The great escape: Helping out urban mallards

by orionontv | May 18, 2023 | Recreation

mallard duck hen in building landscaping

The great escape: Helping out urban mallards

In the next few weeks, mallard ducklings across Michigan will be hatching and following their mothers to marshes, ponds and streams to be raised into big, strong ducks. For most mallard families, this process goes off without a hitch. But every year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources gets calls asking for help to relocate broods of ducklings from buildings and roofs to nearby wetlands.

According to Karen Cleveland, a DNR game biologist, it’s illegal to capture ducks and transport them to a new location, but when a bird is trapped in – or on – a building, it is legal to help move them outside so they can leave on their own. Fortunately, this is usually easy to do when a duck nests in an enclosed courtyard or on a flat roof, because mallard hens won’t easily abandon their ducklings, and ducklings will follow their mothers closely.

“Your first choice, if at all possible, should be to avoid trying to catch the ducks,” Cleveland said. “Mallard families can be gently herded by one or two people following them and can be led into buildings, down hallways and outside. This often takes only a couple of minutes, and then they’ll be on their way.”

When the nest is on a roof or other place that can’t safely be walked out of, collect the ducklings into a box or bag, take it outside and place it on the ground as close to the nest location as possible. Wait 40 to 50 feet away until you see the hen return to investigate the container the ducklings are in. Quietly approach and tip it over so the ducklings can get out, and then back off so the hen can come back and collect her brood.

More wildlife tips ►

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

Whitmer Statement on Strong Monthly Jobs Report

by orionontv | May 18, 2023 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Statement on Strong Monthly Jobs Report

Unemployment rate drops to 3.8%, comparable to the lowest levels since the 1970s, labor force participation rate highest in ~3 years, labor force increases by 18,000, 61,000 jobs added YoY

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after the release of the latest economic numbers showing the unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in April, comparable to the lowest levels Michigan has seen only three times since the 1970s. The labor force participation rate increased to its highest level in nearly three years. The state’s labor force increased by 18,000, the economy added 61,000 jobs year over year, and the 12-month average Black unemployment rate in April is comparable to 20-year lows.

“Michigan’s economy is moving. We have a low unemployment rate of 3.8%, comparable to the lowest levels Michigan has seen only three times since the ‘70s. Our strong labor market means working people are finding good-paying jobs, companies are investing and expanding in Michigan, and families have more money to buy food, get gas, and save for their children’s futures.

“This year, with a productive majority in Lansing, we have brought thousands of good-paying American manufacturing jobs home, cut taxes by $1 billion for seniors and working families, and powered economic development in every region with business expansions, housing investments, and community revitalization projects.

“Let’s build on our growth in the months ahead to deliver another balanced budget that makes a real difference in people’s lives and lowers costs.”

A Strong Jobs Report

Unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in April, tying the pre-pandemic February 2020 rate.
Since the mid-1970s, Michigan’s unemployment rate only fell below 4.0% during three periods: periodically from 1998-2000, from November 2019 to March 2020, and now.
In April, Michigan had a total labor force of 4,869,000. This was an increase of 18,000 over the month and 26,000 over the year. The state recorded 4,420,000 payroll jobs in April, an increase of 5,000 jobs over March and an increase of 61,000 jobs over the year.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate climbed to 60.2 percent this month, the highest rate since September 2020.

Imposter Scams Take on New Forms

by orionontv | May 17, 2023 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 17, 2023

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

Imposter Scams Take on New Forms: Missed Jury Duty and Demand for Payment Scams

LANSING – In her latest scam alert, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns residents that they may be targeted by scammers claiming to be representing government entities.

The Department has received reports that a missed jury duty scam is currently being perpetrated in Oakland County. In this scam, fraudsters call unsuspecting residents and tell them that they have failed to appear for jury duty in federal court. The caller threatens the person with arrest if they don’t pay a “cash bond,” which has reportedly been as high as $5,000.

“The public should remember that delinquent jurors are never contacted by phone to pay fines for missed jury duty,” Nessel said. “You would receive a notice by mail with specific instructions on what to do next, not a demand for immediate payment under threats of jail.”

So far, two complaints involving the missed jury duty scam have been reported to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. In both cases, the scammer claimed to be an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy. Though in both instances cash was demanded to keep the call recipient out of jail, neither person paid. Instead, they turned themselves in only to discover that there were no arrest warrants sworn in either case.

Another imposter scam involves letters mailed to residents that appear to be from a state agency. The letters, which indicate that they are a “final demand for payment” related to a tax lien, threaten potential foreclosure unless payment is made.

One such letter sent to a nursing center in Detroit from the “Tax Lien Group Tax Processing Unit” indicated the “State of Michigan may seize [the] property for nonpayment of taxes.” The amount listed on the letter was $27,622, but no tax debt was owed to the State. The letter contained an 800 phone number commonly used to perpetrate similar scams.

“Residents should verify any correspondence that demands immediate payment, particularly for debts,” Nessel said. “A letter demanding payment should contain specific information about your account. If it doesn’t, it’s most likely a scam.”

The individuals perpetrating these scams may expand the deception to other agencies, such as the FBI, IRS, or some other state or federal government entity. If you are concerned that you are being targeted by a government imposter, you can protect yourself by doing your own internet research. Looking up the phone number for the government agency allows you to call and inquire without relying upon information provided by the scammer.

Residents can also simply do an internet search for the phone number they are being asked to call. This may help determine whether it actually belongs to a government agency or if it is one being used in scams. AG Nessel wants all Michigan residents to be on the alert so they can avoid being scam victims.

For more information about popular consumer scams, or if you believe you’ve been a victim, residents can contact the Consumer Protection Team Monday-Friday at 877-765-8388 or complete our online complaint form.

Protecting farmers from destructive invasive pests

by orionontv | May 17, 2023 | Regional News

Friend ––

Michigan’s farmers are essential to our state, but their crops are under attack from an invasive insect species — a type of fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila (SWD). The invasive insect is damaging crops and hurting the livelihoods of growers across our state and country, but I’m working hard in the Senate to stop them.

The fly lays its eggs in fruit including cherries and blueberries, making it so they cannot be sold to buyers. These flies cause an estimated $700 million in losses every year. That’s one of the reasons I worked with our growers and Michigan State University on the bipartisan Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act, which would help mitigate the spread of this pest while cutting costs for growers and protecting their crops from being spoiled to begin with.

I recently visited the Michigan State University Horticulture Teaching and Research Center to meet with local farmers and researchers, and underscore just how important it is that we pass the SWAT Act in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill—key legislation that sets national agriculture policy.

Click here to watch more.

Farmers play a vital role in our communities and our state’s economy, which is why I’m working hard to help them confront this threat to their livelihoods and businesses.

Thanks for reading,

Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan

May Update from State Representative Donni Steele

by orionontv | May 16, 2023 | Regional News

May 2023,

Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Constituents,

As we enjoy warmer weather and look forward to summer, I, unfortunately, have to report that our state government continues to be run poorly by the current Democratic majority. As we’re amid the budget season, it’s been demonstrated to me that they plan to continue irresponsible spending on pet projects. I’ve advocated for using our money to fix issues that matter most to the people of the 54th District, like fixing our roads. I will continue to be your voice in Lansing, and I appreciate your support in that mission.

Sincerely,

Representative Donni Steele

Transportation Budget Neglects Local Roads & Bridges

I serve as the Republican Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee. My goal in that position has been and continues to be to work to fix the crumbling infrastructure that our communities desperately need to repair.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like my colleagues on the other side of the aisle share those concerns; we offered 23 amendments, and the only input the Democratic committee chairman took was correcting an adding error totaling $5 million. I introduced an amendment that would substantially increase funding for local road repairs, but that amendment was rejected. So were amendments meant to ensure transparency, oversight, and fiscal responsibility while repairing Michigan roads and bridges.

Instead, the Democrats have prioritized flashy programs like e-bike subsidies and pedestrian streetscapes. The people elected me to ensure we do a better job fixing our local streets, so I can’t in good conscience support a budget that pours taxpayer dollars into unnecessary pet projects.

My amendment would’ve redirected one-time spending to local infrastructure to help catch Michigan up on road repairs. The Democratic majority unanimously opposed the amendment, along with amendments to require MDOT to report critical information such as bond debt, legacy costs for retirement benefits, incentive and disincentive programs to encourage job completion and a Mackinac Bridge viability study. They also rejected an amendment to ensure that the state promptly notified municipalities about their cost-share obligations for road projects.

Even as the Republican Vice Chair of the committee, I didn’t receive the budget proposal until just hours before the proposal was to be taken up in committee. This last-minute notice makes it impossible for legislators, outside experts, and the people of Michigan to review the legislation and provide constructive input.

Budget Ignores The Needs of Michigan Families

My colleagues and I have offered many ideas to bolster our state’s budget, but they have been struck down by Democrats in Lansing, who have refused to work with us. About 150 amendments were all voted down, as the Democrats continued to choose political games over good governance, to the detriment of every Michigan resident.

Both sides of the aisle should work together to ensure transparency, oversight, and fiscal responsibility when spending taxpayer dollars. Instead, Democrats in Lansing plan to grow government with a bloated and unsustainable spending plan that ignores the biggest concerns of Michigan families and eliminates vital transparency and accountability measures.

In what seems to be a common theme with this budget, Republican lawmakers, local officials, and the public didn’t receive any specifics on the budget proposals until hours before they were taken up in subcommittees. Instead of working across the aisle, Democrats are working under a cloak to keep Republican legislators and the public out of the loop. This alarming behavior makes it impossible for legislators and experts to review the legislation and offer vital input. We must be given sufficient time to review legislation and make educated decisions, especially when spending taxpayer dollars.

Some of my primary concerns include:

Public Safety & Law Enforcement
$4.8 million to hire unarmed first responders in Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, instead of funding our police.
Additional funding for police was turned down.
The Democratic majority did include $1.7 million to hire additional armed security for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

Road Repair
Democrats voted down my amendment to increase funding for local roads by $100 million by redirecting spending away from their unnecessary pet projects.

Tuition
The Democrats removed penalties for Michigan’s public colleges and universities for exceeding the state tuition rate increase cap.
The removal of these penalties means that there’s no protection for Michigan families with students in higher education from massive increases in tuition rates at these state-funded schools.
When my colleagues attempted to add protections for Michigan families, Democrats rejected them.

The out-of-touch spending priorities of Democrats in Lansing demonstrate their governing philosophy is “Rules of thee, but not for me.” Unfortunately, the budget has passed the House and now heads to the Senate.

Repairing Affordable Childcare Program

To support Michigan families, I’m seeking to resolve several severe problems with the Child Development and Care grant program, which helps struggling working parents in need of affordable childcare. Families, who previously received support, needed to be properly informed by the Health and Human Services Department that their eligibility had changed or even a loss of coverage. Some eligible families even had their support terminated mistakingly.

The federal government provides states with grants to help parents in need keep good jobs by ensuring their kids receive quality care while at work. But the funding only works when our state can roll it out consistently, correctly, or timely.

House Republicans introduced a solution that would ensure parents are appropriately notified of eligibility changes and reimbursed promptly if the department fails to deliver payments to eligible families. No parent should fear losing their job because they can’t afford reliable childcare.