More Than $87 Million to 269 Municipalities and Counties

More Than $87 Million to 269 Municipalities and Counties

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2024

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Treasury: Adult-Use Marijuana Payments Being Distributed to Michigan Municipalities and Counties 

More Than $87 Million Going to 269 Municipalities and Counties

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Treasury today announced that more than $87 million is being distributed among 269 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.

Over the next few days, 99 cities, 30 villages, 69 townships and 71 counties will receive payments from the Marihuana Regulation Fund. For the state of Michigan’s 2023 fiscal year, this means each eligible municipality and county will receive more than $59,000 for every licensed retail store and microbusiness located within its jurisdiction.

“This week, many Michigan municipalities and counties will begin seeing their share of adult-use marijuana payments appear in their banking accounts,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “Through a partnership, the dollars received from the adult-use marijuana taxes and fees are distributed to our participating communities. These dollars may be spent how our local units deem fit to their needs.”

Revenue was collected from 737 licensees among the state’s cities, villages and townships during the 2023 fiscal year. Some of these municipalities host more than one licensed retail store and microbusiness.

For the 2023 state fiscal year, there was more than $290.3 million available for distribution from the Marihuana Regulation Fund.

State law outlines how much is distributed from the Marihuana Regulation Fund.

Aside from the more than $87 million in disbursements to municipalities and counties, $101.6 million was sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $101.6 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund.

“The tax funding for municipalities and counties that comes from the marijuana excise tax is a very important benefit of the legal cannabis industry in Michigan,” said Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) Executive Director Brian Hanna. “The CRA is committed to doing our part in supporting our licensees so that they can continue to grow the local economy throughout the state with good-paying jobs and increased revenues for local government budgets.”

For more information about adult-use marijuana tax distributions – including a breakdown of how much municipalities and counties received – go to Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing. To learn more about Michigan’s adult-use marijuana industry, go to Michigan.gov/cra.

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Health and Wellness

MDHHS banner with logo no names

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 29, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths through
harm reduction, other data-driven programs in upcoming year
More than 6,600 overdoses reversed through naloxone distribution 

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Michigan’s efforts to reduce drug-related overdose deaths and decrease overdose racial disparities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is investing $10 million from opioid settlement funds in harm reduction programs in FY2024.

The State of Michigan is expected to receive more than $800 million over 18 years as part of the $26 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors as well as opioid manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.

“Michigan has been a leader in distributing opioid funds and ensuring the care, health and well-being of residents in need, and we will continue to lead in this area,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and Michigan Opioids Task Force co-chair. We have been recognized as a national leader in harm reduction by the National Governors Association.”

Michigan experienced one of the highest rates of overdoses in the country in 2017, but by 2021 had improved to a rate better than the national average. When comparing 2023 to 2022, Michigan continues to experience promising decreases in overdoses. However, these decreases are not representative of all Michigan residents, with Black residents overdosing at a rate 2.7 times higher than white Michigan residents based on preliminary January to June 2023 data. In 2022, there were 2,998 overdose deaths, 840 (28%) of those deaths among Black residents.

“We are addressing disparities by prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations as we distribute settlement dollars across the state,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor and consultant. “As the former director of the Governor’s Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, the opioid epidemic is another tragic example of the need to address racial disparities in health care. As such, we are making sure that equity is at the core of all decisions we make about allocating opioid settlement funds, targeting programs and also ensuring our decisions are made with the supporting data in mind. Everything we do must be designed with the goal of measurably reducing overdose deaths and eliminating racial disparities.”

Naloxone kit distribution, drug test kits helping save lives

Michigan has distributed more than 730,000 naloxone kits and recorded over 6,600 overdose reversals since the 2020 launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups. In FY23, opioid settlement dollars funded the distribution of nearly 150,000 kits, resulting in the reversal of nearly 2,600 overdoses. Nearly 25,000 naloxone kits were distributed in both Detroit and Flint.

As part of the effort to get naloxone into the hands of communities of color, The Youth Connection in Detroit has provided in-person and virtual trainings on naloxone administration for 6,727 individuals and distributed 7,600 naloxone kits. Training has been provided to numerous community organizations, including law enforcement, block clubs, churches, schools and senior facilities.

“Making sure a variety of community members know how to use and have access to naloxone is key to being able to address overdoses, which can happen in any setting,” said Dr. Grenae Dudley, president and CEO of The Youth Connection. “Naloxone saves lives and we have received reports of 100 overdose reversals by participants of our trainings.”

Additionally, in FY23, 73,352 fentanyl test strips and 5,392 xylazine test strips were distributed. This includes nearly 6,500 test strips in Detroit. Data indicates people using drugs practice safer use when knowing these substances are present.

Additional efforts designed to address disparities slated for the coming year include adding the distribution of naloxone and fentanyl strips to community wellness centers across the state with an emphasis on communities of color. These centers are located in trusted community partners including churches and other community locations.

Additional information regarding proposed programming under Michigan’s Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund is provided on the opioids settlement website.
Traffic shift work begins tomorrow for I-75 project

Traffic shift work begins tomorrow for I-75 project

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Transportation

newsroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     MEDIA CONTACT

February 28, 2024                                                                   Diane Cross

                                                                  [email protected]

  Traffic shift work begins tomorrow for I-75 project in northern Oakland County

 VILLAGE OF CLARKSTON, Mich. ­– Bridge and road work continues along the I-75 project between M-15 (Ortonville Road) and the Oakland/Genesee county line, with crews working on resurfacing northbound I-75 from M-15 to the north Oakland County line. To prepare for the impending traffic shift scheduled during this resurfacing, there will be lane and ramp closures to install traffic control devices, pavement markings and the realignment of barrier walls.

Upcoming Closures:

Beginning 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, until late fall:

  • Southbound I-75 will be reduced to two lanes from Baldwin Road (Genesse County line) to M-15.

Beginning 9 a.m. Friday, March 1, through 5 a.m. Monday, March 4:

  • Southbound I-75 will be reduced to one lane for weekend work from Baldwin Road to M-15, along with intermittent ramp closures for pavement markings.

Beginning 9 a.m. Monday, March 4, through 7 p.m. Monday, March 18:

  • Southbound I-75 will be reduced to one lane for barrier wall setting from Baldwin Road to M-15 to prepare for a traffic switch later in the month.

Beginning 5 a.m. Monday, March 4, through 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1:

  • Southbound I-75 Exit 106 to Saginaw Road will be closed.
  • The Saginaw Road entrance ramp to southbound I-75 (Mile Marker 106) will be closed.

Beginning 5 a.m. Monday, March 11, through 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1:

  • The Dixie Highway entrance ramp to southbound I-75 (Mile Marker 93) will be closed.

This work is weather dependent, and if necessary, will be rescheduled to later weekend/s.

Beginning in mid-March (depending on weather) through late fall:

  • Northbound and southbound I-75 will have two lanes open in each direction between M-15 and Baldwin Road with traffic shifted to the southbound I-75 side of the freeway.
  • The following entrance ramps will be closed to northbound I-75:
    • M-15 (Mile Marker 91)
    • Dixie Highway (Mile Marker 93)
    • East Holly Road (Mile Marker 98)
    • Saginaw Road (Mile Marker 106)
  • Only the northbound I-75 Exit 101 ramp to Grange Hall Road will be closed. All other exits on northbound I-75 will be open.

Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing approximately $160 million to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years.

Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,936 jobs.

News Digest – Week of Feb. 26, 2024

News Digest – Week of Feb. 26, 2024

by | Feb 28, 2024 | Recreation
DNR banner

News Digest – Week of Feb. 26, 2024

a shimmering layer of ice over green tree needles in the foreground, with blurred icy trees in background
Here are 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 some of the images used in this email are available in this folder.

Traveling soon? Don’t forget your recreational safety certificate

a man and woman in bathing suits and life vests ride on a Jet Ski, leaving a foamy wake as they cut through deep blue waterIf you’re planning a spring break trip to a warmer destination and intend to rent a personal watercraft (such as a Jet Ski) while there, don’t forget to take a copy of your Michigan boater safety certificate.

Safety certificates are proof that you’ve completed a program meant to teach the fundamentals of safety for your chosen activity. Many states require this documentation before allowing you to rent and/or operate a boat or personal watercraft. Misplaced your certificate? No worries; you can request a duplicate.

In Michigan, people born before July 1, 1996, may legally operate a boat without restrictions. Those born on or after July 1, 1996, may legally operate a motorized boat over 6 horsepower only if they have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it in their possession. Anyone born on or after Dec. 31, 1978, must have a boater safety certificate to legally operate a personal watercraft.

If you need a safety certificate, you can take recreational safety education courses online from the comfort of your home and at your own pace. Learn more at Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Sow the seeds for successful spring tree planting

lower legs of someone in jeans and bright blue rubber boots stands on upright wooden shovel halfway into an overgrown, green grassy areaWhat does your perfect outdoor day look like?

Maybe it includes a hammock, blue skies and a soft summer breeze rustling through the leaves of a shade tree. Perhaps you’re reading under a flowering tree in spring, or picking autumn apples right off the branches in your backyard.

We may be biased, but at the DNR we think the best days often involve trees! If you agree, take steps now to set the stage for perfect planting days this spring.

Get started today

The time to order your tree is now. Local conservation districts, nurseries and reputable online retailers are all good places to find the right tree for your space. Whether you’re looking for a tall, fast-growing shade tree or a small, flowering tree to attract bees and butterflies, it’s helpful to learn about the needs of the tree species you want to plant so you can help it grow.

If you want to plant many trees or need layout assistance, a landscaping or nursery professional can help with planning and logistics.

Tree tips and resources

Find how and where to plant a tree, suggestions for what kind of tree to plant and tips to care for your tree at Michigan.gov/MiTrees. You’ll also find a planting map where you can digitally “pin” your new tree and add it to a growing online forest that reflects the landscape. Each tree planted gets Michigan closer to our 1T.org pledge to plant 50 million trees by 2030.

With proper planting and care, your tree will grow strong and healthy. Questions about tree care? Contact DNR urban forester Lawrence Sobson at 313-316-4137.

Volunteer at state parks, talk about future of fisheries

Each month, the DNR offers a variety of opportunities to help take care of Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Here are a few ways to get involved in March.

State park stewardship

Small group of men and women outdoors, some standing and some kneeling, in winter clothing and holding hacksaws and seed-gathering tubesSeveral state parks in southern Michigan will host stewardship workdays, where volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems.

Workdays will take place:

  • 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 2, at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).
  • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County).
  • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10, and Sunday, March 24, at Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County).
  • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Ludington State Park (Mason County).
  • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday March 23, at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County).

Workday details and registration information can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

Fishing ‘Conversations and Coffee’

a smiling man in DNR ballcap and green T-shirt holds a handled net full of slender, silvery-black rainbow trout, ready to stock the AuSable RiverIf you’re interested in talking about fisheries management with us, mark your calendar for “Conversations and Coffee” events taking place this spring.

These virtual events – great opportunities to meet with DNR fisheries managers and biologists, discuss local issues and management activities, and get specific questions answered – are scheduled for:

  • Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit: Tuesday, March 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Central Lake Michigan Management Unit: Wednesday, March 13, 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Lake Superior Management Unit: Thursday, March 14, 6:30 to 8 p.m. EDT.
  • Lake Erie Management Unit: Wednesday, April 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Lake Huron Management Unit: Wednesday, April 3, 6 to 7 p.m.
  • Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit: Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Meeting links will be available soon. For more details, see the Conversations and Coffee webpage.

For more opportunities to lend a hand or provide input on all DNR programs, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers.

Plenty of outdoor fun and learning on tap for March

The DNR offers a variety of opportunities next month to learn about and enjoy Michigan’s outdoors. Here are a few highlights! For the full, statewide list of events, see Michigan.gov/DNRCalendar.

Maple syrup making, steelhead fishing

a man in winter waders, standing knee-deep in steel-blue water, casts a long line. Snow covers most of the riverbank and trees behind him.Want to try something new, brush up on skills or learn tips and tricks from the pros? The Outdoor Skills Academy can help, with expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities.

Coming up at Mitchell State Park’s Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac, you can learn about maple syrup making and steelhead fishing. The March 9 Maple Syrup Clinic covers tools needed, sap processing, canning, making the final product and more. And in the one-day Steelhead Fishing Seminar March 16 and two-day Steelhead Fishing Clinic March 23-24, the Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff will present strategies and techniques for chasing Michigan’s “chrome torpedoes.”

Additional sessions of the steelhead classes are scheduled in April, along with turkey hunting, walleye fishing, and whitetail food plot and habitat management clinics. The rest of the year brings opportunities to learn about wild mushrooms, fly fishing, wilderness survival, bear and waterfowl hunting, processing and cooking venison, trapping and more.

See the full, evolving OSA schedule at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.

Birds, lumberjacks and more at OAC

two smiling women, dressed in red and orange flannel, leggings and hats, show off their medals and race bibs in front of a brick buildingIf you live in or will be traveling to southeast Michigan, don’t miss nature-related fun for all ages at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit.

OAC staff will lead birding programs at Belle Isle Park in Detroit March 10 and at Proud Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County March 24. Join in a fun night of archery and trivia during Grown-Up Gatherings: Archery March 15, or explore this pastime with several other March archery events.

Don’t miss the annual Lumberjack Pancake Run March 23 – wear your finest flannel apparel and sport your best lumberjack beard (prizes awarded to the best dressed!) – and get race swag including a custom medal, a lumberjack buff, Outdoor Adventure Center entry and a pancake breakfast. And check out Lumberjack Day following the run, with special forest-themed programs and activities.

There are also programs especially for seniors, kids, teachers, home-schooled students and others on the March OAC event calendar.

Photo ambassador snapshot: Blue skies at Belle Isle

brilliant sunrise lights up a bright blue, cloudy sky behind an ornate concrete, circular fountain with carved lions and tiersSee 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 Ana Easlick, for the Michigan DNR, at Belle Isle Park on the Detroit River.)

THINGS TO DO

Debris burning is the No. 1 cause of wildfires. Know before you burn – visit Mi.gov/BurnPermit to see if conditions are right to burn leaves or brush.

BUY & APPLY

Whether you need to buy licenses or permits, report a harvest, look up regulations or check your license history, do it all with the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

GET INVOLVED

Help stop invasive pests during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 26-March 3) and all year long. Know what to look for and how to report it!
Oakland County Conducts First Siren Test of Severe Weather

Oakland County Conducts First Siren Test of Severe Weather

by | Feb 27, 2024 | Regional News

Oakland County Conducts First Siren Test of Severe Weather Season

Post Date:02/27/2024 2:49 PM
  • Oakland County will activate its outdoor warning siren system at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 2. It has 275 outdoor warning sirens, each capable of covering about a one-mile radius from its location.
  • Individuals, families, and businesses throughout Oakland County are encouraged to use the siren test as an opportunity to discuss their preparedness plan to ensure that they are ready for severe weather.
  • For more resources on how you can prepare your home, school, or business for severe weather emergencies and other disasters, visit oakgov.com/emergency-management. To sign up for OakAlert, click oakgov.com/OakAlert.

Feb. 27, 2024, Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County will conduct its first outdoor warning siren test of 2024 on Saturday, March 2. It will produce a steady three-minute tone beginning at 1 p.m.

In a real emergency, the siren indicates a tornado has been sighted or strongly indicated on radar or a severe thunderstorm with sustained winds of 70 mph or greater is in the area. Residents would be given instructions to seek shelter immediately and listen to radio or television for more information.

“The first siren test of the season is a great opportunity to learn about why we have sirens and why it’s vital to have an emergency plan,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “Knowing what you will do ahead of time and how you will communicate with family and friends is invaluable.”

Individuals, families, and businesses throughout Oakland County are encouraged to use the siren test to discuss their preparedness plan to ensure that they are ready for severe weather. Oakland County Emergency Management has an array of preparedness resources and information about severe weather threats, tornados, downed power lines, floods, and fires on its webpage and social media accounts.

For more resources on how you can prepare your home, school, or business for severe weather emergencies and other disasters, visit oakgov.com/emergency-management. Follow Oakland County Emergency Management @OakGov.EM on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook for preparedness tips and emergency information.

Oakland County has 275 outdoor warning sirens, each capable of covering about a one-mile radius from its location. The sirens are designed to alert individuals who are outside. People who are inside buildings may hear the siren if they are near the siren location. For indoor warnings, residents are

advised to obtain the FEMA mobile app or purchase a weather radio, which provides notifications of incoming severe weather. Or they can be warned through the “OakAlert” message sent to subscribers.

OakAlert is a self-registering alert system that emails participants about emergencies and disasters in Oakland County, such as chemical spills, significant road closures, missing persons, interruption of county services, health and safety messages, and active assailant situations. Subscribers are notified each time a siren goes off. To sign up for OakAlert, click oakgov.com/OakAlert.