by orionontv | May 15, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday May 14th at 11:30 PM
Here is my insight and preview for the girls lacrosse regionals.
Regional 3 at Troy Athens
Grosse Pointe North vs. Grosse Pointe South
Utica Ford II vs. TROY
BIRMINGHAM vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD
Grosse Pointe North/Grosse Pointe South vs. BLOOMFIELD HILLS
M-1 (ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY) vs. Utica Eisenhower
Utica Ford/TROY vs. TROY ATHENS
BIRMINGHAM/WEST BLOOMFIELD vs. Chippewa Valley
EARLY PICKS: This regional has Birmingham vs Bloomfield Hills written all over it. Bloomfield Hills beat Birmingham earlier in the season. The regional semifinals could be very interesting with the Bulldogs having a really tough path having to see Chippewa Valley and then Troy Athens in the second round and semifinals respectively. The Blackhawks have the much better draw to get to the regional finals. I like Bloomfield Hills over Birmingham in this matchup.
Regional 4 at Oxford
Midland vs. Grand Blanc
Fenton vs. OXFORD
Davison vs. Howell
CLARKSTON vs. Waterford
Midland/Grand Blanc vs. Hartland
Fenton/OXFORD vs. ROCHESTER
Davison/Howell vs. LAKE ORION
CLARKSTON/Waterford vs. White Lake
EARLY PICKS: Lake Orion has a great draw to get to the regional finals. They will have to get by Hartland which will be a tough matchup but Midland could give the Eagles some trouble in the second round but it’s not likely. I think Hartland moves on over the Dragons.
Regional 6 at Farmington
FARMINGTON vs. Farmington Hills Mercy
Temperance Bedford vs. Saline
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard vs. Wixom St. Catherine Sienna
FARMINGTON/Mercy vs. Dearborn Divine Child
NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Tecumseh
Temperance Bedford/Saline vs. Ann Arbor Skyline
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard/Wixom St. Catherine Sienna vs. Dexter
EARLY PICKS: This looks to be a very interesting regional. Dearborn Divine Child, Ann Arbor Skyline, and Dexter will be very tough outs. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard has the best chance of upsetting the top three seeds. I think that the Falcons have the best chance to move onto the state semifinals.
Regional 7 at Adams
Birmingham Marian vs. Grosse Pointe Woods
Walled Lake Northern vs. ADAMS
AVONDALE vs. Warren Regina
Birmingham Marian/Grosse Pointe Woods vs. Detroit Country Day
STONEY CREEK vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Walled Lake Northern/ADAMS vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kinswood
AVONDALE/Warren Regina vs. Bloomfield Hills Academy
EARLY PICKS: This is a pick em district. Birmingham Detroit Country Day and Adams are the two best teams in the district. Adams will have to deal with Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in the second round. The Yellow Jackets should have a nice path but Stoney Creek could give them some fits. I think the two top teams will meet but Birmingham Detroit Country Day should move on to the semifinals.
by orionontv | May 15, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday May 14th at 11:00 PM
Here is my preview of the boys lacrosse regional projections.
Region 4 at South Lyon East
Brighton vs. FARMINGTON UNITED
BIRMINGHAM UNITED vs. Howell
South Lyon (South Lyon East) vs. Novi
Livonia Stevenson vs. Northville
EARLY PICKS: Give me the Brighton Bulldogs to move on to the quarterfinals but Birmingham United will have a very strong say and could upset Brighton in the regional semifinals if they are not careful.
Region 5 at Troy Athens
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Bye
TROY ATHENS (AVONDALE) vs. Detroit Cass Tech
M-1 (ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY) vs. Utica Ford II (Sterling Heights Stevenson)
Detroit University Detroit Jesuit vs. Chippewa Valley
EARLY PICKS: Can’t go against the Shamrocks, sorry rest of the field.
Region 6 at Romeo
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North vs. St. Clair
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North/St. Clair
Macomb Dakota vs. ROCHESTER
Port Huron vs. Utica Eisenhower (Utica)
Romeo vs. New Baltimore Anchor Bay
EARLY PICKS: The Warriors are motivated enough said although Romeo might have the best chance out of anyone in this regional that can give Birmingham Brother Rice at least some issues.
Region 7 at Bloomfield Hills
LAKE ORION vs. Waterford (Waterford Kettering/Waterford Mott)
OXFORD vs. TROY
Walled Lake (Walled Lake Northern/Walled Lake Western/Walled Lake Central) vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. Huron Valley (Lakeland/Milford)
EARLY PICKS: This looks like a Dragons vs Blackhawks regional final. Lake Orion will be too much.
Region 8 at Clarkston
CLARKSTON vs. Bay City Central (Freeland, Frankenmuth)
Ortonville Brandon (Holly) vs. Davison
Grand Blanc vs. Lapeer
Saginaw Heritage vs. Swartz Creek (Flushing)
EARLY PICKS: No one is touching the Wolves in this regional. The Bobcats are the closest to having a chance but too much Wolves.
Region 14 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kinswood vs. Bye
ADAMS vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley (Clawson, Macomb Lutheran North)
STONEY CREEK vs. Royal Oak Shrine (Rochester Lutheran Northwest, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Clarkston Everest)
EARLY PICKS: The Cranes are the early favorite but do not by any means count out the Cougars or the Highlanders. Adams could beat Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. I see Stoney Creek getting to the district final and beating Adams who I think will upset the Cranes in the regional semifinals.
by orionontv | May 15, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday May 14th at 11:00 PM
Here is my insight and projections on the girls soccer districts.
District 6 at Clarkston
Flushing vs. Davison
CLARKSTON vs. Swartz Creek
Lapeer vs. OXFORD
Flushing/Davison vs. Grand Blanc
This is a very interesting district. Grand Blanc is the top seed but Clarkston and Oxford will be very tough matchups for the Bobcats. It wouldn’t surprise me if Grand Blanc falls in the district semifinals. I can see either one or two OAA schools in the district finals that is for sure.
District 7 at Lakeland
NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Walled Lake Central
Walled Lake Northern vs. Lakeland
Waterford Mott vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD
NORTH FARMINGTON/Walled Lake Central vs. Milford
North Farmington and West Bloomfield will be honoree members of the Lakes Valley Conference in this district. Walled Lake Northern won the Lakes Valley Conference crown this season but Milford is right there with them. West Bloomfield won the Blue and Waterford Mott is not an easy team. This district looks like it could be a Knights vs Mavericks district final which should be tight.
District 8 at Novi
FARMINGTON vs. Farmington Hills Mercy
Livonia Stevenson vs. South Lyon East
Northville vs. South Lyon
FARMINGTON/Farmington Hills Mercy vs. Novi
There is a ton of parity in this district especially with well known names like Farmington Hills Mercy, Northville, and Novi but keep an eye on South Lyon East. The Cougars have had a strong season in the Lakes Valley. The Mustangs are ranked high for a reason and will look to keep it that way but the Marlins and Wildcats could spoil that real quickly.
District 12 at Grosse Pointe South
Dearborn Fordson vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood
Dearborn vs. HARPER WOODS
Detroit Western vs. Grosse Pointe South
Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Crestwood vs. Detroit Cass Tech
This is not a strong district but Detroit Cass Tech has the top seed in the district. I think they will have a tough time with Dearborn Heights Crestwood or Dearborn. I think Grosse Pointe South will be too much in this district with home field.
District 13 at Royal Oak
BERKLEY vs. GROVES
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
SEAHOLM vs. ROYAL OAK
BERKLEY/GROVES vs. TROY
This is an all OAA district. Troy got a very interesting draw with the winner of Berkley and Groves. Both teams are tough teams. Seaholm and Royal Oak should also be very interesting as well. Note we aren’t talking about the defending Division One State Champs are in here as well and they have a great draw. This is a pick em district that is for sure.
District 14 at Utica
LAKE ORION vs. ADAMS
STONEY CREEK vs. Utica Eisenhower
Romeo vs. Utica
LAKE ORION/ADAMS vs. ROCHESTER
This is the group of death district. Every one of these teams has a chance to win this district. Rochester has the best shot to win this district but Stoney Creek could have a strong say pending if they can get by a very good Utica Eisenhower squad. Lake Orion vs Adams is a trap game early. Whoever wins this district has a great chance to make it to East Lansing.
District 15 at Troy Athens
TROY ATHENS vs. Sterling Heights
Chippewa Valley vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson
Utica Ford vs. Warren Cousino
Fraser vs. Warren Mott
This should be a very interesting district. Troy Athens is the early favorite with home court and a tough schedule. Chippewa Valley could give some fits though. This district is the Red Hawks to lose.
District 24 at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Detroit Renaissance vs. Walled Lake Western
FERNDALE vs. Livonia Clarenceville
Detroit Renaissance/Walled Lake Western vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
FERNDALE/Livonia Clarenceville vs. Birmingham Marian
Birmingham Marian is the favorite and should be for good reason. The Mustangs have a great draw with playing either Ferndale or Livonia Clarenceville in the district semifinals. I think this will be a Cranes vs Mustangs district final with Birmingham Marian moving on.
District 26 at Goodrich
AVONDALE vs. Waterford Kettering
Holly vs. Brandon
AVONDALE/ Waterford Kettering vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Holly/Brandon vs. Goodrich
This is a very interesting district. Goodrich is the favorite with home field and has the best team on paper. Brandon is a sleeper. The Blackhawks can make a ton of noise if things work out well. Avondale is very interesting. The Yellow Jackets have had moments of greatness and struggles. This district is the Martians to lose.
by orionontv | May 15, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday May 13th at 5:20 PM
Here is my projections for Girls Tennis. Underlined is projected regional champion.
Region 4 @ Livonia Churchill
FARMINGTON
Dearborn
Dearborn Edsel Ford
Dearborn Fordson
Detroit Cass Tech
Farmington Hills Mercy
Livonia Churchill
Livonia Stevenson
Westland John Glenn
Wayne Memorial
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Farmington Hills Mercy, Farmington, Westland John Glenn.
Region 5 @ Troy
TROY
TROY ATHENS
ROYAL OAK
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
Fraser
Sterling Heights Stevenson
St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Utica Ford II
Warren Mott
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Troy, Troy Athens, Royal Oak
Region 6 @ Utica Eisenhower
STONEY CREEK
Utica Eisenhower
Macomb L’Anse Creuse
Chippewa Valley
Macomb Dakota
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North
New Baltimore Anchor Bay
Romeo
Port Huron Northern
Utica
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Port Huron Northern, Utica Eisenhower, Stoney Creek
Region 7 @ Lakeland
CLARKSTON
LAKE ORION
WEST BLOOMFIELD
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
ROCHESTER
ADAMS
Waterford Kettering
Lakeland
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Bloomfield Hills, Adams, Clarkston.
Region 12 @ North Farmington
NORTH FARMINGTON
GROVES
SEAHOLM
AVONDALE
Holly
Fenton
Milford
Walled Lake Central
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Seaholm, Groves, Fenton.
Region 13 @ Grosse Pointe North
BERKLEY
HARPER WOODS
FERNDALE
Grosse Pointe North
Grosse Pointe South
Sterling Heights
Warren Cousino
Warren Woods Tower
TOP THREE THAT MOVES ON: Grosse Pointe South, Grosse Pointe North, Berkley.
by orionontv | May 11, 2023 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Takes Action to Help Michiganders Save Money, Stay Covered During Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination Process
Executive Directive Instructs State of Michigan Departments to Help Michiganders Who May Lose Medicaid Coverage Due to Recent Federal Legislation
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive instructing all State of Michigan departments to work together to lower health care costs by helping Michiganders keep Medicaid coverage or find affordable health insurance as Medicaid eligibility renewals begin again this summer. This Directive builds on the work already being done by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to ensure all affected Michiganders have the information they need to stay covered and save money.
“One of my administration’s top priorities has been ensuring that every Michigander has access to quality, affordable health insurance,” said Governor Whitmer. “As the redetermination process plays out, we will build on efforts by MDHHS and DIFS to help families stay covered and save money. Their proactive efforts have given us a strong foundation, and now every state department has a role to play. Let’s use every resource available to us to make people aware of the reinstated federal Medicaid eligibility requirements and help affected Michiganders maintain access to affordable health care.”
“MDHHS will continue our ongoing proactive efforts to ensure Michigan residents who are eligible for Medicaid coverage remain enrolled. We appreciate the assistance from our partners at other state government departments,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Providing families with affordable health care coverage is a top priority.”
“DIFS is committed to working with MDHHS and our other state partners to help Michiganders who no longer qualify for Medicaid get the affordable, comprehensive health insurance they need,” said DIFS Director Anita Fox. “DIFS stands ready to answer questions about purchasing a Marketplace health insurance plan or finding other options, such as employer-sponsored health insurance. Call DIFS at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit Michigan.gov/StayCovered to learn more.”
Nationwide, Medicaid beneficiaries will have to renew their coverage to comply with federal legislation. This may result in thousands of Michiganders transitioning away from Medicaid. In Michigan, annual renewals will begin again in June 2023 and will continue through May 2024. During this period, MDHHS will review the Medicaid eligibility of more than 3.1 million Michiganders, and those who are no longer eligible for benefits must take action to maintain healthcare coverage to protect themselves and their families.
To help Michiganders through this process, actions taken by the state so far include:
- Communication with impacted Michiganders by mail, text message, and targeted advertising campaigns.
- The launch of two new websites by MDHHS and DIFS to provide information to consumers about redetermination and alternative health insurance options.
- The addition of staff to the MI Bridges Help Desk and Customer Service lines to help Michiganders navigate the transition.
- Outreach to employers to help ensure that individuals are informed about their employer-based health insurance options, including the existence of a special enrollment period for those affected by redetermination.
Effective immediately, Governor Whitmer’s executive directive instructs all state departments to cooperate with and assist MDHHS and DIFS as required, including working together to distribute information to Michiganders regarding the redetermination process and how to renew eligibility, and sharing necessary data to conduct outreach, subject to all applicable protections.
If you are a Medicaid beneficiary, you should take the following steps to prepare for redetermination:
- Make sure your address, phone number and email address are up to date at www.michigan.gov/MIBridges. You can also call your local MDHHS office. If you do not have an online account for MI Bridges to access your Medicaid case or report changes, visit www.michigan.gov/MIBridges to sign up for an account. You can also locate organizations that can help you by searching for community partners.
- Report any changes to your household or income. You can report changes at www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling your local MDHHS office.
- If you get a renewal packet, be sure to fill it out, sign the forms and return it by the due date with any proof needed. NOTE: If you do not complete and return the renewal, you may lose Medicaid coverage.
For more information about Medicaid eligibility renewals, visit Michigan.gov/2023BenefitChanges. For more information about coverage options for those losing Medicaid coverage, visit Michigan.gov/StayCovered or call the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To view the full executive directive, click the link below:
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by orionontv | May 11, 2023 | Regional News
Oakland County Economy Looking to Trend Positive, as Recovery From Pandemic Continues
Post Date:05/08/2023 11:31 AM
Ann Arbor, Michigan – Oakland County’s economy is expected to return to normal this year and has a “solidly positive outlook” over the next few years, according to University of Michigan economists.
Oakland, one of the state’s most populous counties and among the nation’s most prosperous, is expected to see job gains over the next three years, bringing its payroll jobs count back to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2025 and 1.2% higher by the end of that year.
In its annual forecast of the Oakland County economy, the U-M Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics predicts the number of jobs will grow by 1.4% this year, 1.3% in 2024 and 1.6% in 2025. The local labor force is expected to grow more quickly than the number of employed residents, which puts upward pressure on the jobless rate this fall and the first half of 2024.
The positive outlook the economists provide in the forecast would follow what they describe as an economic “mixed bag” for 2022. The county’s job growth through the third quarter of last year lagged Michigan as a whole, with Oakland recovering 82% of the jobs it lost at the start of the pandemic and the state recovering 90%. They are also concerned by the county’s resident employment count declining by nearly 8,000 in the 12-month period ending in February 2023.
The recent data has been “puzzling,” the economists say, and could be the result of “commuting, an increase in multiple job holdings by residents or a decline in self-employment.”
“Despite the challenges of the past year, we are optimistic that 2023 will feature a return to normalcy in Oakland County’s economy with job growth relatively widespread across industries, even as the national economy slows,” said Gabriel Ehrlich, director of RSQE.
Overall, Oakland County has fewer lower-income residents and more upper-income residents than Michigan. Countywide, 20% of residents live in low-income households, compared to 30% of the state. The share of county residents living in higher-income households (28%) is much larger than that of the state (17%).
Still, the economists say, the prosperity is uneven. As of 2021, the area containing Pontiac and Waterford Township had an average household income after adjusting for household size that was less than one-half the average in the area containing Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township.
They also note stark differences in incomes by race and ethnicity: 18% of the county’s non-Hispanic and white residents lived in households classified as lower income in 2021 and 31% lived in upper income households. Those proportions were nearly reversed for Black and Hispanic residents.
One encouraging sign in the forecast is that wages are expected to grow more quickly in the county’s lower-wage industries than the higher-wage industries during the next three years. That, they say, should go some way toward lessening wage inequality. The county’s jobless rate is expected to average 2.7% in the first part of this year before rising to 3% by the end of it. The economists forecast the rate to rise modestly in the first half of next year as the nation enters a mild recession, dampening the local job market.
The forecast calls for the county’s unemployment rate to fall from 3.4% in mid-2024 to 2.8% by the end of 2025, compared with a projected state jobless rate of 3.9% at the end of that period. If the forecast holds, the county’s rate would be roughly half of a percentage point below its average right before the pandemic.
The economists say the return to pre-pandemic labor force levels reflects the strength of the county’s economy, though they caution that labor shortages “will be an ongoing fact of life for the foreseeable future in southeastern Michigan.”
“We believe Oakland County’s strong overall performance in these measures suggest it is well-positioned for the future despite the current challenges facing the local and national economies,” the economists say in the report. “The combination of an educated populace, a high share of managerial and professional jobs and an attractive standard of living should provide a solid foundation for economic prosperity over our forecast period and in the years to come.”
The 38th annual U-M forecast of Oakland County’s economy was hosted by the county’s Department of Economic Development.
Economic Outlook 2023 Final Report.pdf
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