DNR announces Tree City and Tree Campus designations

DNR announces Tree City and Tree Campus designations

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Recreation

 
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DNR News
April 23, 2024
Contact: Lawrence Sobson, 313-316-4137

DNR announces Tree City and Tree Campus designations

Trees newly planted in a field. In 2023, four new communities – Menominee, Negaunee, Beverly Hills and Michiana – joined the increasing number of cities, villages and townships to be certified as a Tree City USA for their efforts to promote and care for public trees within the community.

They are among 121 Michigan communities and 10 college campuses recognized through their respective programs for work accomplished during 2023. All recipients will receive their award materials later this spring.

List of recipients ►

The newest college campus – Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek – joined nine recertifying schools in the Tree Campus-Higher Education program.

The Tree City USA program has four standards, which were created to allow communities of any size to participate. These include having a city department or tree board, a public tree care ordinance, an annual work plan and a budget of at least $2 per capita and proclaiming and celebrating Arbor Day, which takes place April 26 this year.

The Arbor Day Foundation has been reviewing its Standard 2 Ordinance requirement to make room for any size or type of community. The changes discussed around Standard 2 should open the doors for many more communities across the country to join the program.

To find out more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree USA programs, visit arborday.org/programs.

For questions on the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program, contact Lawrence Sobson at [email protected] or 313-316-4137. More information also is available at Michigan.gov/UCF.
AG Urges Trafficking Awareness During NFL Draft

AG Urges Trafficking Awareness During NFL Draft

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 24, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Urges Human Trafficking Awareness During NFL Draft

LANSING – With the NFL Draft expecting to bring hundreds of thousands of football fans to Detroit later this week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants residents to be familiar with the signs of human trafficking, a crime that often preys on large gatherings.

“The NFL Draft will bring a lot of energy and excitement to Detroit, but it can also attract those wishing to exploit others,” Nessel said. “By being informed and aware of the signs of human trafficking, we can all play a major role in protecting those most vulnerable to falling victim.”

Human trafficking victims may:

  • Exhibit signs of abuse, including bruises, cuts, burns, scars, or lack of health care or proper nourishment,
  • Not be in control of their own money, or identifying documents, such as a driver’s license or passport,
  • Avoid eye contact with others, and appear fearful of the person they’re with,
  • Not be allowed to communicate on their own behalf or have their communication restricted. Another person may answer all questions on their behalf, or
  • Not admit they are victims or ask for help.

The Attorney General’s website includes additional tips for health care professionals (PDF), first responders (PDF), and hospitality workers (PDF) – who all have a greater chance of encountering a victim of trafficking directly.

Victims of human trafficking or those who have identified someone they think may need help can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text 233733. This is a national, toll-free hotline, that is available to answer calls, texts, and chats from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. All calls are confidential.

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Be Aware of Parking Scams During NFL Draft

Be Aware of Parking Scams During NFL Draft

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Regional News

Nessel Email Header
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 23, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Advises Attendees to Be Aware of Parking Scams During NFL Draft

LANSING – As Detroit prepares to host its first-ever NFL Draft April 25-27, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns residents about parking scams targeting attendees.

“Hosting the Draft is a major win for Detroit and Michigan, but this exciting event comes with the potential risk of parking scams,” Nessel said. “By following some simple tips, you can avoid falling victim to deceptive parking practices and ensure your car stays safe during the event.”

The city of Detroit has announced many street closures throughout downtown to accommodate the many associated events. Eager visitors arriving by car often park in privately owned lots, but sometimes scammers take advantage of these events to sell parking spaces for lots they don’t have authority over – which could lead to cars being ticketed, towed, or even worse, stolen.

Nessel encourages residents to ask for a receipt or parking ticket upon payment, to never give their keys to the attendant unless there are posted valet signs, and they’ve confirmed ahead of time with the location that the valet service is one they offer.

Another scam involves bad actors issuing fake parking tickets. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that technology makes it easy for bad actors to create authentic appearing parking tickets. The fake ticket will ask consumers to pay online or use a QR code.  Nessel reminds residents to visit that municipality’s website directly or to call the court and verify the existence of the ticket before following the web or QR code directions.

 The BBB offers the following advice to avoid falling for this scam:

  • Know before you park. Before visiting a new place, research available parking and local parking requirements. Tourists with out-of-state plates are often the preferred target for parking scams because they are likely unfamiliar with local parking laws.
  • Examine the citation carefully. Scammers can imitate logos and city office names, but an imitation website is usually where the scam comes to light. Do an internet search for the city’s official parking ticket websites and compare what’s found to what is on the ticket. Keep in mind that government sites should end in a .gov or .ca (in Canada) designation, and if there is a payment page, it should always have a secure connection.
  • Double-check the name checks should be made out to. If the ticket allows for payment by check, take a closer look at the entity and address to which you are instructed to mail the check. Checks should generally be made out to a specific government organization, not a string of initials or personal names.
  • Pay traffic citations by credit card when possible. It will be easier to contest fraudulent charges if consumers discover they’ve been scammed down the road.

 To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

 
27 grants to conduct stream cleanups and monitoring

27 grants to conduct stream cleanups and monitoring

by | Apr 22, 2024 | Environmental

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2024
Jeff Johnston, EGLE Public Information Officer, [email protected], 517-231-9304
Tamara Lipsey, Aquatic Biologist, [email protected], 517-342-4372

EGLE awards 27 grants to conduct stream cleanups and monitoring

More than $100,000 will help local governments and nonprofit organizations improve Michigan waterways

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today announced $102,273 through 27 grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations for stream cleanup and monitoring through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Program. These annual grants help foster local stewardship and a sense of community while providing valuable data used to protect Michigan’s waters.

The MiCorps Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program provides grants to local units of government to clean and improve Michigan waterways. Local governments often partner with nonprofits or other volunteer groups for the cleanups, which include removal of trash and other manmade debris from streams and stream banks.

The cleanup grant program began in 1998 and is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State’s Office.

The local governments selected to receive cleanup funding in 2024 are:

  • City of Ann Arbor, $4,020.
  • City of Battle Creek, $2,878.
  • City of Ecorse, $5,000.
  • City of Lansing, $5,000.
  • Grand Traverse Conservation District, $2,168.
  • Macatawa Coordinating Council, $3,540.
  • Muskegon Conservation District, $2,663.
  • Newaygo Conservation District $5,000.
  • Ottawa County Water Resources, $1,250.
  • Joseph Conservation District, $1,926.
  • Shiawassee County Health Department, $5,000.
  • Van Buren Conservation District, $1,708.

The MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program provides grants to enable local governments and nonprofits to conduct volunteer-based water quality and stream habitat monitoring through benthic macroinvertebrate surveys and habitat assessments. Three types of monitoring grants are available. Startup grants get groups started with learning and planning, implementation grants fund the first two years of official monitoring, and maintenance grants help groups that are already monitoring replace equipment and continue their program.

The Ottawa Conservation District received a startup grant of $4,701. The Barry Conservation District received an implementation grant of $19,923. Receiving maintenance grants are:

  • Berrien Conservation District, $3,000.
  • Clinton River Watershed Council, $3,000.
  • Friends of the Rouge, $3,000.
  • Grass River Natural Area, Inc., $1,839.
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center, $3,000.
  • Little Forks Conservancy, $2,999.41.
  • Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, $2,999.
  • Manistee Conservation District, $3,000.
  • Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, $2,932.55.
  • The University of Olivet, $2,964.
  • The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, $3,000.
  • Tip of the Mitt, $3,000.
  • Joseph Conservation District, $2,760.

EGLE established MiCorps in 2004 to engage the public in collecting water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. MiCorps is administered for EGLE by Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and Huron River Watershed Council.

Questions about the grant award process should be directed to Dr. Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council, 734-519-0449 or [email protected]; or Tamara Lipsey, Lake Michigan Unit, Great Lakes Watershed Assessment, Restoration, and Management Section, Water Resources Division, EGLE, 517-342-4372 or [email protected].

To stay up to date on other EGLE news, follow us at Michigan.gov/MIEnvironment.
MDOT’s Transportation Career Pathways Program

MDOT’s Transportation Career Pathways Program

by | Apr 22, 2024 | Transportation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2024

 

 MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Frezell
517-281-6519
[email protected]

MDOT’s Transportation Career Pathways Program
promotes career advancement in transportation

Fast facts:

  • MDOT’s Transportation Career Pathways Program (TCPP) provides those interested in a transportation-related career with opportunities for hand-on experience.
  • The TCPP runs from May through September.
  • Participants must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced the launch of its Transportation Career Pathways Program (TCPP), a dynamic initiative designed to equip individuals with hands-on experience and propel their careers forward in the transportation sector.

Running from May through September, the TCPP provides participants with the unique opportunity to explore various career paths, including transportation maintenance worker, transportation technician, and skilled trades helper positions. Through practical work and introduction to diverse transportation functions, participants will gain valuable skills and insights into this ever-evolving field. Participants must be 18 years old prior to the start of the program, possess a valid driver’s license, and will work 40 hours a week. Participants may join later in the season (most finish by September) and can expect to earn up to $17.50 an hour.

“The TCPP is an exceptional paid internship opportunity to gain on-the-job experience in transportation careers at MDOT,” said State Transportation Director Brad C. Wieferich. “This program empowers participants to build a strong foundation for their professional journeys while contributing to the continued development of our communities.”

The program is available in the following MDOT regions: Bay, North, Metro, Southwest, Superior, and University. For more information and to apply, go to www.Michigan.gov/TCPP.