmas miracle.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Apple Races Against Time To Salvage $17 Billion Smartwatch Business Facing U.S. Ban

As a U.S. ban looms just days away, Apple Inc. is undertaking an urgent rescue mission for its $17 billion smartwatch business. The impending ban, slated to hit on Christmas, stems from a dispute with Masimo Corp. over alleged patent infringement related to the smartwatch’s blood oxygen level measurement feature according to Time.com. 

Apple engineers are intensively reworking algorithms to address the contested technology, modifying how it calculates oxygen saturation and presents data to users. This high-stakes engineering effort, unprecedented for Apple, could severely impact one of its major revenue streams domestically. 

Unless the White House intervenes before December 25th, an International Trade Commission ban will take effect. While settlement with Masimo is an option, Apple is presently focused on technological modifications and seeking regulatory approval.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell