As swim buoys are removed, swim area designation expires

As swim buoys are removed, swim area designation expires

by | Sep 17, 2025 | Recreation

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DNR News
Sept. 16, 2025
Contact: Pat Whalen, 269-838-1196

As swim buoys at state parks are removed, swim area designation expires

two buoys floating in waterAs the weather cools and the days shorten, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources continues the process of removing swim buoys and the Great Lakes flag system from many state park beaches.

Once buoys are removed – a process that always starts after Labor Day – the area is no longer considered a designated swim area. While the beach remains open to the public, swimming is not recommended, and beachgoers are urged to pay keen attention to weather and water conditions.

Swim buoys help mark the boundaries of swim areas, which are established to help identify locations with shallower water (less than 5 feet) and lower risks of dangerous currents and waves. DNR staff inspects these buoyed areas approximately every two weeks and adjusts them as needed to maximize safety.

On-shore rescue equipment and safety signage will remain along those sections of shoreline through at least Oct. 1. Additionally, the emergency notification system at Grand Haven State Park will remain active, automatically notifying 911 when a life ring is pulled or the “call for help” button is pushed.

“Due to high winds, waves and rapidly changing water temperatures during the off-season, buoys are typically installed before Memorial Day weekend and removed after Labor Day,” said Pat Whalen, Plainwell District supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “The flag system is also removed until the buoyed swim areas are established the next season.”

Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety for tips and information on safely visiting the Great Lakes, including buoyed swim beach locations, the beach flag warning system, Great Lakes currents (and how to escape them) and more.

For more information, contact the DNR’s Pat Whalen at 269-838-1196 or WhalenP1@Michigan.gov.

Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download.
AG Vows to Intervene in upcoming DTE Gas Rate Hike Request

AG Vows to Intervene in upcoming DTE Gas Rate Hike Request

by | Sep 17, 2025 | Regional News

Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 17, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

Attorney General Nessel Vows to Intervene in Upcoming DTE Gas Rate Hike Request

LANSING — Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reaffirmed her commitment to protecting ratepayers, pledging once again to intervene in all major rate cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The announcement from the Attorney General comes as DTE entered a ‘Filing Announcement’ on Friday (PDF), announcing its intent to seek yet another natural gas rate hike less than one year since winning approval for its latest $113 million rate hike last November.

While it remains unknown how many additional millions of dollars DTE will seek to bill from their customers in this upcoming rate hike request, the utility corporation opened their previous case seeking to hike residential gas rates by nearly 10% in 2024. A summary of DTE’s new rate hike request is expected to be filed before the formal application, which the corporation indicates it will file in November.

“While we may not know the exact size of this increase yet, history is a good indicator that it will be significant and padded to fill the pockets of shareholders and executives,” Nessel said. “Less than a year ago, DTE won approval for a $113 million gas rate hike, and now they’re already starting the process of asking for more.

“Michigan families should not be treated like an endless ATM, and I will fight – just like I always have – to make sure ratepayers are not forced to shoulder unfair and excessive prices, but at some point, we have to ask when these repeated requests from DTE and Consumers Energy will end or, at the very least, when these requests will begin to reflect any ounce of respect for their ratepayers. Every single time we see these two massive, for-profit companies drag their customers before the Public Service Commission begging permission to squeeze them for more money, the review from my office and experts reveals millions of dollars in unsupported costs. In these cases, we’ve succeeded in making sure utility customers in this state don’t unfairly pay for corporate incentive programs, wasteful and inefficient spending, and even the costs of private jet travel for corporate officeholders.”

Recent rate hike requests from DTE and Consumers Energy have included such inappropriate costs as private jet travel for executive staff and other unsupported expenditures that could not be demonstrated to be reasonable or prudent. Rate hike cases currently open before the MPSC include DTE’s latest electric rate hike request (U-21860), Consumers Energy’s electric rate hike request (U-21870), and Consumers Energy’s natural gas rate hike request (U-21806).

The Attorney General has saved Michigan consumers nearly $4 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC. DTE sells natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state.
Boys Soccer Rankings

Boys Soccer Rankings

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Boys Soccer Rankings.

Written Tuesday September 16th at 8:13 AM

Here are the boys soccer rankings according to Anthony Taormina.

  1. Troy Athens- Red Hawks proving to still be the standard bearer in the Red
  2. Clarkston- Very strong bounce back season for the Wolves
  3. Berkley- Bears continue to show that you can compete as a small school in the toughest division
  4. Bloomfield Hills- Blackhawks holding steady, once again, one of the White standard bearers
  5. Royal Oak- Ravens strong once more in the White also hold a win over the Red Hawks
  6. Seaholm- Maples continuing to impress in the Red
  7. Troy- Colts are the classic Jekyll and Hyde of the Red
  8. Oxford- Wildcats showing a lot of inconsistency this season
  9. Lake Orion- Dragons slowly adjusting to life in the Red
  10. Rochester- Falcons holding their own in the White
  11. Adams- Don’t let the Highlanders record fool you, they are still a very strong program
  12. West Bloomfield- Too many losses and ties, not winning soccer for the Lakers
  13. Groves- Falcons youth has been on full display
  14. North Farmington- Raiders leading the Blue in their final year in the OAA
  15. Stoney Creek- Cougars trying to make the White a three team race
  16. Farmington- Falcons struggling in their final year in the OAA despite being in the White
  17. Ferndale- Eagles have been impressive so far in the Blue, not afraid to play teams in the White
  18. Pontiac- Phoenix staying steady in the Blue. Tie against Avondale helps

19, Avondale- Yellow Jackets struggling against the better teams but holding their own in the Blue

  1. Harper Woods- Pioneers got a big win over the Knights. Will help in the Blue standings
  2. Southfield Arts and Tech- Warriors have only played two games all season long
  3. Oak Park- Knights have not scored in the three games they have played all season
Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

Written Tuesday September 16th at 8:10 AM

By Anthony Taormina

Every year, we see a clear disparity especially among the teams in the lower divisions. Even next year when both Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott come into the OAA. It is clear that both are them are established and will field teams. One of the questions that surround certain schools is whether they will field teams or not. The lowest division, the Blue has four teams you are pretty certain will field a team but there are three teams you never know.

So, here’s the question, should Boys Soccer follow the same route as Girls Soccer.

Go Four divisions.

Give teams particularly those three teams a chance to field teams and compete with each other. The teams I talk about are Southfield Arts and Tech, Oak Park, and Harper Woods. I am concerned with the participation numbers of those three schools. I wonder what is the issue there. Lack of commitment towards Boys Soccer. A bigger commitment to other programs like football (which all three teams field great numbers in.)

The Boys Coaches simply will not go four divisions. There is a lot of pride in being in the Red, it is one of the premiere divisions in the state of Michigan. Multiple State Champions have come out of being from the Red division but something has to be done to help the smaller schools, especially the three that struggle to field competitive programs.

The Girls Coaches get it right. To help teams who struggle, they set up a Gold divisions with four teams, Pontiac, Southfield Arts and Tech, Harper Woods, and Oak Park. For the last two years, it has been successful with teams having competitive games with the other and could argue, it has benefited participation numbers with those programs. While at the same time, you have a stacked Red and a stacked White division year in and out.

It would mean reducing the Blue division but it may be worth it.

It is clear that there are teams who stand out.

The league has tried to help the three boys teams in the past by placing Pontiac and Ferndale with them but how fair is that to both those teams? Yeah they get wins but they are not seen as strong wins.

You can still have a stacked Red division and a stacked White division but something has to be done in regards to the three teams who struggle to field programs. Follow the Girls model, set a separate Gold division, and have them play home and home with each other, its six games (out of eighteen you can play). It makes a lot of sense. It encourages those kids on struggling programs to hopefully come out and play. Putting them in a three division stacked Blue is not going to help anyone, it will discourage participation at those three schools, we may be seeing it. It’s something Boys Soccer Coaches might not see when it comes to their Realignment meetings. I know they like three divisions but in regards to those three schools, something has to change.

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2025

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

Fostering Futures Scholarship

Panelist member Pura Strong and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks converse during a panel discussion at the Fostering Futures Scholarship benefit dinner in Detroit on Sept. 12, 2025.

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners to expand college opportunities for foster youth,
including landmark $50,000 donation

The Sootchy Charitable Foundation gift is the biggest ever
for Detroit foster youth to open college savings accounts

DETROIT – Collaboration and generosity were on full display at the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund benefit dinner Friday where community partners and donors rallied to support foster youth pursuing college.

The event at Detroit’s Roostertail featured a historic $50,000 gift from the Sootchy Charitable Foundation and Yoba Development, as well as a $25,529 donation from the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP), alongside other contributions and special recognitions underscoring a shared commitment to help foster youth build brighter futures through higher education.

“For over a decade, the Michigan Department of Treasury, Michigan Education Trust and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have worked together to bring hope and opportunity to Michigan’s foster youth,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “This evening is about recognizing the barriers and demonstrating how compassion and support can be the difference between a dream and reality. We believe deeply in the potential of our foster youth.”

A partnership between the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) makes Fostering Futures Scholarships possible.

“Every young person deserves the support and resources they need to pursue their educational and career dreams,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “MDHHS is proud to be part of Fostering Futures, which assists students who have experienced foster care with tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board for students at a vocation school, apprenticeship or college. For foster youth, financial support isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. By investing in their education, we’re not only helping them open doors, we’re affirming their worth and potential. ”

The fundraiser featured actor and youth advocate Dr. Malik Yoba, founder and CEO of Yoba Development and David Adefeso of the Sootchy Charitable Foundation, who announced a joint $50,000 donation to MET. The gift will establish MET education savings accounts — $1,000 each — for students at the House of Providence and for youth in the afterschool program at We Care Family Care.

More than 300 guests raised $111,000 for scholarships through MET, the Michigan Department of Treasury’s 529 prepaid tuition savings program.

In addition, MESP marked its 25th anniversary with a special gift: a $25,529 donation presented by Jennifer Burke and Chris McLeod of TIAA, Tuition Financing Inc. The donation, part of a yearlong campaign to match individual contributions to the scholarship, was in recognition of MESP’s milestone year, further expanding opportunities for Michigan foster youth. MESP is Michigan’s direct-sold investment 529 plan and partner in supporting foster youth.

Close to 10,000 youth are in the Michigan foster care system administered by MDHHS. Nationally, it is estimated that between 69% and 85% of students who have experienced foster care complete high school by their mid-20s, and just 8% to 11% go on to earn a postsecondary degree (associate or higher) — five times lower than the national average.

“The Fostering Futures Scholarship program ensures that young people who have experienced foster care are not left behind when it comes to accessing higher education,” said Robin Lott, executive director of  Treasury’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “We are grateful to every donor and partner who helps provide these students with the tools and resources they need to succeed — including the very special, ongoing support of Albert and Mitsie Scaglione and the Park West Foundation. In addition to their support for Fostering Futures Scholarship, they are helping hundreds of Detroit youth through various programs, which is dedicated to helping youth thrive as they transition from the foster care system.”

This academic year alone, 441 students at 60 different Michigan colleges and universities are benefiting from the scholarship. Since 2012, Fostering Futures events have raised more than $1.4 million, with all funds raised awarded as scholarships within the same year.

Couldn’t attend and want to make a difference?

Donate online, or mail your donation with the completed Fostering Futures Scholarship Contribution Form and a check made payable to the “State of Michigan — Fostering Futures Scholarship.”

Contributions made by Dec. 31 are eligible for federal and state income tax deductions for that year. MET’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is an IRC Section 170(c) organization, making all donations tax deductible.

To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund or to donate, go to www.michigan.gov/fosteringfutures.

Sponsors of the Detroit event were the MESP, Park West Foundation, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan Association of State Universities, Ferris State University, Güd Marketing, Lake Trust Credit Union, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan, iHeartMedia, Metro Parent, Michigan College Access Network, Orchards Children’s Services, Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program, the New Foster Care, Michigan Association of Broadcasters and WXYZ-TV 7 in Detroit.