Hundreds of road projects take shape
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Whitmer Issues Proclamation Kicking Off Earth Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2022 Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Issues Proclamation Kicking Off Earth Week in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Whitmer today proclaimed April 18-24 as Earth Week in Michigan, celebrating the administration’s record investments in water infrastructure, and our state and local parks, which will create jobs, boost our economy, and ensure that all families can safely enjoy Michigan’s natural features.
“On Earth Day, we recommit ourselves to protecting the planet we all love and call home,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am proud of the investments we have made to protect our Great Lakes, improve our parks, and preserve public land. Protecting our planet is on all of us, and we will continue working together to tackle climate change, invest in clean energy, and safeguard Pure Michigan for generations to come.”
Governor Whitmer is committed to defending our Great Lakes, mitigating the impacts of climate change on our communities, and creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in industries of the future. She understands the health of our economy is inextricably linked to the health of our people and our planet.
Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has invested more resources into water infrastructure than the previous eight years combined. These investments support good-paying jobs and ensure every parent can give their kid a glass of drinking water and know it’s safe. She launched the MI Healthy Climate Plan to move all sectors of our economy to carbon neutral by 2050 and ensure marginalized communities impacted by climate change will benefit from our energy transition. The governor has made critical investments in our parks, trails, and public lands to create jobs, boost surrounding economies, and ensure that all families can enjoy “Pure Michigan.
Read more about Governor Whitmer’s accomplishments to protect Michigan’s natural resources:
View the full proclamation below:
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim
April 18-24, 2022 as EARTH WEEK
WHEREAS, together, we can overcome environmental challenges and leave our future generations with cleaner air and water and a healthier environment; and,
WHEREAS, since April 22, 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated annually across the globe to confront our most pressing environmental issues and to unite around a shared mission of protecting the environment we live in and providing our future generations with a safe and sustainable future; and,
WHEREAS, Earth Day is a valuable opportunity to renew our commitment to preserving and protecting our Earth through community service, responsible stewardship, and daily practices; and,
WHEREAS, although we have made some progress over the years, the global community still faces challenges including climate change, environmental destruction, deforestation, and air and water pollution; and,
WHEREAS, each and every one of us can contribute to protecting and preserving the planet we share through individual acts such as making our next meal plant-based, using reusable bags, and reducing plastic waste; and,
WHEREAS, at a community level, we can adapt education systems to enhance climate and environmental literacy, advocate for climate action at our schools and workplaces, and volunteer at local environmental organizations; and,
WHEREAS, in 2020, my administration announced the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which aims to protect Michiganders’ public health and the environment and help develop new clean energy jobs by putting Michigan on a path towards becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2050; and,
WHEREAS, during this week, and especially on Earth Day we should appreciate the planet we live on, recognize the many environmental issues we are facing, and recommit ourselves to doing our part to “Invest In Our Planet,” as this year’s Earth Day theme calls for;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim April 18-24, 2022 as Earth Week and April 22, 2022 as Earth Day in Michigan. |
More than $900 Million in Auto Insurance Refunds Returned
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2022 Contact: [email protected] DIFS Consumer Hotline: 833-ASK-DIFS, [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Announces More than $900 Million in Auto Insurance Refunds Already Returned to Eligible Michiganders $3 billion in refunds to be sent out to eligible Michiganders by May 9, 2022
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced today that nearly a third of eligible Michiganders have already received their $400 auto refund checks from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) catastrophic fund surplus. According to data gathered by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), more than $906 million of the total $3 billion in surplus funds has been returned to Michigan drivers. Auto insurers have until May 9 to deliver the remaining $2.1 billion via checks or deposit to eligible drivers.
“Thanks to our bipartisan auto insurance reform, Michigan drivers are receiving $400 refund checks per vehicle. Already, more than $906 million has been put back into the pockets of Michiganders and into our economy, and another $2.1 billion is on the way,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “We will continue working together to put Michigan drivers first. Keep an eye out for your $400 refund!”
“Ensuring that every eligible Michigander receives their refund check or ACH deposit as quickly as possible is a top priority for DIFS,” said DIFS Director Anita Fox. “If you are eligible for a refund and don’t receive it on or before May 9, or if your insurer offers your refund through something other than a paper check or ACH deposit, contact your company. If you cannot reach a resolution with your insurance company, call DIFS at 833-ASK-DIFS Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance, or visit Michigan.gov/MCCArefund for more information.”
As a result of the cost controls, consumer protections, and other savings put into place by the state’s new bipartisan auto insurance law, the MCCA catastrophic fund had a $5 billion surplus as of June 2021. In November 2021, Governor Whitmer called on the MCCA to return the maximum amount of surplus funds back to Michigan drivers while ensuring the viability of the fund. After completing a data verification process, the MCCA transferred $3 billion to the Michigan insurers responsible for issuing refunds to eligible drivers, while retaining $2 billion of the surplus to ensure continuity of care for accident survivors. This transfer, initiated on March 9, triggered the 60-day deadline imposed by DIFS for insurers to issue refunds to eligible Michiganders.
To be eligible for a refund, Michiganders must have had a car, motorcycle, or RV that was insured to drive legally on Michigan roads as of 11:59 p.m. Oct. 31, 2021. The refunds are $400 per vehicle or $80 per historic vehicle and must be sent in the form of a paper check or an ACH deposit no later than May 9, 2022. do not need to do anything to receive their refund but they may wish to verify their address or banking information with their insurance company to prevent delays.
Eligible drivers who do not receive their refunds by the deadline should contact their auto insurer or agent. For questions or concerns that cannot be resolved directly by an auto insurer, contact DIFS by calling Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 833-ASK-DIFS (833-275-3437) or by emailing [email protected]. More information is available at Michigan.gov/MCCArefund.
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2021 deer seasons included targeted CWD surveillance
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Though Michigan’s 2021 deer hunting seasons ended in late January 2022, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is continuing to accept feedback from hunters about their experiences. Hunter harvest surveys have been sent to a random sample of the state’s deer hunters. In addition, hunters can take a 
“It was not unexpected to find positive cases in Isabella County, as these detections were fairly close to where we’ve identified cases in Montcalm and northern Gratiot County,” said DNR deer and elk specialist Chad Stewart. “Our main areas of infection remain in parts of Montcalm and northeast Kent counties, as well as southern Jackson County, where we knew CWD existed going into the 2021 hunting season.”
CWD surveillance moving forward
Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2022 CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected] Hometown Health Heroes and Jean Chabut Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health Week partnership LANSING, Mich. – As part of National Public Health Week, ten individuals and organizations will be presented with the 2022 Hometown Health Hero and Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion awards for their contributions to protecting and improving the health of Michigan. Hometown Health Hero awards are presented every spring as part of Michigan Public Health Week. “Our Hometown Health Hero awards are a way for us to highlight selfless and dedicated champions of public health who are making incredible efforts to improve the lives of Michigan residents,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “We celebrate all efforts, no matter how small or large, of health care professionals who make a positive impact on our state.” 2022 Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award There are three recipients this year of the Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award. All share the same profession: they are health officers for local health departments in Michigan. These individuals were nominated either by a member of their staff or members of their community. They have demonstrated an untiring commitment to the health and safety of their communities. Martha Hall, Lenawee County Health Department Martha serves as the leader of the county health department and has been at the forefront of Lenawee County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the start of the pandemic in February 2020, she has worked tirelessly to protect local residents and has been the guiding force behind all efforts made by the Lenawee County Health Department to slow the spread of COVID-19. Martha has focused efforts on providing personal protective equipment to health care workers, providing consistent communication to the community offering best practices and up-to-date information to keep residents safe from COVID-19, increasing health department staffing levels to provide adequate case management and protecting vulnerable community members by organizing mass vaccination clinics. Kathy Moore, Public Health Muskegon County Kathy collaborated with community partners in the Muskegon area to make sure information was continuously available and accessible to members of her community. She has been able to respond to the area’s needs in a timely manner – taking calls early in the day to late at night. Kathy’s efforts included COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites, while being a source of accurate information for residents. Dr. Annette Mercatante, St. Clair County Health Department In St. Clair County, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Annette Mercatante, awareness of health equity, social determinants of health, adverse childhood events and convened communities (education, social services, substance use/prevention) increased. Additionally, her work with overdose and drug use has created a positive improvement within the St. Clair community as overdose numbers are declining. Her most compelling contributions are the community convening and conversations that are going on with groups aligning for similar missions to improve public health in a way that did not happen before Dr. Mercatante became both the public health officer and medical director 10 years ago. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Mercatante has made herself available and accessible to community and business leaders. She coordinated vaccination clinics, carefully tracked COVID-19 cases, issued mask mandates when necessary and coordinated the day-to-day county-wide response to COVID-19. Dr. Mercatante has ensured support for her staff’s mental health needs, and genuinely cares for her community. She was named “Blue Water Woman Medical Professional of the Year” due to her exceptional efforts to improve public health over the last decade. 2022 Hometown Health Hero Award Winners Wil Cwikiel, Beaver Island Wil Cwikiel, superintendent-principal of Beaver Island Community Schools, advocated with the local health department for COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Beaver Island, helped the local health department and his rural health center coordinate the clinics and allowed the use of school facilities for COVID-19 and general vaccination clinics. Despite having only a small rural health center and no hospital, in addition to physical and distance barriers, 85.8% of Beaver Island residents are fully vaccinated. In addition to promoting these clinics, Cwikiel volunteered at many of those held at his school while handling his day-to-day responsibilities when school was in session. Need Our Water (NOW), Oscoda Need Our Water (NOW) is a grassroots community action group made up of volunteers who are interested in the cleanup and preservation of Oscoda area natural resources from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination and its harmful impacts to humans and wildlife. For more than five years, NOW has been working to increase awareness around PFAS in ground water and recreational waters and advocating for a health study or assessment that will add to the current research surrounding the health impacts caused by PFAS consumption and contamination. Maria Militzer, Washtenaw County Maria Militzer, president of Mexiquenses en Michigan, expanded their partnership with the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) to address the community’s needs related to COVID-19, including access to vaccination and other resources. Advocates and activists connected with Mexiquenses en Michigan have lent their time, influence and resources to ensure that populations hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to vaccinations, personal protective equipment, including KN95 masks and transportation to vaccine appointments. The ongoing partnership with this organization ensures materials are made available in Spanish, and that interpreters and translators are consistently present at community clinics, often as volunteers. Since the beginning of the partnership with the WCHD, community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics have been held in manufactured home communities, restaurants and places of worship in the areas most impacted by the pandemic. Jennifer Stambaugh, Gratiot County Jennifer Stambaugh has taken it upon herself to expand the services provided at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Gratiot County by adding tools and activities to the menu of services offered at the center. These include:
Veronica McNally, West Bloomfield Veronica McNally is an attorney by profession, but in her spare time is the Founder and Director of the Franny Strong Foundation and an integral partner in the I Vaccinate campaign. She also serves as the only consumer representative on the U.S. Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP). McNally has reviewed and guided vaccination surveys and focus groups that have gauged parents’ questions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. She has used that input to ask questions and request data during the ACIP vaccination review process. McNally’s family launched the Franny Strong Foundation in honor of their daughter, and in 2016 they secured funding for what has become a revolutionary statewide public health campaign called I Vaccinate. The campaign is based on feedback from Michigan parents and bridges the knowledge gap between parents and health providers – providing parents with credible answers to their questions and the science-based information they need to protect their kids. This work led to her ACIP appointment, and her voice and experience have provided an invaluable perspective to the historic COVID-19 vaccine approval process. Kelly Hostetler, St. Joseph County In July 2021, Kelly Hostetler partnered with the St. Joseph County Health Commission’s Access to Healthcare Committee to design and execute a plan targeting the COVID-19 vaccination rate. The program provided COVID-19 vaccinations, free wellness screenings, a free dinner, $25 gift cards to local businesses for participants and vaccine hesitancy training to partnering agencies and community leaders. Hostetler also partnered with Swick Media to promote the clinics with pre-event advertising and day-of-event remote broadcasts. Through these efforts the vaccination rate improved to over 50% with one dose of vaccine by Oct. 3, 2021. Volunteer Contact Tracers for MDHHS This group of residents have served as volunteer COVID-19 contact tracers for MDHHS since May 2020. They dedicated more than 150 hours of their own time to help support contact tracing efforts before permanent staff were in place, and provided feedback on the technology and scripts and called thousands of people in Michigan about their COVID-19 status. These dedicated volunteers include: Ellen Ives Susan Morrel-Samuels Tim Reade Deborah Brunelle Patti Kelly Alice Schuman Amy Singer Dawn Ferran Elizabeth Anderson Karen Pfeffer Mary Ann Borton Richard Bauer Sarah Walsh Virginia Maturen John Bouck Karen McGrath Meresa Salisbury Amy Olszewski Karen Jennings Mary Lynam Barbara Byrne |
