DNR News: Friday is Conservation Officer Appreciation Day

by orionontv | Mar 14, 2024 | Recreation

DNR News

March 14, 2024
Contact: Katie Gervasi, 517-290-0679

Friday is Conservation Officer Appreciation Day

conservation officer holding a duck beak

As fully licensed law enforcement officers who serve a unique role in our state’s law enforcement community, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers receive additional training to protect natural resources – fish and wildlife, state parks and forests, rivers, lakes and streams – and the people who enjoy them.

In honor of the 250 men and women who swore under oath to faithfully enforce the laws of Michigan and the rules and regulations of the DNR, and who currently patrol all 83 counties, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed Friday, March 15, as Conservation Officer Appreciation Day.

The proclamation, in part, shares that:

The State of Michigan considers the protection of its citizens, environment and cultural, historic and natural resources to be among its highest priorities.
Conservation officers continuously adapt to successfully meet emerging challenges, accept new missions and deliver premier customer service.
These officers serve with bravery, honor and distinction in locations ranging from urban communities to the deep woods and the Great Lakes.

“DNR conservation officers work hard every day to protect Michigan’s natural resources and the millions of visitors who value them. It is less a job and much more a calling,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen.

These officers serve as front-line protectors, helping to ensure that the next generation can safely, successfully enjoy hunts that put food on the table, camping trips, hikes and other adventures on scenic public lands, and responsible participation in boating, off-road vehicle riding, snowmobiling and other outdoor pursuits.”

In 2023, DNR conservation officers contacted more than 420,000 people through their patrols and outreach, in a job that is anything but predictable. A shift might begin at 3 a.m., gearing up in green with hunter orange and silently leaving home to ensure they are in the woods before the first shots of opening day, or responding to reports of ORV trespassing, illegal hunting from vehicles with loaded and uncased firearms, and hunters or hikers who didn’t return home on time. Sometimes it’s about celebrating an angler’s first catch or rewarding young boaters for properly wearing their life jackets.

“Conservation officers respond where they are needed, when they are needed,” Bowen said.

Michigan conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety, and protect residents through general law enforcement and conducting lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Duck: Conservation Officer Sydney Griffor verifies a northern pintail, successfully taken in St. Clair County.

River: Acting Sgt. Kyle Bucholtz and Conservation Officer Marissa Sturtevant check for anglers on a spring day in Huron County.

Teaching: Conservation Officer Anna Cullen presents a fur kit to a young group of students in Muskegon County.

Input to offer nutrition services to Medicaid recipients

by orionontv | Mar 13, 2024 | Health and Wellness

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS seeks public input on effort to offer
nutrition services to Medicaid recipients

LANSING, Mich. — As a part of its commitment to strengthen health care for Michigan residents and address social determinants of health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking public input on potential services designed to address health-related nutrition needs.

MDHHS is encouraging health plans participating in the Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan to offer in lieu of services (ILOS) options to beneficiaries that address food insecurity and increase access to healthy foods.

ILOS are services the state considers to be medically appropriate and cost effective when provided as substitutes to other Medicaid-covered services. ILOS would be offered to eligible Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees by their health plan and delivered by a community-based provider such as a food bank, meal provider or a food pharmacy which is a new program model designed to increase the access to and consumption of healthy foods.

“MDHHS is working to address social determinants of health by investing in and engaging with community-based organizations,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director. “The department is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with community partners on this innovative effort to improve the health of Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid health plans through nutrition services.”

MDHHS is seeking public input on proposed service definitions for the following four potential ILOS:

Medically Tailored Home Delivered Meal.
Healthy Home Delivered Meal.
Healthy Food Pack.
Produce Prescription.

Through a request for information (RFI), MDHHS is seeking input from community-based nutrition service providers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, federally recognized Michigan Indian tribes, providers of health care, health systems, health plans and other interested parties that bring valuable insights into local needs and cultural considerations, as well as into statewide capacity to deliver nutrition-focused services.

The RFI questions seek feedback on the proposed ILOS definitions, how best they meet enrollee needs, the availability of ILOS across the state and community-based providers’ capacity to deliver ILOS.

Feedback will be used to refine ILOS definitions prior to submission for federal approval and implementation.

Responses must be submitted via email to MDHHS-EngageMedicaid@michigan.gov by 5 p.m., Friday, April 5.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MDHHSILOS.

States Urge FTC to Strengthen Protections for Children

by orionontv | Mar 13, 2024 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 12, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel, Coalition of 43 States Urge FTC to Strengthen Online Privacy and Safety Protections for Children

LANSING – In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan coalition of 43 state attorneys general to urge the federal government to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

The rules governing online privacy protections for children up to age 13 have not been updated in over a decade. At the same time, the digital world has evolved rapidly — with smartphones, social networks, and connected devices becoming an even greater part of our lives.

Congress enacted COPPA in 1998 for the purpose of giving parents more control over information collected online from their children. The legislation directed the FTC to establish regulations for operators of websites or online services regarding how they collect, use, and share personal information of children under 13 years of age.

The FTC is proposing changes to the COPPA Rule that would place new restrictions on the use and disclosure of children’s personal information and further limit the ability of companies to condition access to services on monetizing children’s data.

Among other things, the attorneys general are urging the FTC to expand the definition of “personal information” to include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, a DNA sequence, and data derived from voice data, gait data, and facial data, as well as avatars generated from a child’s image and likeness.

The attorneys general also ask the FTC to adopt a comprehensive framework for determining whether services qualify for a proposed parental consent exception and to prohibit operators from abusing the multiple-contact exception in COPPA with engagement-maximizing push notifications.

“I remain committed to doing all we can to protect the online safety and privacy of children,” Nessel said. “We must have more robust rules under the COPPA to ensure that technology companies comply with stringent data protection standards to safeguard the well-being of children. I wholeheartedly join with my colleagues in urging the FTC to take decisive action to enhance COPPA regulations.”

By statute, both the FTC and state attorneys general are empowered to enforce COPPA. Since the COPPA Rule became effective, state attorneys general, on their own and in partnership with the FTC, have pursued multiple actions for violations of the COPPA Rule.

Late last year, state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for violations of state consumer protection laws and COPPA. The complaint alleges Meta knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. All the while, Meta falsely assured the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users. The case is ongoing.

Led by the attorneys general of Oregon, Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with assistance from Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and North Carolina, the comment letter to the FTC regarding amendments to COPPA was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

DNR News: state park improvements ramp up

by orionontv | Mar 13, 2024 | Recreation

DNR News

March 12, 2024
contact: Ron Olson, 517-243-1477 or Kristin Bennett, 248-431-1265

As state park improvements ramp up, visitors reminded about planning for closures

toilet and shower building under construction

Thanks to a massive $250 million investment made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, many critical improvements at Michigan state parks are underway or getting ready to break ground in the coming months.

Although the work will cause slight disruptions to overnight and day-trip plans at some locations, state park officials say it’s a worthwhile tradeoff – governed by a strict timeline – that will yield substantial long-term visitor benefits. The federal relief funds will help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources address a decades-long backlog of repair and maintenance needs and help build a new state park in Flint.

“In the construction world, this is much like a race against time to design, bid and plan these projects in such a short time frame,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief. “The ARPA funds must be committed by Dec. 31, 2024, and spent on those projects by Dec. 31, 2026. It’s an exciting opportunity, but one that requires careful planning, broad action and thorough execution.”

Know before you go

Olson encouraged anyone considering a state park visit – now or later this season – to visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures to find anticipated closure dates and additional information on these enhancement projects. Any revised construction timelines will be announced on the closures page almost daily or as conditions require.

*Camping-specific updates are also listed in the Michigan state park and harbor reservation system at MiDNRReservations.com.

Examples of ARPA-related work planned for this spring, summer and fall include:

Algonac State Park (St. Clair County): Full-hookup site installation and road repairs in the day-use area and modern campground will prompt closures this spring and summer. A proposed $4.1 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston County): Electrical and road upgrades will close the Bishop Lake modern campground Aug. 11, 2024, to mid-May 2025. In addition, road repairs will close the Horseman’s equestrian campground June 1-Oct. 15, 2024. A proposed $2.97 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
Interlochen State Park (Grand Traverse County): Due to a planned park enhancement project to upgrade the park’s water and sewer system and beach house toilet building, the day-use area and modern campground are closed this spring and summer. The park’s Duck Lake Boating Access Site will intermittently close. The Green Lake Boating Access Site and rustic campground will remain open. A proposed $3.57 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County): To replace both toilet and shower buildings, the park’s modern campground is temporarily closed. The east loop is slated to open July 31; however, it may open earlier if construction is ahead of schedule. The west loop likely will remain closed through July 31 due to additional enhancements, such as new underground electrical conductors, site pedestals and distribution panels. All other park amenities, including boating access sites, trails, cabins, group camps picnic shelters and the equestrian campground will remain open. A proposed $3 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
Ludington State Park (Mason County): Enhancements that include paving, parking expansion and improved traffic and pedestrian flow at the park’s main entrance will close the majority of the park Sept. 3, 2024, through July 1, 2025. The 2,000 acres of parkland and 3-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline south of the Big Sable River, including the hiking trails and boardwalk, will remain open and accessible to the public via roadway parking along M-116. A proposed $4.26 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
McLain State Park (Houghton County): An upgrade of the wastewater treatment system will close the modern campground starting Aug. 1 and lasting for the remainder of the 2024 season. A proposed $350,000 in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.
Port Crescent State Park (Huron County): To upgrade roads, water/sewer lines, electrical and the sanitation station, the park’s modern campground is closed for the 2024 season. The beach house also is being upgraded but is slated to reopen by this Memorial Day. A proposed $4.95 million in ARPA funding is available for these and other renovations.