Tips on Things to Watch for in COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

Tips on Things to Watch for in COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Regional News

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contacts:

AG: Kelly Rossman-McKinney
(c) 517-512-9342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, March 5, 2021

AG Nessel Echoes FTC’s Tips on Things to Watch for in COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

LANSING – As people across the country continue to seek vaccinations for COVID-19, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reinforcing several helpful tips offered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help residents watch for scams.

“These are unprecedented times, and as health care professionals and authorities work through the best ways to provide COVID vaccines to people who need them, there may be some confusion or misinformation circulating about exactly what to expect,” Nessel said. “Scammers will try to capitalize on these circumstances and take advantage of people by using a variety of tactics. We must all remain watchful and aware of their tricks, and I encourage people to follow these simple tips to make sure they don’t fall victim to a scam.”

While the Michigan Department of Attorney General has only received a handful of COVID-19 scam complaints, the office wants Michiganders to remain alert of attempts by bad actors to steal their money or personal information.

In a public message earlier this week, the FTC listed several tips to help people watch for such scams:

  • Don’t pay to sign up for the COVID vaccine. Anyone who asks for a payment to put you on a list, make an appointment for you, or reserve a spot in line is a scammer.
  • You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine. That’s a scam.
  • On Medicare? You don’t have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Only scammers will ask you to pay.
  • Ignore sales ads for the vaccine. You can’t buy it – anywhere. It’s only available at federal- and state-approved locations.
  • Nobody legit will call, text, or email about the vaccine to ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. That’s a scam.

The Attorney General’s office also issued a consumer alert warning about COVID-19 vaccine scams to keep residents aware of the potential threats.

Throughout National Consumer Protection Week and the entire month of March, consumers can follow along on the Department’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for daily consumer protection information.

Your connection to consumer protection is just a click or phone call away. Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or by calling 877-765-8388.

The grades are in: U.S. roads get a D+

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Transportation

The grades are in: U.S. roads get a D+

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/8082284

While the nation’s roads continue to decline, improvements in rail and some other categories raised the nation’s overall infrastructure grade to C-, a very modest improvement from the D+ grade in the 2017 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

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Andy Herrmann, a professional engineer, past president of ASCE and a member of the report card committee since 2001, says he is optimistic that Congress can agree on an infrastructure package.

He echoed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who told the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) last week, “I’m looking forward to a day when infrastructure week is no longer a ground hog’s day joke but something that delivers investments to the American People.”

In 11 of the report card’s 17 categories, the grade was in the ‘D’ range: aviation, dams, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, public parks, roads, schools, stormwater, transit, and wastewater.

The study concluded that, overall, the long-term investment gap continues to grow, as we lose value in our infrastructure.  That gap grew from $2.1 trillion over 10 years in the last report to $2.59 trillion, meaning the need now is $259 billion per year.

In terms of funding solutions, Herrmann explained why he thinks a shift away from the fuel tax and to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) makes the most sense. In his remarks to AASHTO, Sec. Buttigieg suggested a usage levy is necessary.

A Tax Foundation report in August, 2020, thoroughly explores the VMT option, observing that only three states raise enough dedicated transportation revenue to fund transportation spending.

The last Michigan-specific report card, in 2018, assigned a D- grade to roads and gave the state a D overall for infrastructure. That report concluded, simply, that “Michigan’s infrastructure is old and outdated. We’re now faced with pothole-ridden roads, bridges propped with temporary supports, sinkholes destroying homes, and closed beaches.” The report highlighted Michigan’s 21st Century Infrastructure Commission conclusion that an additional $4 billion annually is needed to maintain our infrastructure.

“Michigan must support innovative policies leading to cleaner water, smoother highways, and a safe environment that will attract business and improve our quality of life,” the report said.

View a nationwide map of Dedicated Transportation Tax Revenue, fiscal year 2017.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.
Oakland County Marks One Year Since First COVID Case

Oakland County Marks One Year Since First COVID Case

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Regional News

Oakland County Marks One Year Since First Confirmed COVID Case

  • ​Oakland Together COVID-19 Tribute Walk Begins Wednesday at Waterford Oaks
  • Invites Public to Contribute to Oakland Together Remembrance Story Map and Oakland Together Gratitude Story Map
  • County Executive Dave Coulter and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist Engage Community Leaders Tuesday about COVID Vaccine and Equity

Waterford, Michigan – Oakland County and Oakland County Parks and Recreation are commemorating one year since the first confirmed COVID-19 case with the Oakland Together COVID-19 Tribute Walk at Waterford Oaks County Park. Bluewater Technologies, known for its Glenlore Trails in Commerce Twp., has designed a half-mile long immersive and interactive light trail for visitors to reflect on the impact of the pandemic, remember those who have lost their lives to coronavirus, and give thanks to the frontline workers who continue to risk their lives to keep us healthy and safe, and express gratitude for all of those who have helped us through the last year.

“We need this moment to remember and express our feelings as a community after enduring a year of pandemic challenges, heartbreak, and even instances of inspiration,” County Executive Dave Coulter said. “The Tribute Walk will remind us of the lives who shine brightly whether they are still with us or have passed and will give us a glimpse of what we have to be thankful for as we move forward together past the pandemic.”

The Tribute Walk will kick-off Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m. with a ceremony to serve both as a special thank you to county employees and a media preview. Brandy Boyd, a Parks and Recreation employee who lost both her parents to COVID-19, will be among the speakers. Other speakers include Coulter, Oakland County Commissioner and Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Gary McGillivray, and Bluewater Technologies Chief Revenue Officer Bob Marsh. The Tribute Walk opens to invited guests at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Oakland County Executive Office will broadcast the event live on its Facebook page (@OakGov.EO).

The journey through the illuminated half-mile wooded path starts behind Lookout Lodge at Waterford Oaks County Park, located at 1702 Scott Lake Rd. in Waterford Township. Organizations and individuals impacted by the pandemic, including those who contribute to the Oakland Together Remembrance and Gratitude Story Maps (more about the story maps below), will be invited to tour the Tribute Walk the evenings of Thursday, March 11 – Sunday, March 14.

“Oakland County Parks and Recreation is honored to host the Oakland Together COVID-19 Tribute Walk and have one of our parks become a place of remembrance and solace for those who have lost family and friends during the pandemic,” McGillivray said. “This is also a time to be thankful and express gratitude to our doctors, nurses, front-line workers and others who have helped us all manage this past year. Together, supporting one another, we are stronger and will never forgot those whom we have lost.”

Beginning Thursday, March 11, the public will be able to pre-register for limited tickets for the Tribute Walk from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 15 – Sunday, March 21. Tickets are $5 per person. Bluewater Technologies will donate the net proceeds to an Oakland County charity which the company will announce later this week. There will be no walk-up admission. To register for tickets, go to oakgov.com/covid/tribute. To maintain social distancing protocols, tickets will be issued in half-hour increments through 9:30 p.m. A public livestream from the trail will be available online at oakgov.com/covid/tribute as well as streamed on the Executive Office Facebook page each night the Tribute Walk is open for those who are unable to make it in person.

“We are honored to have been recognized by Oakland County for our creation of Glenlore Trails. This was a wonderful example of the innovation that came from being under the challenges and pressures of a global pandemic,” Marsh said. “We’ve started many mini-innovations over the past year, and this is one of three different products and services that made a real impact and will shape the future of our company. This past year has been challenging to all of us both personally and professionally and I can’t wait for it all to be over, but in retrospect has also been a catalyst to try new things that otherwise we may not have and enabled us to come out of this even stronger.”

Ticket holders also are welcome to contribute to three tribute displays outside of Lookout Lodge each night the Tribute Walk is open. People can post photos of loved ones they have lost and add their name to a large Yellow Heart with Black Ribbon sign, the symbol for those lost to COVID-19. They can also write messages of gratitude for frontline workers on a large green heart. After the Tribute Walk, these tributes will become lasting memorials that will travel around public locations on the Oakland County government campus.

In addition to the Tribute Walk and tribute displays, Oakland County today launched both the Oakland Together Remembrance Story Map and the Oakland Together Gratitude Story Map for residents to honor friends and loved ones. Individuals can add the story or memory of someone they have lost to the pandemic on the Remembrance Map and share how they inspired others and contributed to our community. The Gratitude Map is an opportunity to express appreciation for those who have embodied the spirit of Oakland Together during the pandemic, from small acts of kindness for frontline workers to supporting local businesses and organizations.

Finally, on Tuesday, March 9, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will provide an update on vaccine distribution in the state and county and start a conversation on how the lessons learned from the last year can help strengthen our approach to equity beyond the pandemic. The discussion will occur over a Zoom meeting with leaders of non-profits, faith-based groups, and cultural organizations. The meeting is by invitation only. The media and the public, however, may watch the livestream from 4-5 p.m. on the Oakland County Executive Office Facebook Page (@OakGov.EO).

Editor’s Note: All media are welcome to attend the kick-off of the Oakland Together COVID-19 Tribute Walk at Waterford Oaks County Park on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m. Please indicate your attendance by emailing OaklandCountyPIO@oakgov.com. Your onsite contacts will be Bill Mullan 248-202-9668, Kathy Gray 248-285-2496, or Desiree Stanfield 248-705-4108.

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Michiganders to Turn on Lights for One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19 

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Regional News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

March 8, 2021

Contact: Press@michigan.gov

 

Governor Whitmer Asking Michiganders to Turn on Lights for One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19

 

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist are marking the one-year anniversary of the first cases of COVID-19 being diagnosed in Michigan by asking all Michiganders to turn on the lights outside of their homes on Wednesday, March 10th, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, in remembrance of the Michiganders we have lost.

 

“We’ve had a difficult year and lost so many fellow Michiganders, “said Governor Whitmer. “On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist and I urge everyone to turn on their porch lights for an hour, so that we can remember those we’ve lost and remind ourselves that even in times of darkness, we’re in this together. As we mark this occasion, we also look towards the light at the end of the tunnel. We have three safe, effective vaccines, all miracles of science, that will help protect you, your family, and others from COVID and help us get our country and the economy back to normal.”

 

“It’s been one year since COVID-19 was found in Michigan, and as a result, this virus has changed almost every aspect of our daily lives, but despite its darkness, we have seen the brightest light shine in the determined resolve of each other during these trying times,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist. “The simple act of turning on our lights is a way to remember and honor those we have lost and show that we’re all in this together and we will emerge from this crisis, together.”

 

View and download the anniversary flyer below:

 

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Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20

Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20

by | Mar 8, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Inside the OAA

Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20.

Written Sunday March 7th at 6:00 PM

Here are the top 22 and top 20 for basketball throughout the OAA. I look at how teams are playing right now as we speak and the rankings tell themselves from my point of view. Here they are.

Boys Top 22.

  1. Ferndale (8-1) – Jack Kennedy has really surprised some folks.
  2. Adams (9-3) – Jaret Thomas has done a heck of a coaching job with the Highlanders.
  3. Clarkston (9-3) – Keegan Waslik is back with a vengeance.
  4. North Farmington (6-2) – Raiders no longer control their own destiny in the Red.
  5. Lake Orion (9-2) – Dragons are clicking on all cylinders.
  6. Bloomfield Hills (7-4) – Blackhawks control their own destiny in the White.
  7. Troy (4-2) – Something doesn’t seem right with the Colts.
  8. Stoney Creek (7-3) – Trevor Smith is really carrying the Cougars on his back.
  9. Troy Athens (7-3) – Jordan Sebaugh is the key for the Red Hawks.
  10. Groves (4-5) – Falcons are more than capable of pulling off an upset.
  11. Pontiac (6-0) – Phoenix are rising but would like to see them play some non league teams.
  12. Berkley (4-6) – It wasn’t a great week for the Bears.
  13. West Bloomfield (3-7) – Lakers have been very streaky lately.
  14. Farmington (3-8) – Falcons have been very inconsistent.
  15. Oak Park (3-6) – Knights have been a mystery team right now.
  16. Rochester (6-5) – Falcons no longer control their own destiny in the Gold right now.
  17. Oxford (4-7) – Wildcats are as good as Mason Mulholland takes them.
  18. Seaholm (3-7) – Maples are as good as Johnny Cross takes them.
  19. Southfield Arts and Tech (2-7) – Warriors are very suspect right now.
  20. Avondale (4-6) – Yellow Jackets haven’t been the same since the loss to Seaholm.
  21. Royal Oak (1-8) – Ravens picked up a monster win over Ferndale University this past week.
  22. Ferndale University (0-8) – Rising Eagles are still getting used to life in the OAA.

 

 

Girls Top 20.

  1. West Bloomfield (8-1) – Lakers looking strong on all cylinders
  2. Clarkston (9-2) – Wolves have been scoring in bunches lately.
  3. Stoney Creek (9-1) – Cougars rolling right now.
  4. Troy (7-4) – Colts holding strong in the White.
  5. Groves (7-5) – Falcons are going to be a dangerous team come postseason time.
  6. Royal Oak (6-4) – Ravens are starting to put things together.
  7. Oxford (7-3) – Myranda Wynnabego has been a difference maker for the Wildcats.
  8. Farmington (8-3) – Autumn Bartlett has been the glue for the Falcons.
  9. Adams (6-3) – Highlanders are still a really odd team to figure out.
  10. Lake Orion (6-6) – Dragons haven’t been the same team since losing to Oxford.
  11. Rochester (3-4) – Falcons are back on the court which is a good sign.
  12. Berkley (6-4) – Ashley Loon has been the key to the Bears success.
  13. Troy Athens (4-6) – Gillian Ciak has been playing well for the Red Hawks lately.
  14. North Farmington (2-7) – Heaven Rogers has played well for the Raiders in this stretch.
  15. Southfield Arts and Tech (1-8) – Warriors got their first win for new coach Shaquila Coltrane.
  16. Seaholm (2-8) – Maples struggling a little bit.
  17. Oak Park (2-2) – Knights have done well against Ferndale University but others not so much.
  18. Ferndale University (2-4) – It’s still going to take some time for the Rising Eagles to get used to the OAA.
  19. Bloomfield Hills (0-8) – Blackhawks really struggling right now.
  20. Avondale (0-7) – Yellow Jackets really struggling right now.