Whitmer on 8 Months of Declining Unemployment

Whitmer on 8 Months of Declining Unemployment

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 15, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Statement on Eight Straight Months of Declining Unemployment

Governor highlights August jobs report showing lowest unemployment level since March 2020, touches on proposed investments in small business, childcare, health, housing, and more

 

LANSING, Mich.—Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after the release of Michigan’s August unemployment numbers. The state’s unemployment last month was down to 4.7%, below the national average and the lowest level since March 2020.

 

“Michigan’s economy is headed in the right direction, but we know we still have more to do to get Michiganders back to work. Our unemployment rate is below the national average, businesses are staffing up, and personal income is up 19.1%, year over year, the fourth-highest nationwide. There is plenty to be optimistic about, but despite eight straight months of declining unemployment, we have more to do to ensure every family, community, and small business can thrive as we usher in a new era of prosperity for our state.

 

“I have laid out a range of plans that utilize the massive influx of federal funds we have received to make game-changing investments in the kitchen-table, fundamental issues that matter most to Michiganders. This includes a plan to expand access to childcare, invest in small businesses and entrepreneurship, upgrade our state and local parks, build affordable housing units, bolster public health departments and mental health resources, and more.

 

“I look forward to working with anyone who wants to put Michiganders first. Together, we can power our economy to new highs, build on the progress we have made, and get things done for our families, communities, and small businesses.”

 

Michigan’s economy grew 7.6% in the first quarter of 2021, the best in the Midwest. The state also went from a projected $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus and continues to lead the nation in automotive manufacturing. Personal income was up 19.1% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020, the fourth-largest increase in the nation.

 

To read the full report, click here:

 

Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly

Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly

 
NOTE: This is a copy of a news release sent out earlier today from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.


For immediate release: September 15, 2021
Program contact: Robert Miller, (517) 614-0454
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly, an invasive species threatening agriculture, natural resources

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is asking the public to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect with the potential to seriously affect Michigan’s agriculture and natural resources. This insect could damage or kill more than 70 varieties of crops and plants including grapes, apples, hops, and hardwood trees. To date, spotted lanternfly has not been detected in Michigan.

Spotted lanternfly with open wings showing colorful underwings and bodyFirst detected in the United States in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania, spotted lanternfly has been spreading rapidly across the northeastern states. There have been confirmed infestations in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Spotted lanternfly causes direct damage by sucking sap from host plants and secreting large amounts of a sugar-rich, sticky liquid called honeydew. This honeydew and the resulting black sooty mold can kill plants and foul surfaces. The honeydew often attracts other pests like yellow jackets, flies, and ants, affecting outdoor recreation and complicating crop harvests.

“Spotted lanternfly may be a colorful insect worthy of an Instagram post, but also is an invasive species with the potential to wreak havoc on trees, plants and other natural resources, resulting in millions of dollars in damages,” said Robert Miller, invasive species prevention and response specialist for MDARD. “In addition, it has the potential to impact grapes, stone fruits, apples and other crops in Michigan’s fruit belt as well as important timber species statewide.”

Spotted lanternfly with wings folded showing grey wings with black spotsFrom late summer to the first hard frost, spotted lanternflies are in their adult stage. Adults are roughly one inch long. Their folded wings are gray to brown with black spots. Open wings reveal a yellow and black abdomen and bright red hind wings with black spots transitioning to black and white bands at the edge.

Adults are busy laying egg masses, which resemble old chewing gum, with a gray, waxy, putty-like coating. Egg masses can survive winter temperatures to hatch in the spring. Hatched eggs appear as brownish, seed-like deposits. Spotted lanternfly nymphs are wingless and are black with white spots, developing red patches in their final nymph stage.

In November 2020, MDARD and the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed dead spotted lanternfly adults found in packing material at two separate locations in Michigan, demonstrating one of the many ways this insect could find its way into the state.

A spotted lanternfly egg mass on a tree trunk.Individuals and businesses receiving shipments from states known to have spotted lanternfly should also be on the lookout for adults or egg masses on goods and packing materials.

Recent discoveries of small populations in eastern Ohio and southern Indiana, indicate spotted lanternfly continues to encroach into the Midwest. With the current rate of spread, it is possible that spotted lanternfly could reach Michigan at any time. Public awareness and reporting are essential to early detection, which provides the opportunity to contain an infestation before it becomes a widespread problem.

If you find a spotted lanternfly egg mass, nymph or adult, take one or more photos, make note of the date, time and location of the sighting, and report to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, [email protected] or phone the MDARD Customer Service Center, 800-292-3939. If possible, collect a specimen in a container for verification.

Before traveling, check out the map of confirmed spotted lanternfly locations. For additional information on identifying or reporting, visit Michigan.gov/SpottedLanternfly.


Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.


/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions and credit information follow:

SLF: The adult spotted lanternfly displays its colorful underwings and striped body when wings are open. Photo courtesy of Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.

SLF folded wings: Spotted lanternflies are more likely to be seen with wings folded. Look for grey to brown wings with black spots, and black-striped wing tips. Photo courtesy of Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.

SLF egg mass: Spotted lanternfly egg masses are gray to brown and resemble old chewing gum. Photo courtesy of Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.

 

DNR News Digest – Week of Sept. 13, 2021

DNR News Digest – Week of Sept. 13, 2021

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News Digest – Week of Sept. 13, 2021

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Fall will be here before you know it! Start prepping for fall hunting and camping seasons.

This week’s stories may reflect how the Department of Natural Resources has adapted to meet customer needs and protect public health and safety. Follow our COVID-19 response page for updates on access to facilities and programs.

We’ll continue to share news and information about the best ways to discover and enjoy Michigan’s natural and heritage resources! Here’s a look at some of this week’s stories:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.


Photo ambassador snapshot: Scattered sunbeams at Port Crescent

port crescent state park dunesWant to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Karen Allmond at Port Crescent State Park in Huron County? Visit Instagram.com/MiStateParks to explore photos and learn more about the photo ambassadors! For more on the photo ambassador program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182.


Environmental ed conference, Oct. 1-3, features DNR programs

A man in DNR short and shorts talks to a group of male and female conference attendees in the woodsEducators of all types will head to Eastern Michigan University, in Ypsilanti, next month for the state’s premier environmental education conference. It takes place Oct. 1-3, a full weekend of workshops, field trips and breakout classes aimed at inspiring teachers, Scout leaders, and staff and volunteers from zoos and nature centers to consider creative, new ways of connecting with students and visitors.

DNR-inspired sessions include:

  • A field trip to Waterloo Recreation Area, the Lower Peninsula’s largest state park.
  • Project Wild workshop to train teachers on using wildlife management concepts in the classroom.
  • An opportunity to explore virtual learning, built around the DNR’s successful Nature at School program.

Hosted by the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education, the conference is still accepting registrations. Learn more at MAEOE.com.

Questions? Contact Kevin Frailey at 517-974-7941.


September is Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month

Video thumbnail play button overlay on a smiling male conservation officerWith deer hunting seasons getting underway around the state next month, many hunters are setting up tree stands now, during Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month.

When using a tree stand or an elevated platform during a hunt, keep these tips in mind:

  • Wear a full-body harness that is properly attached above your head.
  • Always maintain three points of contact when climbing up to or down from the stand.
  • Ensure your tree stand is securely attached and stable before using it.

Watch this short video about tree stand safety for more good ideas.

Tree stands placed on public land must have the owner’s name, address, and Michigan driver’s license number or DNR sportcard number placed on them –information that should be legible from the ground. Tree stands left unoccupied on public land may be used by anyone.

During every hunt, make safety your top priority. Need a refresher? The DNR’s hunter education program teaches tree stand safety, firearm handling, first aid and other important skills. Visit Michigan.gov/HunterEducation to locate a hunter safety course in your area.

Questions? Contact Lt. Tom Wanless at [email protected].


Small game opener is Sept. 15!

woodcockEnjoy Michigan’s abundant small game hunting opportunities this fall, all with your base license.

Spend some time in the woods searching for gray and fox squirrels and maybe scout out a spot for deer hunting later this fall. Squirrel (fox and gray), rabbit, hare and ruffed grouse hunting all open Sept. 15.

New this year, woodcock season also begins Sept. 15. In addition to your small game license, you’ll need to have a free woodcock stamp, which includes your Harvest Information Program registration.

More information on small game hunting opportunities in Michigan can be found at Michigan.gov/SmallGame. Check the 2021 Hunting Digest, available at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests, for season dates, bag limits and other regulations.

For a place to hunt, check out Michigan.gov/MIHunt. MI-HUNT is an interactive map that shows lands open to public hunting throughout the state. Michigan’s grouse enhanced management sites (GEMS) sites are great places for grouse and other small game hunting. Learn about these premier bird hunting locations at Michigan.gov/GEMS.

Fall turkey hunting also starts Sept. 15, and even if you didn’t enter the drawing for a limited-quota license, you still could snag a turkey tag. Leftover fall turkey licenses will be sold until quotas are met, and hunters may purchase up to one license a day. Hunters may harvest one turkey per license. Check leftover turkey license availability and find additional fall turkey hunting information at Michigan.gov/Turkey.

Still need to get your 2021 base license? Buy online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.


Natural Resources Commission meets Thursday in Lansing

view of part of someone's body, wearing a tan jacket, with a hand holding a walleye with a rainbow lure hooked on its mouthSeveral fisheries orders, a land use order regarding beach access, introduction of DNR Wildlife Division Chief Jared Duquette and several land transactions are just some of the agenda items for the next meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 16.

The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 4125 Beaumont Road, in Lansing. (Please note that masks are required indoors for all people entering MSU facilities. For more information, visit MSU.edu/Together-We-Will.)

See the meeting’s full draft agenda at Michigan.gov/NRC. For more information or to request time to speak at the meeting, contact Su Schrauger at 517-284-6237 or [email protected].


THINGS TO DO

Fall is prime hunting time; if you’re new to the sport and don’t know where to start, check out the Learn to Hunt page for tools, tips and tricks for hunting beginners.

BUY & APPLY

The leaves will soon be turning, and now is the perfect time to make a reservation for your favorite fall campsite, lodging or shelter. Make sure you have your Recreation Passport!

GET INVOLVED

Want to help scientists as they study your favorite species? Check out the abundant community science opportunities available in Michigan and beyond.

Whitmer Proposes MI Healthy Communities, a $1.4 Billion Plan

Whitmer Proposes MI Healthy Communities, a $1.4 Billion Plan

Header 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 14, 2021

Contact: [email protected]   

 

Governor Whitmer Proposes MI Healthy Communities, a $1.4 Billion Plan to Expand Care for Families, Build up Facilities, and Invest in Local Public Health

Plan would leverage federal dollars to deliver critical care to Michiganders, invest in nursing homes, expand mental and behavioral health care

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her MI Healthy Communities plan, a $1.4 billion proposal to expand care for families, build up facilities, and invest in local public health with federal relief dollars from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The plan will address many of the deficiencies in Michigan’s health infrastructure that were revealed during the pandemic and provide resources to meet Michigan families’ mental health needs, expand access to behavioral care and telemedicine, upgrade nursing homes, and bolster local public health departments.

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated critical gaps in our health system, and the MI Healthy Communities plan makes long-overdue investments to put Michigan families first,” said Governor Whitmer “My plan would invest in mental health care, build up health infrastructure, keep seniors safe from infectious diseases, and provide resources to families and local health departments to expand and improve care. Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity after a once-in-a-century crisis to make families healthier and safer, and I look forward to working with the legislature to spend the billions of federal dollars we have to expand care, build up facilities, and invest in every community.”

 

“It is just as important that we find these meaningful ways to address behavioral health as it is to address physical health at any stage of life. Everyone should have access to the behavioral health services they need when they need them,” said Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “Yet, over half of Michiganders with a behavioral health diagnosis and nearly 70% with a substance use disorder do not receive treatment. This impacts the individual, their families and their communities. The investments Governor Whitmer is making in the health of Michiganders provide a golden opportunity to change this narrative and ensure Michiganders can access the services they need in their own backyard.”

 

“Investing in the infrastructure of Michigan’s skilled nursing facilities is essential in the efforts to continue to protect residents from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,” said Melissa Samuel, President & CEO of Health Care Association of Michigan. “Using this funding to invest in our caregivers will encourage dedicated individuals to stay in the profession. We appreciate Governor Whitmer’s support of our providers and the residents they serve.”

 

“Every day, local public health departments work hard to make the communities we serve healthier, safer, and stronger. We applaud Governor Whitmer’s proposal to support our efforts and we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve our neighbors, just as we have through the once-in-a-century pandemic,” said Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail. “These game-changing funds are a tremendous investment in local public health.  This will position our health departments to not only face the next challenge, but also to get things done that make a real difference in people’s everyday lives.  I’ve served in public health for nearly 20 years, and this is the most significant investment into the public health system and infrastructure that I’ve seen in my entire career.”

 

“Access to quality mental health care is a major issue in Michigan. The Governor’s plan would address this problem in a big way,” said Antu Segal, PsyD, ABPP, President of the Michigan Psychological Association. “The Michigan Psychological Association supports the construction of a new hospital with up-to-date behavioral health architecture to meet the needs of Hawthorn Center and Walter Reuther Hospital patients. Further, Our organization recognizes that additional behavioral health providers are needed to address the increased rates of mental health disorders in Michigan residents.  MPA looks forward to seeing the details of the Governor’s plan.”

 

The MI Healthy Communities plan can be broken down into three key areas: 1) Expanding care for families, 2) Building up health facilities, 3) Investing in local public health.

Expanding Care for Families

After the unimaginably difficult year-and-a-half Michigan families have faced, we need to take a more complete look at our health. For too long, Michigan has under-invested in mental health, and after a once-in-a-century pandemic that stretched families thin financially, mentally, and physically, we need a significant investment in comprehensive healthcare, now more than ever. Every Michigan family, no matter where they live or how much they make, deserves access to high-quality mental and behavioral health care. The investments outlined below will help meet the mental health and behavioral care needs of Michiganders by expanding access to critical service and increasing and diversifying treatment access across the state.

 

  • $335 million to increase capacity for community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder treatments. Grants will improve access across the state for:
  • Interventions for people with autism spectrum disorder
  • Mental health crisis supports
  • Residential and community-based services for children
  • Community-based wrap-around behavioral health services
  • Substance Use Disorder detoxification
  • Inpatient hospital services
  • $20 million in telemedicine infrastructure support to build, equip, and operate secure rooms to access telehealth services at public locations including MDHHS local offices, homeless shelters, and community centers.
  • $20 million to provide respite care services to relieve families who are providing continuous direct care to a family member typically done by a paid caregiver, ensuring families have the opportunity for a brief reprieve from providing care while juggling other responsibilities.
  • $19 million in additional financial support for foster parents and foster youth living independently to mitigate the financial impacts of COVID, based on need. Support will come in the form of $1,500 lump sum payments to caregivers and independent living foster children to help with childcare costs, education, and technology supporting virtual school or work.

Building Up Health Infrastructure

The pandemic exposed gaps in our healthcare system that had existed for years, perpetuated by persistent underinvestment. Now, Michigan has an opportunity to invest in our most vulnerable populations—residents of nursing homes, psychiatric patients, the working poor, and the unhoused.

  • $39 million for infection control in nursing homes, including improvements to HVAC systems, the creation of negative air pressure rooms and more isolated beds, and infection control training for nursing home staff.
  • $325 million to build a new state psychiatric facility in Southeast Michigan to replace the Hawthorn Center and Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital, providing more beds for youth psychiatric patients.
  • $220 million to build a new, state-of-the-art public health laboratory.
  • $77 million to retain direct care workers with bonus payments, improved training, and enhanced employment support services to address barriers to entry into the field.
  • $40 million in home repair and plumbing assistance to support minor home and plumbing repair needs for residents with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level.
  • $10 million to provide grants to homeless shelters for health-focused improvements and repairs.

Investing in Local Communities

Effective public health processes and facilities are critical to ensuring an effective emergency response to pandemics or routine health challenges. We must ensure every community has the resources it needs to be healthy. The investments outlined below are centered on increasing connectivity between MDHHS and local health departments, improving the sophistication of state public health response, and helping families, communities, and small businesses get the support they need.

  • $45 million in grants to local public health departments for essential purchases related to the pandemic not covered by other federal funds, including mobile healthcare access, community outreach, and COVID testing and vaccination.
  • $15 million to establish the COVID-19 Recovery Network Navigator Program which will support community health workers connect Michiganders experiencing continued COVID symptoms access the care they need.
  • $13 million in grants to private childcare institutions for staff training in trauma-informed treatment.
  • $11 million to fund trauma-informed community-building grants that will provide resources to community organizations for new initiatives to address health problems created or worsened by the pandemic.
  • $10 million in training funds for public health leadership to address trauma-informed management practices in the post-COVID world.
  • $10 million to implement employee wellness supports for the public health workforce, including the evaluation of the well-being of local health department staff and strategies to address stress, burnout, and other impacts of the pandemic.
  • $115 million in state operated health information technology systems such as the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MICR), Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS), Michigan Health Information Network (MiHIN), and other technical systems to improve interconnectivity and better coordinate critical resources.
  • $66 million to enhance MIBridges, supporting predictive analytics that connects people to the nutrition, housing, healthcare, and other services they may need.

 

DNR receives global award for investigation

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– DNR News –

Sept. 14, 2021
Contact: Lt. Vence Woods (DNR), 989-705-3449

DNR receives global award for investigation of illegal toxic chemical dumping by Flint company

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources was honored Monday for an environmental investigation led by conservation officers in the DNR Law Enforcement Division revealing that Flint-based Oil Chem illegally disposed of more than 47 million gallons of environmentally harmful liquid in the City of Flint’s sewer system over an eight-year period.

DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler, together with Lt. Vence Woods, accepted the 2021 Chief David Cameron Leadership in Environmental Crimes Award at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference, held virtually this year.

“It is fantastic to see the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division and Environmental Investigations Section recognized with this prestigious IACP award,” said Hagler.

The DNR’s environmental investigation detectives are funded by, and conduct criminal investigations for, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

“Our partnership with EGLE is mutually beneficial and very productive for the residents of our state,” Hagler said. “This is an honor that law enforcement agencies around the world compete for.”

This short video posted to the IACP website takes a look at the investigative work of DNR conservation officers.

Case background

In October 2015, Detective Jan Erlandson, conservation officer in the DNR’s Environmental Investigations Section, received a complaint from an employee at the Flint Wastewater Treatment Plant. The employee believed that Oil Chem was receiving leachate from area landfills and illegally dumping it into the sanitary sewer, which flows into the Flint River. The treatment plant’s discharge point for the treated wastewater was downstream of the location where drinking water was taken from the Flint River in 2014 to 2015.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leachate is formed when rain water filters through wastes placed in a landfill. When this liquid comes in contact with buried wastes, it leaches, or draws out, chemicals or constituents from those wastes.

Oil Chem is a global company that specializes in the formulation and custom blending of metalworking lubricants, industrial cleaning chemicals and maintenance oils. Consistent with a permit issued by the City of Flint under the Clean Water Act, the company was not permitted to accept leachate or to discharge any amount of polychlorinated biphenyl waste. PCBs have been shown to cause a variety of adverse health effects, notably cancer in animals. Noncancer effects include impacts to the nervous, immune, reproductive and endocrine systems, among others.

Erlandson’s investigation revealed that Robert Massey, Oil Chem’s owner, authorized from 2007 to 2015 for the company to accept leachate from eight different landfills – including People’s Landfill, a garbage dump in Saginaw County, which contained PCB waste. This put Oil Chem and Massey in direct violation of laws prohibiting discharging on-site wastewater into state waters and disposal of liquid industrial byproducts.

Resolution and penalties

Based on Erlandson’s investigation, the case was pursued by the EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division, which resulted in Massey’s indictment.

In December 2020, Massey signed a plea agreement for violating the Clean Water Act, and, in May 2021, he was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison by the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Oil Chem paid a civil fine of $250,000 to the City of Flint and EGLE revoked the company’s waste hauler license.

Detective Erlandson, now retired, served the DNR Law Enforcement Division from 2000 to 2021.

“The Michigan DNR Environmental Investigations Section would like to thank the EPA Criminal Investigations Division, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Materials Management and Water Resource divisions and Michigan State Police for their assistance with this criminal investigation,” said Lt. Vence Woods, DNR Environmental Investigation Section supervisor.

Known for its commitment to enhancing community safety by shaping the future of the police profession, the International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. Since 1893, IACP has been serving communities worldwide by speaking out on behalf of law enforcement and advancing leadership and professionalism in policing worldwide. With more than 31,000 members in over 165 countries, IACP is a recognized leader in global policing, committed to advancing safer communities through thoughtful, progressive police leadership.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who protect natural resources, ensure recreational safety and protect residents by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Due to the nature of their job, these officers often work with federal, state and local law enforcement officers to ensure public safety. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.