Applications Open for Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class

Applications Open for Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class

by | Nov 16, 2023 | Regional News

Applications Now Open for Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class

Post Date:11/15/2023 3:06 PM
  • Oakland County is accepting applications for the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 from Nov. 15 – Dec. 12.
  • Finalists, who will comprise the 12th class of 40 Under 40, will receive invitations to the 2024 State of the County Address and pre-reception and the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Award celebration.

Pontiac, Mich. – Applications are now open for the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2024, County Executive Dave Coulter announced today. The award program seeks individuals under the age of 40 who embody Oakland County’s vision of “All Ways, Moving Forward” with significant and essential service to their communities, creative innovation, or high achievement in their professional field.

“Our 40 Under 40 classes have encompassed talent, skill, and excellence coupled with passion for public service and a commitment to significant and critical contributions to their communities,” said Coulter. “I have no doubt that the 2024 class will be no different, and I look forward to connecting with the people who are making such a difference in our county.”

Oakland County’s Equity Council will promote diversity, equity, and inclusion when it completes the first-round review of the applicants. From there, a panel of judges comprised of community and county leaders will recommend the 40 award recipients. Award winners will receive an invitation to the 2024 State of the County Address and pre-reception and the Oakland Together 40 under 40 Award celebration.

To be eligible, a candidate must live or work in Oakland County, be 18 years of age or older, and have been born after Dec. 31, 1983. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. For more information or to apply, go to www.oakgov.com/40under40.

“Oakland Together” was unveiled by Coulter in 2020 to encourage collaboration and cooperation.

“We can leverage our strengths to tackle our challenges before they become problems,” Coulter said. “We can lead and innovate. We can be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer’s money and forward-thinking. To do that, we must be Oakland Together. Together as public servants working for the public good, together with our residents and businesses, and together with our region.”

“All ways, moving forward” describes Oakland County’s roadmap for the future, which Coulter unveiled in his 2022 State of the County address. The five-year strategic framework commits Oakland County to “All ways, moving forward,” by making a real and measurable impact in three primary areas: a strong economy, healthy and safe communities, and opportunities for residents to live their best lives.

Flags lowered to Honor Former State Rep. LaMar Lemmons Jr. 

Flags lowered to Honor Former State Rep. LaMar Lemmons Jr. 

by | Nov 16, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Lowers Flags to Honor Former State Rep. LaMar Lemmons Jr.

 

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, November 17, 2023 to honor and remember former state Representative LaMar Lemmons. The flag lowering will coincide with the day of Lemmons’ funeral.

 

“State Representative LaMar Lemmons Jr. was a thoughtful public servant and leader,” said Governor Whitmer. “He was committed to his constituents in Wayne County throughout his three terms in the Michigan Legislature. He left behind the kind of lasting legacy that we all aspire to have. He also served our nation in uniform, had a successful career in business, and was a loving dad and grandfather. My thoughts are with Lemmons’ family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.”

 

LaMar Lemmons Jr. attended Detroit Public schools until he enlisted in the Air Force where he served at Ashiya Air Force Base in Japan. Lemmons was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives from 2005 until 2010, where he served along with his oldest son, LaMar Lemmons III, for a portion of his time in office.

 

Lemmons leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Celestine, a loving sister, Irma Jean Martin, sons, Lamar III, Robert, Kenny, daughter, Keeye, and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

 

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and service of former state Representative LaMar Lemmons Jr. by lowering flags to half-staff. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

 

Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Michigan’s hands-free law, new data emerges

Michigan’s hands-free law, new data emerges

by | Nov 16, 2023 | Transportation

Five months after enacting Michigan’s hands-free law, new data emerges

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a discussion about why distracted driving initially trended down in Michigan after the state’s hands-free law took effect and why those numbers are not dropping as rapidly now.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/13983751-five-months-after-enacting-michigan-s-hands-free-law-new-data-emerges

TMT - Five months after enacting Michigan's hands-free law

Ryan McMahon, senior vice president of strategy for Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based company with a stated mission to make the world’s roads and drivers safer, talks about the technology employed to determine the degree of distracted driving.

Ryan McMahon

New data released by the company shows that in Michigan, distraction has increased every month since month 3, totaling a 7.6 percent increase. In the same time period, Ohio’s distraction level increased 2.4 percent, three times lower.

McMahon explains how their telematics showed Michigan with a 36 percent reduction in distracted driving around the time the law took effect but some of those gains have been erased, a trend in other states with similar legislation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says distracted driving accounted for more than 3,500 crash deaths in 2021.
Michigan Surpasses Goal of Opening 1,000 Child Care Programs

Michigan Surpasses Goal of Opening 1,000 Child Care Programs

by | Nov 15, 2023 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

 

Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announces Michigan Surpasses Goal of Opening 1,000 New Child Care Programs, Providing More Options for Parents

State surpasses child care program goal a year early, helping families access child care that meets their needs

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced that Michigan has surpassed its Caring for MI Future goal of opening 1,000 new child care programs a year earlier than expected by opening 1,089 child care programs since May 2022.

 

“Investing in high-quality, affordable child care empowers working Michigan families while keeping more money in their pockets,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Thanks to child care entrepreneurs and the Caring for MI Future team, we achieved our goal to open 1,000 new child care programs a year earlier than expected, connecting more young children and families with the resources and tools they need to be successful. We’re not done. Demand for quality child care is still high, child care professionals need more support, and we will keep working hard to improve accessibility and affordability in every community.”

 

Since the launch of Caring for MI Future, 1,089 new child care centers have opened, and 2,159 home-based providers have expanded their programs across Michigan. All together, these programs have added 36,783 new spots in child care facilities.

 

“I am proud of the tremendous work we’ve done in every corner of Michigan to help over 1,000 entrepreneurs realize their dream of starting their own child care business” said Emily Laidlaw, director of Michigan’s Child Care Licensing Bureau  “Since launching Caring For MI Future, we’ve made investments in places we know child care entrepreneurs get stuck when opening their new business. We’ve done that through teaching, training, troubleshooting, and listening to child care professionals who’ve committed their lives to creating safe spaces for kids to learn and grow.”

 

“Childcare is a critical need which supports our talented workforce delivering quality, compassionate healthcare to our patients,” said Ben Frederick, Associate Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations at Memorial Healthcare. “Caring for MI Future was a tremendous help as we made the decision to tackle this problem head on and directly invest in expanded childcare access for families in our rural service region.  Their assistance allowed us to launch our new childcare academy which now serves both our employees and the wider community.  Because of great partners like Caring for MI Future, we boosted access to childcare by more than 40% in our local community.”

 

Caring for MI Future 

 

Caring for MI Future is a $100 million investment to help more Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community by helping child care entrepreneurs open new or expand existing child care programs.

 

In May 2022, Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist set a bold goal to open 1,000 new child care programs by the end of 2024. The state has surpassed this goal by opening 1,089 child care programs a year earlier than expected. This strategy responds to the most pressing needs facing child care entrepreneurs and creates sustainable systems to support the current and next generation of child care business owners.

 

Through Caring for MI Future, entrepreneurs have access to resources to launch and expand their businesses. Entrepreneurs can learn more at Michigan.gov/caringformifuture and contact an Our Strong Start Navigator to learn which resources are the right fit for their goals. To date, providers in nearly every county of the state have participated in Caring for MI Future, including:

 

  • Our Strong Start (OSS): LARA’s team of navigators continue to support entrepreneurs as they establish or expand their business. LARA’s team has helped all 1,089 new facilities and 2,159 expanded facilities with a variety of assistance including developing business plans, accessing grant funding, and navigating the licensing process.
  • Facility improvement grants: The state has awarded $47 million towards facility improvement grants in 69 counties. These funds are available to help entrepreneurs renovate facilities.
  • Pre-licensure and Startup funding: The state is supporting entrepreneurs before and after receiving their child care license, including:
  • 1,340 pre-licensure grants
  • 355 start-up grants (available after receiving their license)
  • Business development tools: Since May of 2022, over 2,500 child care entrepreneurs have participated in professional development to strengthen their business plan and set their program up for success, including 1:1 consultations, trainings, webinars, workshops, and communities of practice.
  • Support recruiting and developing staff: More than forty-two counties are engaging in workforce efforts to recruit, train, and retain talented early educators through a variety of activities whether it is apprenticeship work, TEACH CDA scholarships or cohorts.
Prune oak trees in winter to avoid oak wilt

Prune oak trees in winter to avoid oak wilt

by | Nov 15, 2023 | Recreation

 
Michigan Invasive Species Program banner

News Release
Contact: Simeon Wright, 906-203-9466 or Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814

Prune oak trees in winter to avoid oak wilt

Leaves are down, temperatures are cooler, and that means it’s prime time for pruning oak trees, which can be infected by the oak wilt fungus if they’re pruned during the high-risk period April 15-July 15.

A cluster of four red oak leaves, each with brown tips and outer edges and green centers.“Beetles that can carry the disease from tree to tree are not very active now, and the trees are not vulnerable to infection,” said Simeon Wright, forest health specialist with the DNR Forest Resources Division. The beetles are attracted to fresh bark damage or wounds where tree limbs have been removed.

Oak wilt also spreads when firewood from infected trees is moved to new locations. If you cut wood from an oak tree that might have died from oak wilt, cover the wood with a plastic tarp and bury the tarp’s edges underground to prevent access by the beetles that spread the disease. Ensure the tarp remains intact for six to12 months until the bark sloughs off. This will kill the fungus and prevent its spread to healthy trees.

Tree trimming around structures, limb removal and even construction or clearing that can result in damage to oak trees should be planned outside of the oak wilt susceptibility period.

Waiting for winter assures that trees are dormant, so they won’t respond with new growth late in the season that is more vulnerable to winter injury.

Oak wilt, identified in the 1940s, is widespread across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and along the Wisconsin border in the Upper Peninsula. Red oaks are most susceptible and can die within weeks of infection. These trees have leaves with pointed tips and include black oak, northern red oak and northern pin oak. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaf edges and are less susceptible. Affected trees will suddenly wilt from the top down, rapidly dropping leaves, which can be green, brown or a combination of both colors.

If you suspect oak wilt:

Learn more about invasive species and diseases at Michigan.gov/Invasives.

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

Note to editors: The accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.

Oak wilt leaves: Dieback of oak leaves in the summer is a symptom of oak wilt. Photo courtesy of D.W. French, University of Minnesota, Bugwood.org
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