Benson releases 2024 presidential primary candidate list

by orionontv | Nov 14, 2023 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 13, 2023

Contact: Cheri Hardmon

(517) 643-7236

Secretary Benson releases 2024 presidential primary candidate list

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today released the 2024 presidential primary candidate list as required by Michigan law.

Under state law, the Secretary of State is required to issue a list of individuals “generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates” for the Republican and Democratic parties for the presidential primary election.

The Secretary of State has identified the following candidates (listed alphabetically) as potential presidential candidates in 2024:

Democratic Party

Joe Biden

Dean Phillips

Marianne Williamson

Republican Party

Doug Burgum

Chris Christie

Ron DeSantis

Nikki Haley

Asa Hutchinson

Vivek Ramaswamy

Donald Trump

“Two months ago, I made clear that under Michigan law, anyone generally advocated by the national news media to be a candidate for the Republican or Democratic nomination for president is listed on the ballot for the February 2024 primary unless a court rules otherwise,” Secretary Benson said. “Accordingly, today, as required by statute, we are publicly posting the names of the candidates who qualify under Michigan law to be listed on the ballot as a candidate for president in their respective party’s primary. Barring a court order, these candidates will be included on Michigan’s presidential primary ballot in 2024 unless they withdraw their names from consideration.”

The chairs of the Michigan Democratic and Republican parties now have until 4 p.m. Nov. 14 to add names of other candidates to the candidate list for their party. A candidate identified on either the Secretary of State’s list or the party chairperson’s candidate listing who wishes either to designate a different political party or to withdraw as a candidate has until 4 p.m. Dec. 8 to notify the Michigan Bureau of Elections of that decision.

Candidates not placed on the list by the Secretary of State or the party chairs may gain access to the Michigan presidential primary ballot if they file a nominating petition with the Secretary of State no later than 4 p.m. Dec. 8.

The Michigan presidential primary will be Feb. 27, 2024. Along with the candidates listed on the ballot, voters also may choose “uncommitted” as an option. The deadline for primary election ballots to be sent to military and overseas voters is Jan. 13, 2024, and absent voter ballots must be printed by Jan. 18, 2024.

More information on ballot access for presidential candidates and other issues related to the 2024 elections is available on the Michigan Department of State website at Michigan.gov/Elections.

EGLE announces $10.8 million in MI Clean Water grants

by orionontv | Nov 14, 2023 | Environmental

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2023
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

EGLE announces $10.8 million in MI Clean Water grants to help communities upgrade water infrastructure, protect health & environment

Upgrades to Beulah’s wastewater plant, disposal of PFAS-contaminated biosolids at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base and removal of contaminated soils from a lagoon in Grand Rapids are among $10.8 million in Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) grants recently awarded to Michigan communities.

The MI Clean Water Plan grants, through EGLE’s Substantial Public Health Risk Project Program (SPHRPP) and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) aim to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure to ensure healthy drinking water and protect Michigan’s environment.

Seventy percent of Michiganders are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems and a similar percentage get drinking water from community water systems. Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and stormwater facilities and emerging challenges like new standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature, and federal agencies have ramped up funding for aging water infrastructure – a critical move to help ensure those water systems continue to protect public health and the environment, including Michigan’s unmatched freshwater resources.

More than half of EGLE’s budget has traditionally passed through to Michigan cities, towns, villages, and other local government agencies to finance critical improvements that help them better protect residents and our natural resources.

Grant roundup

Recent grants through the SPHRPP:

Village of Beulah, $2 million for critical upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, including a new headworks building, a new moving bed bioreactor system, tertiary filtering, a new center pivot spray irrigation system, and proper lagoon abandonment.

Marquette County (K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base), $1,289,828 for purchase and installation of equipment that will support infrastructure to treat for eventual disposal of biosolids contaminated with PFAS, which are currently stored on site. The work will help the Air Force base transition away from the land application of biosolids toward consolidating the biosolids and transporting them to a landfill for disposal.

Recent grants through the CWSRF:

City of Grand Rapids, $7.5 million for the remediation of contaminated soils at the Ash Lagoon, and reconfiguration of the wastewater treatment plant stormwater system to address first-flush contamination into the Grand River.

Descriptions of funding sources

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): Low-interest loan program to help public water systems finance the costs of replacement and repair of drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The DWSRF provides loans to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects. As water systems repay their loans, the repayments and interest flow back into the DWSRF to support new loans. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding operates as a grant and may be used in combination with loan dollars to reduce the financial burden on communities to pay for capital improvement debt. ARPA funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $218,398,719.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Used by local municipalities to finance construction of water pollution control projects. These projects include wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, combined or sanitary sewer overflow abatement, new sewers designed to reduce existing sources of pollution, and other publicly owned wastewater treatment efforts that improve water quality. The CWSRF can also finance stormwater infrastructure projects to reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution caused by things like agricultural runoff to lakes, streams, and wetlands. As with the DWSRF, ARPA funds can be used in conjunction with CWSRF loan dollars, thereby reducing the debt communities pay for infrastructure improvements. ARPA-funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $137,982,009.

Drinking Water Asset Management Program: Provides grant funding to assist drinking water suppliers with asset management plan development and updates, and/or distribution system materials inventories as defined in Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule. Awarded this fiscal year: $19,695,817.

Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction Program: Established to aid drinking water systems to help remove or reduce PFAS or other contaminants. Awarded this fiscal year: $20,336,215.

Substantial Public Health Risk Project Program: Protects public and environmental health by removing direct and continuous discharges of wastewater from surface or groundwater. Awarded this fiscal year: $8,000,000.

Additional Background

Since January 2019 the State of Michigan has invested over $4 billion to upgrade drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities across the state, supporting over 57,000 jobs.
In 2022, Governor Whitmer signed a package of bills to help communities access funding for water infrastructure.

DNR: News Digest – Week of Nov. 13, 2023

by orionontv | Nov 14, 2023 | Recreation

News Digest – Week of Nov. 13, 2023

A smattering of bright, reddish-pink maple leaves hang from thin, grayish-brown branches, with thicker upright trees in background

Here are just a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of most of the images used in this email are available in this folder.

Safety is key to every successful hunt

With Michigan’s firearm deer season starting Wednesday, the DNR reminds everyone to put safety first. This brief video offers safety highlights.

Lt. Tom Wanless, who heads the DNR’s recreational safety, education and enforcement section, said that although some tips seem like common sense, it’s critical for anyone hunting with firearms to consider safety basics.

“Success is not always about filling your tag, it’s about safely enjoying the experience and sharing it with friends and family after the hunt,” Wanless said.

All hunters should:

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Be aware of your surroundings – know your target and what is beyond it.
Unload firearms when crossing obstacles and/or getting in or out of an elevated stand.
Obey “no trespassing” signs; they are there for a reason.
Obtain landowner permission to retrieve game that has wandered onto private property.
Wear “hunter orange” to increase your visibility to other hunters. Hunter orange garments (such as caps, hats, vests or jackets), including camouflage, must be at least 50% hunter orange and be visible from all directions.

During hunting seasons, the DNR strongly encourages nonhunters to wear bright colors, especially hunter orange, and be aware of their surroundings near woods or fields where hunting may occur.

Get more hunting and tree stand safety tips at Michigan.gov/HuntingSafety, and season and regulation details in the 2023 DNR Hunting Regulations Summary.

Questions about safety? Email [email protected].

How to be a responsible birder and wildlife photographer

binoculars atop a small stack of birding books, next to a camera with a huge zoom attachment, on a low wall in front of dark green plants

It was an incredible year for birding across the Great Lakes region, as a number of birds that were outside their normal wintering and breeding areas for various reasons were spotted in our wetlands and along our lakes. Among the rare vagrants were several species native to Florida, including the roseate spoonbill, limpkin and American flamingo.

Year-round, hundreds of bird species draw us outdoors as they flit in the treetops, hop through shrubs or run along the shorelines. With winter on its way, birders are excitedly awaiting the arrival of northern finches and owls.

Whether we encounter rare vagrants, irruptive northern breeders – those birds that hit the scene suddenly and in large numbers – or common backyard birds, it’s important to use best birding practices to protect Michigan’s birds and visitors. The following tips and resources from Mi Birds can help guide your next outing.

Keep a respectful distance. Getting too close to birds, and their nests, can cause them to flush (or fly away), interfering with their natural behavior and potentially preventing them from caring for their young or eating. If your approach causes a bird to flush, you’ve gotten too close.

man and woman in fall clothing, side by side, look through binoculars across a golden grassy field, back to a group of tall, leafless fall trees

Think carefully before sharing the location of a rare bird. While rare bird sightings are thrilling, they can draw a crowd, which can cause a disturbance.

Share the shore. Great Lakes beach-nesting birds, like the Great Lakes piping plover, require special care. By leashing pets and giving birds plenty of space (more than 100 feet, or about 16 beach towels), we can help ensure their survival.

Leave the drones to the pros. Although drones can be useful for researchers and biologists documenting bird populations (such as at island nesting colonies), drones in general can be very disruptive to birds, especially osprey. They also are illegal in national parks, and their use is limited in state parks. (This DNR land use order provides more detail about unmanned aircraft, such as drones.)

Here are additional resources to help protect birds and habitat:

For more birding and wildlife photography best practices, explore Audubon’s library of ethics articles. Enjoy your next birding adventure!

MI Birds is a public outreach and education program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan’s birds, wildlife and public lands.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.

ICYMI: November hunting and trapping opportunities

two men in camo stand in a reedy, marshy area, bright sun behind them; one uses as duck call as decoys float in low water in front

From duck, deer and goose to coyote, quail and fox, this month (and beyond) is rich with options to try your hand at hunting and trapping.

Whether you’re a veteran hunter of several species, a devoted trapper or someone just getting familiar with the ins and outs of these outdoor traditions, Michigan’s got something for everyone, and the DNR has all of the resources to keep you informed, safe and confident when in the field. In case you missed it, we recently put out a hunting and trapping roundup, complete with season dates and links to more information about places to hunt and trap.

If you have questions about late fall and early winter hunting and trapping opportunities, email the DNR Wildlife Division at [email protected].

Photo ambassador snapshot: Bright, beautiful Bond Falls

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Sarah Goodwin, for the Michigan DNR, at Bond Falls Scenic Area in Ontonagon County.)

THINGS TO DO

Catch Michigan Makers, the Michigan History Museum exhibit with stories of tinkerers, artists, thinkers and others who shaped our state. Don’t wait; it closes Dec. 3.

BUY & APPLY

When you purchase things from our Goods4Mi.com partners – apparel, coffee, prints, stickers and more – you also support state parks, trails, waterways and other outdoor spaces!

GET INVOLVED

If you want to help the state’s native plant and animal species and natural communities, consider a year-end donation to the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.

8,000 High School Students Explore MiCareerQuest

by orionontv | Nov 14, 2023 | Regional News

8,000 High School Students and Teachers to Explore MiCareerQuest Southeast on November 14

Post Date:11/13/2023 10:52 AM

Pontiac, Mich. – MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region’s largest career exploration event for high school students, will be hosting 8,000 youth and teachers from 100 Metro Detroit schools on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

Participants will engage in a variety of hands-on, interactive activities with nearly 1,000 working professionals from 119 businesses, labor organizations and educational institutions to explore 180 high-demand, high-paying career opportunities. MiCareerQuest Southeast covers more than 400,000 square feet of floor space at the Suburban Collection Showplace.

“There are so many well-paying, interesting career options to explore and pursue right here in the region, and MiCareerQuest Southeast is providing the students a look at what the future could hold for them,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This event also gives companies the chance to educate students about the skills they’ll need to start a successful career path.”

Students are required to visit four career quadrants: advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences and technology. Each will feature occupations that are expected to be in high demand and experience the highest growth in southeast Michigan over the next several years.

Among the interactive activities for students: mock surgeries and medical procedures using life-like mannequins, physical therapy exercises, operation of industrial robots, virtual reality welding, building of brick walls and carpentry skills, utility linemen pole-climbing, heavy machine operator and truck driving simulators, computer programming demonstrations and operation of CNC machines.

MUST (Management and Unions Serving Together) Construction Careers and the Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council (MBCTC) are partnering as one of the Presenting Sponsors of MiCareerQuest Southeast and hosting multiple occupation activities in the event’s construction quadrant.

“MUST Construction Careers is proud to support MiCareerQuest once again as a construction quadrant Co-Presenting Sponsor,” said MUST Management Co-Chair Donna Pardonnet. “Our group of construction employers and skilled trades find MiCareerQuest to be an outstanding way to engage future talent.”

MBCTC Secretary/Treasurer Pat Devlin added, “MiCareerQuest is a great opportunity for students and educators to spend time with hands-on career exploration with all of the Michigan building and construction trades. We have a strong need to expand our future workforce and events like this are valuable to our affiliates.”

Schools and chaperones are assigned to one two-hour session during the day: 8:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m., depending on their distance from the venue. They spend 30 minutes in each quadrant. More than 100 federal, state, and local government officials, as well as educational and business leaders, are also scheduled to visit the event. Pre-registration is required.

High schools from across southeast Michigan were invited to MiCareerQuest Southeast, with the typical school bringing 50-100 students. The largest groups of students are coming from Oxford High School (372 students) in Oakland County, Romeo High School (470 students) and Fraser High School (410 students) in Macomb County. Some schools are bringing students from farther way, including Hartland High School in Livingston County and Whitmore Lake High School in Washtenaw County. Wayne County schools registered to attend include Belleville and Ecorse High Schools, as well as Southeastern High School in Detroit, among others.

“MiCareerQuest Southeast stands as an essential experience for students attending from around the region,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “This immersive, hands-on learning opportunity serves as the bridge between the classroom and real-world opportunities, illuminating the path ahead for the next generation of skilled workers.”

The event is organized by Oakland County Michigan Works!, the Oakland County Department of Economic Development, other Michigan Works! agencies across southeast Michigan, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and education and economic development partners from Macomb, Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw and Livingston Counties.

Presenting sponsors include Oakland County Michigan Works!, Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair, Michigan Works! Southeast, SEMCA Michigan Works! Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and MUST Construction Careers/Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. Gold sponsors include Oakland Community College, Oakland Schools, Oakland University and Washtenaw Community College.

Silver sponsors include Automation Alley, Barton Malow, Corewell Health, Jackson College, Lawrence Technological University, Macomb County Planning & Economic Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Operating Engineers 324 and Williams International. In addition, the family of Kenny Adkins, a member of Roofers Union Local 70, provided a silver sponsorship in his memory.

For more information, visit www.OakGov.com/MiCareerQuestSE.

Week Twelve Thoughts

by orionontv | Nov 13, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Week Twelve Thoughts.

Written Saturday November 11th at 4:30 PM

Harper Woods: The Pioneers had no issue with Carleton Airport on Saturday afternoon at Harper Woods winning 46-19. The Pioneers went through the air behind the play of Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford. Colby Bailey started the Harper Woods scoring with a 44 yard touchdown giving them the 7-6 lead in the second quarter. Rocheleau added a 77 yard passing score to Dakota Guerrant to give them a 14-6 lead. They would connect again going 53 yards and a 21-6 lead into the half. Rocheleau would continue his strong play through the air in the second half as he connected with Yasin Milton to extend the lead to 28-6. Carleton Airport got a touchdown and a fourth down stop but an interception from Willie Powell brought momentum back to Harper Woods. Bailey had another big run and Buford had a one yard rushing score making the score 34-12 Harper Woods. Carleton Airport would add another score to make it 34-19 but Buford put the game away with a 50 yard rushing touchdown making it 40-19 Harper Woods. Donald Adams went 66 yards for the Pioneers making the score 46-19 which was the final. The defense looked very good as well. Corey Bailey, Javonta Lee Forbes, and Eilron Beaman had sacks and big plays which included a fumble and Jacob Oden and Powell interceptions on defense. The Pioneers will play Goodrich next week.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors earned their first regional crown in school history with an impressive 31-21 win over Chippewa Valley on Friday night. Isiah Marshall played lights out football. He threw four passing touchdowns on the night with two to Xavier Bowman and two to Juwan Jarrett. The Southfield Arts and Tech defense played well despite allowing 14 points to a very good Chippewa Valley offense that had a really good quarterback in Andrew Schuster. The Warriors will play West Bloomfield next week.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers came from 20-0 down to beat Clarkston and earning revenge after falling 44-36 in week six winning 21-20 in the regional finals at the Swamp. West Bloomfield got a block on the winning field goal by Nigel Dutton who also added a rushing score in the game. Kameron Flowers had a ten yard touchdown and Reqez Nance had the winning 42 yard run off the zone read on a fourth and one. The Lakers defense calmed down and was solid all night. They picked off Desman Stephens in the red zone. West Bloomfield behind a stout defense and timely plays they found a way to win the game. The Lakers have a week eight rematch with Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.

Clarkston: The Wolves lost a tough one to West Bloomfield 21-20 on Friday night. Clarkston had a very controversial holding penalty called against them which set them back. Eddie Langton had his field goal attempt blocked with two seconds to go in the game. Clarkston had a really good start behind two touchdowns from Brady Collins, one to Brody Kosin (13 yards) and the other to Desman Stephens (94 yards.) Lukas Bowman added a passing score to Kosin from 23 yards out. The Wolves had everything lined up very similar to the Lake Orion game. They connected on a fourth and nine from Collins to Kosin at the two yard line but the West Bloomfield defense locked in stopping Griffin Bowman on two rushing attempts but the Wolves had a chance with the Langton field goal attempt but it was blocked. The extra point miss after the second quarter proved to be very vital in the game. Clarkston has a case that the officials called a roughing the kicker penalty against West Bloomfield that would had given Clarkston another shot. The officials called an unsportsmanlike penalty but they said that time had expired. If they had time they would had one more shot. They lose Kosin and Stephens to graduation but has Brady Collins and the Bowman twins coming back. The Wolves will be back in the hunt next season.

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