by Becky Andrus | May 25, 2022 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2022
CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
MDHHS is reminding Michigan residents how to stay safe in the water this summer during Healthy and Safe Swimming Week
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is encouraging residents to maximize the health benefits of swimming while practicing safe and healthy habits. Each of us has a role in preventing illnesses and injuries when we swim, play and relax in the water — during the summer and year-round. As part of these efforts, MDHHS is recognizing May 23-29 as Healthy and Safe Swimming Week.
“Everyone plays a role in preventing pool-related illnesses, injuries and deaths,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for MDHHS. “Use proper hygiene when maintaining and using pools, make sure you and loved ones have basic swimming and water safety skills when partaking in water sports, and prevent access to backyard pools when not supervised.”
Between 2012 and 2021, 19 outbreaks reported in Michigan were linked to swimming in treated and untreated water locations including pools, hot tubs and freshwater lakes. More than 713 estimated recreational water illnesses including illness due to E. coli and Legionella (confirmed or suspected) were reported — likely an underestimate.
It’s also important to prevent pool-related injuries, such as drowning or those caused by mishandling pool chemicals. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4. In the Great Lakes, over 1,000 drownings have occurred between 2010 and 2021.
Here’s what you can do to keep your family safe and healthy this swimming season:
Keep germs out of the water and out of your body.
- Don’t swallow the water.
- Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.
- Shower before you get in the water.
- Don’t pee or poop in the water.
- Take children on bathroom breaks or check diapers every hour. Change diapers away from the water to keep germs from getting in.
Keep swimmers and boaters safe in the water.
- Make sure everyone has basic swimming and water safety skills.
- Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets appropriately.
- Choose a responsible adult to provide continuous, attentive supervision close to swimmers.
- Know how to recognize and respond to a swimmer in distress and how to perform CPR.
- Prevent access to backyard pools when not supervised.
- Get your boating safety certificate (required for boaters born after June 30, 1996, and most personal watercraft operators). Click on “Boating Safety Certificate” at Michigan.gov/Boating.
Use chemicals safely in your pools.
- Read and follow directions on product labels.
- Open chemical containers safely, using proper protective equipment, in a well-ventilated area.
- NEVER mix different pool chemicals with each other, especially chlorine products with acid. Add the pool chemical to water, never add water to pool chemical.
- Store pool chemicals securely.
For more information and safety tips on preventing swimming illness and injury, visit Cdc.gov/HealthyWater/Swimming. |
by Becky Andrus | May 25, 2022 | Regional News
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Friend –
I have long believed that you cannot be a great country if you don’t make things.
But for far too long we have relied on foreign competitors for critical goods and products that our companies and workers need to be successful. We’re seeing it now with the semiconductor chip shortage.
It’s something I’ve been focused on addressing in the Senate – particularly as the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – and that’s why I’m honored to be serving on the conference committee tasked with finalizing the U.S. economic competitiveness legislation that has passed both the House and Senate.
At the first meeting of this bipartisan, bicameral committee, I stressed the need to invest in domestic semiconductor chip production – and fully fund the CHIPS Act to prevent another shortage like the one we are experiencing now.
To watch video of my remarks at the conference committee’s first meeting, click here.
The Senate-version of this legislation that I helped pass last year includes $50 billion to increase production of semiconductors – and I added an additional $2 billion in new funding for mature semiconductor technologies that critical manufacturing industries – like the auto industry – rely on.
I can’t stress enough that a strong economic competitiveness bill is key to ensuring that we can create jobs, outcompete anyone on the global stage – including the Chinese government – and continue to lead in manufacturing both in Michigan and across the country.
That’s why I am honored to be serving on the conference committee and look forward to getting this vital legislation signed into law as quickly as possible.
Thanks for reading,
Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan |
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by Becky Andrus | May 25, 2022 | Local News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prem Mukherjee
Email: [email protected]
Grants to be awarded to children’s based charities by local renowned
fine art portrait studio.
LAKE ORION, MI — Arising Images, a local Lake Orion portrait studio, is offering an opportunity to submit applications for a charitable grant. Organizations must be a 501(c) 3 within 75 miles of the Lake Orion community and provide programs and/or services that focus on children. Multiple grants between $15k-$30k will be awarded.
Locally owned and operated by Prem and Cheridy Mukherjee since 2004, Arising Images is excited to open up this donation opportunity to the many worthy causes in the area. Prem says, “Supporting the mission of the good people doing the good works of providing programs & services to children in the community really aligns with our vision to help kids realize they are valued and important. By capturing their strength and inner beauty through portraits, our goal is always to reinforce their self-worth and build confidence. We also know that the process for applying and obtaining grants can be challenging for smaller charities so we have made the process to apply and be considered very simple. It really just seemed like a great marriage of our values.”
To be considered for a donation, organizations will submit an application on or before the deadline of July 31, 2022. After careful review, finalists will be notified and invited to do a short, in-person presentation at a date/time to be announced.
Complete submission criteria and application link is available at: https://arisingimages.com/grant_application/; Arising Images FB; or request by email at [email protected]. For more information, please call 248-720-5848.
About Arising Images
Arising Images, a Michigan boutique studio, specializes in children’s fantasy portraits that capture their innocence and amazement with mystical forest friends and magic in a lush realistic forest setting. Fine Art Photographer’s provide artistic images and heirloom quality products that last a lifetime and create a memorable family experience.
by Becky Andrus | May 24, 2022 | Regional News
PHOTOS: Lt. Governor Gilchrist Tours Rebuilding Michigan Project in Lansing
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II inspected the progress made on the I-69 Rebuilding Michigan Project in Lansing. This project is one of over 20 Rebuilding Michigan projects that invest a historic $3.5 Billion into Michigan’s Infrastructure – without raising taxes.
“I wanted to come visit the I-69 revitalization project in Clinton County to see how our administration’s investments in infrastructure are making a difference. We are investing approximately $65 million to rebuild I-69 from I-96 to Airport Road, reconstruct the interchanges at Francis and Airport roads, and perform preventative maintenance on 13 bridges,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Throughout Michigan, we are rebuilding roads and bridges using the right mix of materials to ensure that our roads are safe, create good-paying jobs, and support local economies and small businesses. Through the end of this year, we will have fixed over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, directly supporting nearly 89,000 jobs.”
Project Profile: I-69 in Clinton and Eaton Counties
The I-69 revitalization project in Clinton County invests $73 million to rebuild I-69 from I-96 to Airport Road, reconstruct the interchanges at Francis and Airport roads and perform preventative maintenance on 13 bridges. This investment supports 927 jobs and revitalizes an important route for commuter, commercial, and tourism traffic.
Historic Infrastructure Investments
Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have already fixed over 13,000 lane miles of road and 903 bridges, supporting nearly 82,000 jobs. These and future repairs are made possible by two historic investments, the Rebuilding Michigan plan, a 5-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges without an increase at the pump, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, the largest one-time investment in Michigan’s infrastructure in state history. These strategic investments in Michigan’s critical infrastructure ensures future Michiganders will have safe roadways and bridges to run errands, travel, and build a stronger economy.
Learn more about the Whitmer – Gilchrist Administrations historic infrastructure investments here.
by Becky Andrus | May 24, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Announces Michiganders to Receive Additional Assistance in May to Lower the Cost of Groceries
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced all Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits will continue to receive at least an additional $95 monthly payment in May to help lower the cost of groceries and ensure Michiganders can keep more of their hard-earned money. The additional assistance will help approximately 1.36 million Michiganders in more than 700,000 households.
“Michiganders will continue to be able to put nutritious food on the table thanks to our ongoing partnership with the federal government,” said Governor Whitmer. “In addition to helping Michigan families lower their out-of-pocket food costs, this collaboration has helped us continue to grow our economy by returning federal dollars to Michigan. I will work with anyone to lower costs for Michiganders and get things done that make a real difference in their lives.”
In April 2020, some Michigan residents began receiving additional food assistance under this program. In May 2021, all eligible households began getting extra monthly benefits. Federal approval is necessary every month.
Eligible clients who receive food assistance are seeing additional benefits on their Bridge Card from May 14-23. These benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance provided earlier in the month.
All households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) receive an increase of at least $95 monthly, even if they are already receiving the maximum payment or are close to that amount. Households that received more than $95 to bring them to the maximum payment for their group size will continue to receive that larger amount.
Below are the maximum allowable benefits for SNAP customers based on their respective household size:
- One Person: $250
- Two Persons: $459
- Three Persons: $658
- Four Persons: $835
- Five Persons: $992
- Six Persons: $1,190
- Seven Persons: $1,316
- Eight Persons: $1,504
Secured by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow as Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, the federal government is providing additional funding to states for food assistance under House Resolution 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or calling a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.
Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Spanish and Arabic service is available. If you are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing or speech-impaired, call the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1.
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