by Becky Andrus | Aug 30, 2024 | Environmental
Oakland County Achieves LEED Gold in Environmental Leadership
Post Date:08/28/2024 3:40 PM
- Oakland County earned LEED Gold® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
- The USGBC recognizes the county’s commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability practices.
- Oakland County is part of a growing group of governments certified using the LEED for Cities & Communities rating system.
Pontiac, Mich. – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certified all of Oakland County as LEED® Gold because of its commitment to improving holistic, county-wide sustainability practices.
The LEED Gold recognition means Oakland County earned high scores countywide for its green spaces, natural resource conservation and restoration efforts, as well as resilience and emergency planning. Many other factors are included in the measurement such as quality of life aspects including low unemployment rates, high education completion rates, favorable median air quality index numbers and low incidences of violent crimes.
Environmental sustainability is one of eight strategic goals by County Executive Dave Coulter’s administration that guide Oakland County.
“Oakland County’s achievement of LEED Gold certification underscores our deep commitment to sustainability and reflects County Executive Dave Coulter’s vision of fostering healthier, more resilient communities,” Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell said. “This recognition is a testament to the county and its communities driving real, measurable change in environmental stewardship and quality of life for our residents.”
Local governments and communities achieve the certification by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents. LEED is designed to help buildings, communities and cities achieve high performance in key areas of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
During certification, communities implement plans to reduce their energy consumption, carbon emissions, and more to improve air and water quality, foster better health outcomes, and create green jobs. LEED also helps communities track and measure their efforts against key quality of life metrics, such as education, safety, prosperity and equitability.
Oakland County also earned gold certification for its environmental leadership from the statewide Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program in May.
About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated to create thriving, healthy, equitable and resilient places that advance human and environmental wellbeing. USGBC leads market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
by Becky Andrus | Jul 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
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News Release
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July 30, 2024
Contact: Katie Grzesiak, 231-492-7811, or Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814
Five other plants get new common names
Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), an invasive plant that has been cropping up in floodplain forests in mid-Michigan, has been added to the state’s invasive species watch list. The designation recognizes the threat the plant poses to native habitats and encourages public reporting of lesser celandine sightings.
The addition was part of an annual review of the watch list, which also provided Michigan’s Invasive Species Program the opportunity to update the common names of five terrestrial (land-based) plants, opting for descriptive names over those referring to places of origin.
Lesser celandine
Lesser celandine (pronounced seh·luhn·dine) is a non-native, low-growing perennial plant in the buttercup family, most often found along streams and in forested floodplains. Characterized by heart-shaped leaves and glossy yellow flowers, it can spread by seeds, tubers (underground stems) and bulbils (tiny bulblike structures where the leaf meets the stem). These three methods of reproduction allow the plant to spread rapidly in areas with disturbed soils, including banks scoured by flooding, paths and open areas, crowding out native plants like spring beauties and trilliums, which inhabit similar spaces.
 As a spring ephemeral – a short-lived species that sprouts early in spring, flowers, goes to seed and then completely dies back and disappears well before summer begins – lesser celandine is particularly difficult to control.
“Lesser celandine isn’t a regulated species in Michigan, and it’s not commonly sold today, but it was first brought here as a spring interest species for gardens,” said Susie Iott, invasive species program specialist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It recently has been identified in some areas of the Grand River watershed, but lesser celandine may be in other locations as well. |
 “With the prioritization afforded by the watch list, we’re hoping reports by partners and the public can help us understand how far the invasion extends so we can make the best decisions about how to steward our resources – both financial and natural,” said Katie Grzesiak, terrestrial invasive species coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Sightings of lesser celandine, visible in early spring, can be reported through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network or on the free MISIN app. Note that Michigan’s native marsh-marigold can be confused for lesser celandine, but it is often two to four times the size of lesser celandine, growing up to 2 feet tall, with larger flowers and leaves that last throughout the summer.
More information on identifying, reporting and preventing the introduction or spread of watch list species is available at Michigan.gov/Invasives/ID-Report/Watchlist. |
Name changes
As part of a broader effort to improve naming of invasive species to better communicate their descriptions while avoiding place-based or potentially derogatory terms, five terrestrial plants are getting updated common names on Michigan’s invasive species website.
- Calligraphy sedge will replace Asiatic sand sedge as the common name for Carex kobomugi, a species not known to be present in Michigan.
- Chaff flower will be used instead of Japanese chaff flower to refer to Achyranthese japonica, an invasive floodplain plant not known to be present in Michigan.
- Cinnamon vine will be used as the common name for Discorea polystachya. Formerly referred to as Chinese yam, this fast-growing vine with potatolike tubers is found in several locations in Michigan.
- Purple jewelweed will be used in place of Himalayan balsam as the common name for Impatiens glandulifera, an invasive flowering plant found in areas of the Upper Peninsula.
- Stiltgrass will replace Japanese stiltgrass as the common name for Microstegium vimineum, an invasive annual grass found in some areas of southern Michigan.
 “Each known plant and animal species has a single scientific name, usually in Latin, which is used as its primary identifier. Common names are the nicknames we give to species,” said Grzesiak. “Sometimes they are descriptive of the plant, and other times they might relate to a species’ perceived origin or qualities.”
Many plants, especially those considered weeds, can have several common names. For example, common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is also known as golden buttons, bitter buttons and cow bitters.
“In choosing appropriate common names, we look first at what other states and countries are calling these plants,” said Grzesiak. “If there isn’t a good candidate, we think about identifying characteristics, historic uses or in what kind of habitat they’re found.” |
The scientific, Latin names of the species won’t be changed, and the previous common names will remain as references on State of Michigan webpages for the foreseeable future to assist with the transition. The Michigan Invasive Species Program plans to work with regional and national partners to continue evaluating common names of watch list species.
What is the watch list?
Michigan’s watch list identifies species that pose an immediate or potential threat to the economy, environment or human health. Watch list species have limited known distribution or have never been confirmed in the wild in the state. Michigan’s Invasive Species Program prioritizes watch list species and encourages the public to report potential sightings and take precautions to prevent establishment or limit their spread.
Several factors are considered in evaluating species for watch list status, including risk assessments, proximity of populations to Michigan, harmful characteristics and availability of control methods.
Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Department of Natural Resources; and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Celandine plant: Lesser celandine is a spring ephemeral plant with shiny green leaves and glossy yellow flowers. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR.
Celandine trail: In early spring, lesser celandine covers the ground beside a paved trail near the Grand River in Michigan. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR.
Bulbils: Small bulbils, capable of producing new plants, grow between the leaf base and stem on a lesser celandine plant. Photo courtesy of Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org.
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by Becky Andrus | Jun 24, 2024 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2024
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
More than 2.6 million Michigan residents enrolled
in Medicaid following year-long redetermination process
Nearly 142,000 beneficiaries renew coverage in May;
1.8 million renewed their coverage during the past year
LANSING, Mich. – As the year-long post-pandemic Medicaid redetermination process draws to a close, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced it renewed Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan coverage for an additional 141,992 people whose eligibility was up for renewal in May. More than 1.8 million beneficiaries have renewed their insurance coverage during the process, bringing the total Medicaid enrollment to 2.6 million.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people continued to receive Medicaid without having to renew annually under the Families First Coronavirus Act. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 ended the pause on annual redeterminations. Michigan reinstated the renewal process beginning in May 2023. The renewal process will continue annually going forward.
“More than 2.6 million people currently have health care coverage through Medicaid or the Healthy Michigan Plan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This was the largest renewal process our state has ever conducted, with 1.8 million beneficiaries renewing their coverage during the past year. MDHHS employed numerous successful strategies to help ensure those families continued to have health care coverage.”
Strategies making the renewal process easier and that reduced the number of residents at risk of losing coverage have been approved through June 2025 by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These include:
- Renewing Medicaid eligibility for people receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program without conducting separate income determinations.
- Reinstating eligibility for people who were disenrolled for procedural reasons and are subsequently redetermined to be eligible for Medicaid during a 90-day reconsideration period.
- Providing beneficiaries an extra month to submit paperwork to avoid loss of health care coverage.
- Renewing Medicaid eligibility based on a simplified asset verification process.
- Continuing robust beneficiary outreach via phone, text and email.
These tactics resulted in:
- Thirty percent of beneficiaries disenrolled being reinstated during the 90-day reconsideration period.
- One in 4 individuals who lost Medicaid coverage have other comprehensive health care coverage today.
The latest data on Medicaid renewals can be found on MDHHS’ online dashboard. The dashboard, which is updated monthly, shows that 1,842,038 million people have been renewed to date. The department is awaiting completed enrollment forms from another 94,723 people who were up for renewal in May and have until the end of June to return paperwork.
There were 12,402 people disenrolled in May because they were no longer eligible and 1,954 whose eligibility was not renewed for procedural reasons, such as not providing verification documents like a driver’s license, pay stubs and bank statements. MDHHS advises all Medicaid enrollees to check their renewal month and renew online at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.
Families should return renewal paperwork even if they believe they are no longer eligible for Medicaid. Some members of a household can obtain health care coverage even when others are not eligible. For example, a child may be eligible for MiChild, even if their parent is not eligible for other Medicaid programs. Or some Michiganders may have income that is over the income limit for one program and still be able to obtain health care benefits through another program.
Those who no longer qualify will receive additional information about other affordable health coverage options available, including on HealthCare.gov. Affected Michiganders can shop for and enroll in comprehensive health insurance as they transition away from Medicaid. Many can purchase a plan for less than $10 per month. Medicaid beneficiaries can learn more, including what they need to do to prepare for renewals, on the Medicaid Benefit Changes website. |
by Becky Andrus | May 30, 2024 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2024
CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
Additional influenza A (H5) case detected in Michigan
Risk to general public remains low
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is announcing an additional case of influenza A (H5) in a Michigan farmworker, who worked closely with influenza A (H5) positive cows. This worker was employed at a different farm than the case announced on May 22. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to highlight that the risk to the public remains low; this farm worker was quickly provided antivirals and is recovering from respiratory symptoms.
This virus has been associated with the ongoing multistate outbreak of influenza A (H5N1). As part of the ongoing response, state and local public health are closely monitoring for potential human cases, which can occur sporadically in individuals with close contact to infected animals. It is not unexpected that comprehensive testing is identifying sporadic human infections in farm workers.
“Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan. Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow. Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important tool in preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low.”
“In Michigan, we continue to respond to influenza A (H5N1) with a one-health approach, working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to address human and animal health,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring. “Proper use of personal protective equipment is the best tool we have to protect farm workers. MDARD is currently offering assistance to dairy farms in need of additional protective equipment. MDARD has and will continue to take bold actions to assist farms impacted by this disease.”
MDHHS recommends seasonal flu vaccination for people working on poultry or dairy farms. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
MDHHS will be posting additional case identifications at Michigan.gov/influenzaA.
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by Becky Andrus | May 9, 2024 | Entertainment, Feature Writers, Music, Pop Culture
For many years, Dua Lipa has had a stranglehold on pop music. Releasing her first studio album back in 2017, she has been keen on the recent trends of the genre, transforming from RnB-inspired electropop, to anthemic dance-pop hits, and now psychedelic euro disco grooves.
Top charters like “Don’t Stop Now,” “Physical” and “Levitating” (along with its DaBaby remix,) have proved that Dua Lipa can tap into the pulse of the pop music zeitgeist – however, with her most recent studio outing, “Radical Optimism,” Dua seems to be losing her place on top of the pop music totem pole.
To start off the record, the first track “End Of An Era,” both indicates the end of Dua’s previous musical era, the “Future Nostalgia/Dance the Night Away” era, as well as the end and start of a new, exciting relationship in her life.
“No more ‘you’re not my type’, no more ‘at least I tried’/Done with the lonely nights, I guess/One chapter might be done, God knows I had some fun/New one has just begun,” Dua Lipa sings in “End Of An Era.”
As she has stated in countless interviews and press-releases, through self-reflection, Dua has a new outlook on life and the world through music she has been listening to for the past five years.
However, this perspective does not translate on the first song. Dua kicks off the record with a track indistinguishable from about half of the other songs on the record: samey-sounding synths, bass, drums and even vocals plague “Radical Optimism.”
The problem with an album like “Radical Optimism” is that the influences that Dua identifies and factors contributing to the album’s sound just are not present on most of the tracks.
“At the same time, I found myself looking through the music history of psychedelia, trip hop, and Britpop. It has always felt so confidently optimistic to me, and that honesty and attitude is a feeling I took into my recording sessions,” Dua shared when first teasing the record.
Dua Lipa also has worked with several producers who work on alternative and electronic music, including Danny L Harle and Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala.)
These ideas all seem interesting, provocative and innovative – but why does the album sound so manufactured and faltered.
The simple (yet speculative) answer is that Dua Lipa is signed to Warner Records UK, which is a ginormous music company. Labels like Warner snatch rising stars, sign them to lengthy and demanding contracts, all while filtering their visions and condensing their products to sell to the lowest common denominator.
Tracks like “End Of An Era,” Falling Forever,” “Whatcha Doing,” “Anything For Love” and “Maria” all contain incredibly similar elements and structure, not changing or contributing to the evolution of the album’s sound.
Frankly, the jump from a record like 2020’s “Future Nostalgia” and even the single “Dance The Night Away” from the “Barbie” movie soundtrack to “Radical Optimism” is downright depressing.
The few tracks on here that I can find some sense of unique identity in, like “Houdini and “These Walls” – feel as though they are the last remaining pieces of an album lost to weeks and months of executive board room filtering.
Although Dua seems to have gained a newfound appreciation for the world and has transferred that new outlook into her music – I do not buy it.
