by orionontv | May 10, 2026 | News
Orion Township Issues Emergency Update Following GLWA Water Main Break
PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, SUNDAY, MAY 10 AT 10:00 AM
Orion Township Hall
2323 Joslyn Road
Orion, MI 48360
ORION TOWNSHIP, MI — The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) has confirmed that the 42-inch water transmission main supplying water to Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion has now broken.
As a result, water pressure throughout the community is expected to steadily decline, with the possibility of a complete water outage occurring within the next several hours depending on overall system conditions and community water usage.
Given the rapidly evolving nature of this incident and the critical need to preserve remaining water supply for essential use, residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to immediately reduce water consumption. Businesses and places of worship are urged to consider suspending in-person operations and large gatherings until further notice, as high-volume water use may accelerate depletion of available system capacity.
Water Conservation Guidance
All residents are asked to restrict water use to only what is absolutely essential for:
- Drinking and hydration
- Basic sanitation
Residents are asked to avoid all nonessential water use, including:
- Laundry
- Dishwashers
- Lawn watering
- Extended showers
- Any other unnecessary water consumption
Conserving water at this time may help preserve system pressure and extend access for critical community needs.
Community Support and Mutual Aid
Residents are encouraged to check on neighbors, particularly those who may need assistance, and to coordinate support where possible. Nearby communities, including Clarkston and Oxford, are currently not impacted and may be available as additional resources.
Water Distribution Sites
GLWA water distribution trucks have been deployed to the following locations to provide free bottled water to residents:
Orion Township
Wildwood Amphitheater
2700 Joslyn Court
Lake Orion, MI 48360
Village of Lake Orion
Atwater Park
426 Atwater Street
Lake Orion, MI 48362
Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills Department of Public Works
1500 Brown Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Water distribution will continue for the duration of the emergency outage.
Repairs and Restoration Timeline
Repair work on the damaged transmission main is expected to be extensive. Once the pipe is replaced, the system will require disinfection, flushing, testing, and regulatory approval before service can be restored.
At this time, residents and businesses should prepare for the possibility of a prolonged outage, with current estimates indicating restoration may take approximately 10–14 days.
Ongoing Updates
Conditions remain fluid, and additional guidance will be issued as new information becomes available.
Orion Township will continue to provide updates through official communication channels as information is confirmed.
by orionontv | Apr 24, 2026 | News
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DNR News
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April 23, 2026
Contact: Christian LeSage, 517-449-7073 or Lucas Nathan, 517-599-9323
Let’s fish! Trout, Lower Peninsula walleye and pike seasons open Saturday
New, interactive map makes inland trout regulations easier to navigate this season
 Break out that rod and tacklebox: Michigan’s trout and Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 25. Mark your calendar, find your fishing spot and invite an old fishing buddy — or a new one — to enjoy some spring fishing!
With the Department of Natural Resources’ new, interactive Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations map, it’s easier than ever to check the regulations for the areas you plan to fish. Find the map online at Michigan.gov/FishingMaps or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, so you always have it on hand.
Anglers should be aware that in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open May 15, which falls on a Friday this year. Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 6 (catch-and-immediate-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year). |
 The catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing — check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics). The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 23, except for on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 20.
Know before you go
Protect our waters
Michigan’s trout streams are under increasing threat from harmful species that affect habitat and food sources for trout and other fish. Both didymo (rock snot) and New Zealand mudsnail can unintentionally be moved to new locations on waders, nets and gear. To protect our waters, be prepared and take the time to decontaminate before moving to a new river or stream.
Learn more about actions anglers and boaters can take to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Fishing licenses
The new license season began April 1, so make sure you’ve purchased a new fishing license for this fishing season before you hit the water. The 2026 annual fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2027. If you need assistance with your fishing license, contact DNR licensing staff at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
The 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations and Inland Trout & Salmon Maps are available online at Michigan.gov/Fishing, along with a lot of other helpful fishing information. Buy your license online or download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app to purchase your licenses, report harvests, access regulations and get the latest hunting and fishing updates. |
Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
- Trout fishing: Michigan’s 2026 trout season opens Saturday, April 25.
- Walleye season: Michigan’s Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 25.
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| The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR. |
by orionontv | Apr 24, 2026 | News
Virtual Vape 101 Training: Open to the Public
Oakland County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 04/23/2026 02:00 PM EDT
Vape 101
Microsoft Teams
Vape 101 is a free, one-hour educational training about the real dangers of vaping.
Learn more about:
- How e-cigarettes operate and identify commonly used products
- The health consequences, safety and other concerns
- Why youth are using these products
- Vaping prevention resources
Who can take the training:
- Parents
- Community members and organizations
- Middle, High School and College students
Training date:
- Tuesday, May 12 from 12-1 p.m.
Register at https://bit.ly/3LV8Ikh. Training link will be sent out 1 day before the event.
Contact Nadli Arabo at arabon@oakgov.com with any questions.
by orionontv | Apr 24, 2026 | News
Rep. Steele secures committee support for expanded financial disclosure standards
State Rep. Donni Steele this week secured committee support for her plan to ensure a more robust and consistent statewide standard for public financial disclosure, advancing House Bill 5901 out of the House Elections Integrity Committee.
The legislation builds on voter-approved transparency reforms by expanding Michigan’s Public Officers Financial Disclosure Act to include county commissioners and county executives in counties with populations over 150,000. Under the bill, these officials would be required to file the same annual financial disclosure reports as state-level officeholders, including information on income sources, assets, liabilities, and other potential conflicts of interest.
“Michigan voters made it clear they expect transparency and accountability from their elected leaders,” said Steele (R-Orion Township). “This plan closes a gap by ensuring county officials who oversee major budgets and decisions are held to the same standard as state officials. When people can see that decisions are being made in the open and with integrity, it strengthens trust in government at every level.”
Sixteen counties currently meet the population threshold, including several of the state’s largest population centers. Steele’s legislation ensures a more uniform and transparent system of disclosure, giving residents clearer insight into the financial interests of the officials making decisions that directly impact their communities.
by orionontv | Apr 10, 2026 | News
Dear Friend,
It’s construction season, Michigan! This spring and summer, we will fix more of the damn state and local roads in communities across Michigan.
As crews begin their work across the state to make Michiganders’ drives smoother and safer, I joined the hardworking men and women rebuilding M-14 and I-96 in Plymouth Township to mark the start of construction season.
I ran for office on fixing the damn roads, and I am proud to be keeping my promise and getting it done. We’re fixing the damn roads everywhere, thanks to the biggest bipartisan roads deal in state history. We’re making a historic, nearly $2 billion investment to fix state and local roads, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and lowering costs for drivers across Michigan.
By the end of this construction season, we will have fixed 26,500 lane miles of road and nearly 2,000 bridges since I took office. That’s enough pavement to drive from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge more than 88 times. We have a lot of work ahead, so let’s move some dirt and fix those damn roads!
When you see those orange barrels, slow down—there are Michiganders at work.
Sincerely,
Biggest Deal in MI History to Fix the Damn Roads (State AND Local)
Last year, I was proud to sign into law the biggest deal in Michigan history to fix the damn roads. My seventh balanced budget included a sustainable, long-term investment of nearly $2 billion a year to fix our state and local roads. That means:
 Better local roads, so every part of your drive is smoother and safer, from the moment you back out of your driveway to the time you arrive at your final destination.
 Every penny you pay at the pump goes directly to fixing our roads.
 Thousands of good-paying jobs building a stronger, safer Michigan.
At a time of so much political division and dysfunction in DC, we’re leading the way in Michigan by making a sustainable, long-term investment in our roads. We’re showing everybody that we can solve big problems and improve people’s lives.
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by orionontv | Mar 24, 2026 | News
Gov. Whitmer Announces 150 New Jobs with fairlife Expansion, Infrastructure Investment in Ottawa County
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board approved support to update and enhance aging infrastructure in the City of Coopersville (Ottawa County), as well as support for an Alternative State Essential Services Assessment abatement to support an expansion of fairlife, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company that produces ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk and protein shakes. With this support, the company will invest up to $650 million in its facility and expects to create 150 new jobs.
“Michigan is open for business and on the move. Today’s investment highlights how we’re competing hard for transformational projects and good-paying, high-skill jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. “fairlife’s investment will create 150 new jobs and power $650 million into west Michigan’s economy. This is a huge win for Michigan, and proof that when we work together to improve our infrastructure, train our workers, and revitalize our places, we can compete with anyone.”
“The West Michigan agribusiness corridor is a significant component of Michigan’s overall economy, and it is imperative it has the infrastructure it needs to produce high-quality, high-recognition products that people across the nation know and enjoy,” said Quentin Messer, Jr. CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and chair of the MSF. “We are thrilled to offer our support to the City of Coopersville and fairlife for projects that will impact every component of our ‘Make it in Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People, Places, and Projects.”
“The City of Coopersville is extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the MEDC and the State through the Strategic Site Readiness Program to invest in critical water infrastructure that will strengthen our system’s capacity and reliability for both current and future needs,” said Dennis Luce, City Manager for Coopersville.
“This project is not only about improving essential services for our residents and businesses, it also positions us for continued economic growth. In particular, it supports the expansion of fairlife, one of our largest local employers, which is a significant win for our agricultural community here in West Michigan and for dairy suppliers across the entire state,” Luce continued. “This is the kind of forward-looking investment that benefits our city, our region, and Michigan as a whole.”
“Longterm partnerships like these are evidence that companies see the strength of Michigan’s food, agriculture and forestry industry and want to leverage its success,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring. “This investment also reinforces our mission at the state of improving quality of life for Michiganders: We’re committed to attracting projects that improve infrastructure and value-added processing in a way that benefits our industry, our communities and regional economies.”
Site Readiness Funds Approved for Aging Public Infrastructure in the City of Coopersville
OVERVIEW: The MSF Board approved a $17 million Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) grant for the City of Coopersville (Ottawa County) to use on improvements to a regional water system supporting residents and businesses in the City of Coopersville, Polkton Charter Township, and Allendale Charter Township. The current system is at 80% capacity and over 50 years old.
“Investments like this strengthen the region well beyond a single project,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “The combination of private investment and public infrastructure improvements helps address longstanding capacity constraints, supports existing employers, and creates the conditions needed for future business growth and job creation across the community. It also builds momentum for the Lakeshore’s growing agribusiness and food production industry cluster, where reliable infrastructure and a strong supply chain are essential.”
WHY IT MATTERS: A capable water system is critical to attract and retain residents and employers alike, especially as specific infrastructure needs continue to evolve for both. By ensuring the system is ready for current and future demand expectations, the region can begin planning for much-needed housing and court other economic opportunities that cannot currently be considered with otherwise aging infrastructure. The infrastructure updates will also complement upgrades underway with the Southeast Regional Force Main project.
fairlife to Create 150 New Jobs, Bolster Michigan’s Agribusiness Industry
OVERVIEW: The Coca-Cola Company plans to expand production capacity at its fairlife facility in Coopersville (Ottawa County) by adding two additional state-of-the-art, high-speed production lines. fairlife, a producer of lactose-free milk and protein shakes, is experiencing significant growth and needs to expand production to meet growing consumer demand.
The investment of $650 million will include the addition of 150 jobs at the facility and add roughly 245,000 square feet of production space. The project is receiving an Alternative State Essential Services Assessment (ASESA) abatement approved by the MSF Board, valued at approximately $3.9 million.
WHY IT MATTERS: The company’s Coopersville production facility has been part of the community since 2012 and currently employs more than 400 people, making it one of the state’s largest dairy-related food processors. It has expanded several times over the past decade, strengthening and enhancing Michigan’s $125.8 billion food and agriculture economy.
During today’s meeting, the Board also approved: a separate request by Muskegon County to upgrade its wastewater infrastructure; a Michigan Business Development Program grant to La Colombe, a Chobani company; and a Michigan Community Revitalization Loan for 109 apartments in Grand Rapids.
NOTE FROM THE MEDC: Investment and job numbers represent the commitment made by the business to the state of Michigan. Terms will be formalized in a performance-based project agreement, with funds disbursed as reimbursement based on eligible expenditures, and are subject to amendment or cancellation if the commitments are not met due to risks or uncertainties. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provides a public annual report on agreements and their status to the state legislature.
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