Departure Ceremony for Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers

by Becky Andrus | Apr 24, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2025

Governor Whitmer Attends Departure Ceremony for Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed 100 soldiers assigned to the Michigan Army National Guard’s (MIARNG) 3rd Battalion (General Support), 238th Aviation Regiment, (3-238th GSAB), along with their families and invited guests, at the Grand Ledge Armory as they prepare to depart for their deployment to Kosovo in support of U.S. European Command (EUCOM)

“It was an honor to join the Michigan Army National Guard’s 3-238th GSAB as they depart for their latest mission,” said Governor Whitmer. “The Michigan National Guard is known nationwide for their professionalism and dedication to protecting and serving their fellow Americans. As they once again answer the call of duty, we will continue to have their backs. Together, let’s continue to support our service members and military families and await their safe return.”

“As our Soldiers once again answer the call of duty, it is our solemn responsibility to stand firmly behind them,” said U.S. Army Major General Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  “We remain committed to upholding our duty to service members and their families as we await their safe return. The unwavering strength, resilience and sacrifice demonstrated by military families during extended separations are indispensable to the success of our forces abroad. Just as they support their loved ones, so too shall we support them with unwavering commitment.”

The soldiers are joining the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) operation, which aims to maintain a safe and secure environment in the region and are anticipated to be deployed for up to a year. The unit’s last deployment was in 2020 to Kosovo in support of KFOR Operation Joint Guardian.

Gov. Whitmer at MING Deployment

Benson promotes Michigan Organ Donor Registry

by orionontv | Apr 24, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2025

Contact: Cheri Hardmon

[email protected]

Secretary Benson promotes Michigan Organ Donor Registry in honor of Donate Life Month

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined state partners and organ and tissue donation advocates to recognize April as Donate Life Month. She spoke alongside Chief Deputy State Treasurer Jeff Guilfoyle, Gift of Life Michigan President & CEO Dorrie Dils, and Eversight President & CEO Diane Hollingsworth. Rachel Kuntzsch, a heart transplant recipient from Lansing, also shared her story on how an organ donation saved her life.

Residents can join the Michigan Donor Registry at Michigan.gov/OrganDonation.

“Our goal is to make it easier for everyone to sign up to become a donor and give that gift of sight or gift of life,” Secretary Benson said. “Even as we celebrate so many impressive accomplishments this year, there are still more people waiting for transplants than there are organs available. We still need to close that gap – but we have made so much progress and so many lives have been saved and transformed thanks to the many Michiganders who have signed up for something bigger than themselves.”

In 2024, more than 206,000 residents joined the Michigan Donor Registry bringing the total across the state up to 4.6 million. Maintained by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), the registry is a confidential database of residents who wish to be organ and tissue donors. Everyone who signs up to be an organ and tissue donor receives a heart sticker for their driver’s license or state identification card.

In 2024, Gift of Life Michigan helped over 530 people become organ donors and a record-breaking 1,960 gave the gift of tissue. Surgeons transplanted 1,110 organs, the state’s second-highest annual total transforming the lives of patients needing bone, tendons, heart valves, and more. The number of people who have lost their lives while waiting for a transplant has decreased in the last four years. From 2020-2024, deaths on Michigan’s waiting list have decreased by 45%.

“We are saving more lives than ever before thanks to the tremendous work of our partners at the Secretary of State and Michigan Department of Treasury,” said Dils. “Growing the Donor Registry is critical, as the need for transplants far exceeds the organs available to save the lives of the nearly 2,600 patients waiting in Michigan today.”

“Michigan is tireless in their work to grow the registry, and it resulted in 2,477 Michigan donors giving sight in 2024, an 18 percent increase in saying yes to donation. Their selfless gifts restored sight to 1,300 Michiganders,” said Hollingsworth. “Making the choice to be a donor is a shining example of kindness in the world today, with ripple effects that have impacted entire communities. When given the opportunity, Michiganders are overwhelmingly generous in the result to change lives through the gift of eyes, organ and tissue donation.”

Michigan offers several convenient ways to join the Michigan Donor Registry and save lives. Michiganders can add their name online through the Online Michigan Organ Donor Registry, at any Secretary of State branch office or self-service station, or when filing their taxes. In 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the Check Your Heart Act into law, making Michigan the first state in the nation to let people add their names to the registry on their state income tax forms. So far this tax season, registrations through the state income tax forms have increased by over 60%.

“Last year, 183,000 Michiganders checked the box on their income tax return. Many of those folks were already on the registry, but it led to 14,000 new names being added,” Guilfoyle said. “The checkoff will positively impact lives, potentially saving someone’s mother, someone’s child, or someone’s friend.”

In 2018, Kuntzsch was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a rare idiopathic condition. Ten days later on Thanksgiving Day, she received the gift of life through a heart donation.

“Since that time, I’ve had the opportunity to climb mountains across our beautiful country. Next week, I will see my son graduate from college. I have had the opportunity to life a full life with no limitations, and I am so very grateful,” Kuntzsch said. “I also have the opportunity to give back working with Gift of Life Michigan to help send that message that registering to become an organ donor is both a personal decision to the donor and a very personal decision to the recipients. People like me all over the state of Michigan and beyond are so full of gratitude for people who made the choice to give that gift of life.”

Learn more about the state organ donation registry online at Michigan.gov/OrganDonation.

# # #

Gift of Life News Conference At a Lansing news conference, Secretary Benson encouraged Michiganders to give the gift of life and join the state’s organ donor registry.

Gift of Life News Conference Secretary Benson spoke alongside donor and tissue donation advocates. Pictured from left: Eversight President & CEO Diane Hollingsworth, Rachel Kuntzsch, a heart transplant recipient from Lansing, Gift of Life Michigan President & CEO Dorrie Dils, Gift of Life Michigan mascot Hartley T. Heart, Secretary Benson, and Chief Deputy State Treasurer Jeff Guilfoyle.

Whitmer Makes Appointments to the Michigan Supreme Court

by orionontv | Apr 23, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 23, 2025

Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court; Judge Mariam Bazzi to succeed Hood on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District; Christopher Trebilcock to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District; and Daniel Korobkin to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Third District.

“Today, I’m announcing the appointment of a new member of the Michigan Supreme Court and three members of the Michigan Court of Appeals,” said Governor Whitmer. “These Michiganders all bring years of legal experience to their roles, and I am confident they will uphold the rule of law and serve the people admirably.”

Michigan Supreme Court

Noah Hood currently serves as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District. Hood was first appointed to the Third Circuit Court by Governor Whitmer in 2019 and again to the Court of Appeals in 2022. Prior to his appointments to the bench, Judge Hood served as an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio. Hood has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association since 2011 and has served as a fellow of the association since 2023. Hood serves as a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals Rules Committee, Education Committee, and AI Working Group. Hood is also a member of the Wolverine Bar Association and of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.

Judge Noah Hood earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale.

“I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of the state of Michigan for the past six years,” said Judge Hood. “I am deeply grateful to our Governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents. For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice.”

This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement.

“I am honored to appoint Judge Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court,” said Governor Whitmer. “He has served the people of Michigan on the bench since 2019, when I was honored to appoint him first to the Circuit Court and later, to the Court of Appeals. A proud Detroiter, graduate of Harvard Law, and active member of the legal community with both trial and appellate court experience, he will bring important perspectives to the highest court in our state. I want to thank him for his many years of public service and look forward to many more on the Supreme Court.”

SC Nominee

Michigan Court of Appeals – First District

Mariam Bazzi currently serves as a Judge on the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County, where she has been re-elected twice since first being appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2017. Bazzi serves on the board of Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities and is also a member of multiple state and national legal associations including the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the National Arab American Bar Association, and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers. Bazzi previously served as a member of the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs and on the Dearborn Board of Education, where she also served as President. Bazzi is the first Arab American woman in Michigan’s history to be appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Judge Mariam Bazzi earned her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Michigan – Dearborn.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed by Governor Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals,” said Judge Bazzi. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Governor and her dedicated selection team for their time, effort, and commitment throughout this process. It is a profound privilege to serve the people of this great state, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the fair and impartial administration of justice. I also extend my warmest congratulations to our new Supreme Court Justice and to my fellow appointees to the Court of Appeals.”

Judge Bazzi will be appointed to fill a partial term after the forthcoming resignation of Judge Noah Hood.

“Judge Bazzi is a trailblazer, community leader, and proud Michigander,” said Governor Whitmer. “She brings years of experience to the court of appeals, where she will be the first Arab American woman appellate judge in Michigan’s history. I’m grateful for her continued service to the people of Michigan in this new role.”

Judicial appointment

Michigan Court of Appeals – Second District

Christopher Trebilcock is a senior principal at Clark Hill, PLC working in the areas of employment litigation, administrative litigation, traditional labor law, and election law. Prior to joining Clark Hill in 2018, Trebilcock practiced law at Miller Canfield for over 10 years. Trebilcock is a member of the American Bar Association’s Developing Labor Law Committee and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Trebilcock is the first court of appeals appointee born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Trebilcock earned his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business administration from Alma College.

“As a proud Yooper, I am deeply honored to accept this appointment. The values I learned from my upbringing and education—service, integrity, and critical thinking—have guided me throughout my career,” said Christopher Trebilcock. “I am humbled by this opportunity and the trust placed by Governor Whitmer in my ability to serve the people of Michigan. I also want to thank my colleagues at Clark Hill for their unwavering support, mentorship, and friendship. I look forward to getting to work and serving the state that raised me and shaped my values.”

This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh.

“Chris is a skilled attorney who will serve the people admirably,” said Governor Whitmer. “He brings decades of experience in many areas of law to the bench and is making history as the first born-and-raised Yooper on the court of appeals.”

Judicial

Michigan Court of Appeals – Third District

Daniel Korobkin currently serves as legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, where he has worked since 2008. Korobkin also serves as a co-chair of the Michigan State Bar’s Access to Justice Policy Committee and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s representative assembly. Korobkin is also a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan, the American Constitution Society, and the National Lawyers Guild, among others, teaches part-time at the University of Michigan Law School, and volunteers as a judge for moot court competitions and first-year legal practice classes at the University of Michigan Law School and Wayne State University Law School.

Daniel Korobkin earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant through the law school’s Coker Fellowship. Korobkin also holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Swarthmore College.

“I am truly humbled and honored by this incredible opportunity for public service,” said Korobkin. “I am immensely grateful to Governor Whitmer for this appointment, and I look forward to serving the people of the State of Michigan on the Court of Appeals.”

This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jane Markey.

“Dan brings years of legal experience to the court of appeals,” said Governor Whitmer. “In addition to his leadership at the ACLU, he is an involved member of the community, serving in several organizations and associations. I am confident he will uphold the rule of law and serve the people of Michigan well.”

Judicial

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Oakland County to Host VTM Michigan 2025 Global Forum

by orionontv | Apr 23, 2025 | Regional News

Oakland County to Host VTM Michigan 2025 Global Forum on Mobility Innovation

Post Date:04/22/2025 2:31 PM

• VTM Michigan 2025, hosted by Oakland County in partnership with MEDC and advanced business events (abe), will bring global automotive and mobility leaders to Pontiac on April 23–24 for two days of B2B meetings, expert panels and exhibitions on future transportation technologies.
• Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter will open the event, highlighting the region’s leadership in mobility innovation, alongside a keynote from Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Justine Johnson and panels on electrification, hydrogen, AI, cybersecurity and more.
• With participation from international companies and organizations, VTM Michigan offers unparalleled networking and collaboration opportunities for startups, Tier 1 suppliers, OEMs and researchers shaping the future of mobility.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County, in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and international organizer advanced business events (abe), is set to welcome the world’s automotive and mobility leaders to the second edition of VTM Michigan, an international business-to-business (B2B) mobility technology forum taking place April 23 – 24 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac.

This two-day event will bring together key decision-makers, engineers, innovators and visionaries from across the globe to collaborate on the technologies shaping the future of transportation – from electric and hydrogen propulsion to AI, autonomous systems, vehicle connectivity and mobility infrastructure.

“Oakland County and the State of Michigan are on the front lines of mobility innovation,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, who will open the event with welcome remarks. “VTM Michigan is a platform to showcase our deep automotive legacy and growing leadership in next-gen transportation technologies to a global audience.”

Following the success of its 2023 debut, which attracted 320 attendees from more than 10 countries, VTM Michigan 2025 promises an even more robust experience with:
• Expert-led technical presentations
• Targeted B2B matchmaking
• Exhibitions of cutting-edge mobility solutions
• Global participants representing Austria, Germany, South Korea, Sweden, the UK, the U.S. and more

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with startups, Tier 1 suppliers, major OEMs, academic experts and government leaders on the most pressing challenges and exciting innovations in the mobility space.

Agenda highlights include welcome remarks by County Executive Coulter, a keynote from Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Justine Johnson, and panel discussions on Building a Robust Regional Mobility Ecosystem, Vehicle Electrification Market Outlook, IoT & Vehicle Connectivity, AI in Intelligent Mobility, Cybersecurity in Automotive Innovation and the Future of Automotive Jobs & Skills featuring representatives from GM, UAW and Oakland County Michigan Works!

“VTM Michigan provides an unmatched opportunity to collaborate, explore solutions and drive real change,” said Dom Holmes, director of Oakland County Economic Development. “The road to the future of mobility begins in Oakland County.”

Communities win national Election Commission awards

by orionontv | Apr 21, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2025Contact: Cheri Hardmon

[email protected]

Five Michigan communities win national Election Assistance Commission awards for outstanding work in election administration

LANSING, Mich – Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson congratulated five Michigan election administrators and jurisdictions selected as winners of U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Clearinghouse Awards. The “Clearie” Awards are presented annually across the nation for best practices in election administration.

“The 2024 elections were historic both for record-breaking voter turnout and as the very first statewide elections with in-person early voting,” Secretary Benson said. “Congratulations to these five county and local election administrators for their outstanding work and this well-deserved national honor. I’m so grateful to work with dedicated election officials across the state who go above and beyond to make sure every election is secure and that every eligible citizen can make their voice heard.”

Michigan winners of the 2024 EAC Clearinghouse Awards:

City of Monroe Clerk – Treasurer’s Office received an award in the category of Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives for its “Ready, Set, Vote” media strategy to increase election communication and voter engagement.

Ottawa County Clerk/Register Of Deeds received an award in the category of Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives for its “Not a Podcast” – Ballots & Banter video series. Election staff filmed episodes touching on topics that include ballot box security, early voting, election fraud and more.

Ann Arbor City Clerk’s Office received an award in the category of Contingency Planning: Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts for its “More Days, More Ways,” a written Emergency Election Operations handbook.

Election Division, City of Flint Clerk’s Office received an award in the category of Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration for documents and communication around the reorganization of their Absent Voter Counting Board. Staff defined tasks down to the simplest steps, wrote job descriptions for each member of the board, and created a linear flow of materials to prevent confusion about ballot status.

Harrison Township Clerk, Michigan - Boat Town I Voted Sticker received an award in the category of “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers. Drawing on its Boat Town USA nickname, the township selected the tagline “Boat Town, Vote Town” to promote elections in the community.

The EAC Clearie awards received a record 258 entries for programs implemented in the 2024 presidential election year. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results. The full list of winners is available online at the EAC website.

The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration.

Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer

by orionontv | Apr 21, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer.

Written Sunday April 20th at 12:03 PM

Happy Easter OAA Nation. Here are several OAA Football storylines heading into this fall.

Any takers to Ford Field???

There should be plenty of OAA representation that are serious contenders to get back to Ford Field. Adams in Division One when healthy is a very dangerous team especially with the system they run in the veer offense and with Ryland Waters coming back at quarterback which should allow Nolan Farris to move back to wide receiver. The Highlanders could be a team when healthy could make another deep postseason run. Harper Woods is the other serious contender in Division Four, the Pioneers are loaded with proven experience on both sides of the football and wants to get back after a really tough loss to Goodrich in the State Semifinals last season. Other teams that could get to Ford Field include Stoney Creek, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Lake Orion in Division One while Groves, Oak Park, North Farmington, Farmington, and Seaholm are possible teams to watch in Division Two.

Groves is the most interesting to keep an eye on.

The Falcons had Ford Field in their grasp but very questionable play calling and coaching decisions cost them in their stunning 28-27 overtime loss to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the Division Two State Semifinals last season. Groves lost a ton of proven talent from last season. They will have a new quarterback in LaVelle Shannon taking over and proven lines on both sides of the football. The White will be much improved with Stoney Creek and Harper Woods looking to be the top teams with Rochester not too far behind while Southfield Arts and Tech should be improved. Coach Brendan Flaherty will have some big challenges ahead of him.

New Coaches:

The OAA has several new coaches coming into the league this fall. Scott Merchant (Bloomfield Hills,) James Carlisle (Avondale,) Donovan Jackson (Ferndale,) and Trevor Potts (Oxford) are the new coaches in the league. Merchant comes to Bloomfield Hills from Lawrence Tech (College Football) and was at Chippewa Valley for a long time and his son is in the program. Carlisle comes to Auburn Hills from the thumb area (Vassar) and was at Imlay City. Jackson was on the staff at Detroit Cass Tech and played at Ferndale so he’s really familiar with the city. Potts was the defensive coordinator under Coach Zach Line at Oxford. He was also an assistant at Adams under Coach Tony Patritto. Every coach is going to have different challenges to adjust to this season.

Weaknesses:

Every team in the OAA has glaring weaknesses heading into the season that they will need to address. It should be really interesting to see how each team addresses their weaknesses this summer before each team heads into their week one matchups. My goal this summer is to talk to every coach including the Waterford Schools and see how everyone is doing heading into the season on my podcast.

Waterford Schools lurking:

Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott will join the OAA this winter while North Farmington and Farmington will depart the OAA joining the Lakes Valley Conference next season. The Waterford schools will have one more fall in the Lakes Valley Conference before coming into the league. Waterford Mott will have a new football coach in Tra’Jan Seay taking over the program for Chris Fahr who is the defensive coordinator at Davison. Seay was an assistant at Orchard Lake St. Marys last season so he brings that to Waterford. He will have an transition period which has to happen during the season. The Corsairs did not make the postseason going 3-5 and has a ton of questions in the Lakes Valley Conference this season. Waterford Kettering went 3-6 but was one win away from making the postseason for first year coach Brian Barnes. Barnes has done a really good job with the Captains in his second season with the program. The postseason is within reach for Waterford Kettering but getting there will be the challenge especially in Division Three.

Divisions:

Here are the divisions heading into this season in the league, not in any particular order.

Red: Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Adams, West Bloomfield.

White: Stoney Creek, Harper Woods, Groves, Rochester, Southfield Arts and Tech.

Blue: Bloomfield Hills, Oak Park, Seaholm, North Farmington, Farmington, Troy, Troy Athens.

Gold: Pontiac, Ferndale, Avondale, Berkley, Royal Oak.

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