by orionontv | May 31, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday May 26th at 8:05 AM
Here is my insight and thoughts for the softball districts.
District 20 at Farmington Hills Mercy
NORTH FARMINGTON vs. Farmington Hills Mercy
FARMINGTON vs. WEST BLOOMFIELD
EARLY PICKS: Can’t go against the Marlins in this district.
District 22 at Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK vs. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
BERKLEY vs. GROVES
EARLY PICKS: Berkley vs Groves should be a very interesting matchup. The Falcons won the Blue. I see the Battle of Woodward in the district finals with the Bears moving on.
District 23 at Ferndale
FERNDALE vs. OAK PARK
Detroit Mumford vs. Detroit Renaissance
EARLY PICKS: This is not a strong district but the Eagles should move on with ease.
District 24 at Grosse Pointe North
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Detroit Western
Detroit Cass Tech/Detroit Western vs. Grosse Pointe South
Grosse Pointe North vs. HARPER WOODS
EARLY PICKS: I can see a battle of Grosse Pointe in the district finals. I like the Norsemen to win this district.
District 25 at Avondale
SEAHOLM vs. BLOOMFIELD HILLS
AVONDALE vs. TROY
EARLY PICKS: This is a very interesting district. The Blackhawks have a high octane offense and are very prone to shootouts. The Colts are solid as is the Maples. The Yellow Jackets are the wildcard. Bloomfield Hills is the early favorite but something tells me Troy could off a stunner.
District 26 at Utica
Utica Ford II vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson
TROY ATHENS vs. Utica
EARLY PICKS: The Chieftains have been solid all season. I think the Red Hawks are a sleeper but end of the day I like Utica over the Falcons in this district.
District 29 at Oxford
Davison vs. OXFORD
Davison/OXFORD vs. Lapeer
Port Huron vs. Port Huron Northern
EARLY PICKS: It’s hard to go against the Cardinals in this district but the Wildcats could give them some fits. I like Davison to move on in this district.
District 30 at Lake Orion
CLARKSTON vs. Waterford Mott
CLARKSTON/Waterford Mott vs. ADAMS
LAKE ORION vs. Waterford Kettering
EARLY PICKS: The Dragons got a great draw and should get to the district finals. The Wolves have a tough draw especially if they play the Highlanders in the district semifinals. I think Lake Orion gets by this district with their high octane offense but if they run into a good starting pitcher then it could be trouble.
District 31 at Romeo
Utica Eisenhower vs. Romeo
ROCHESTER vs. STONEY CREEK
EARLY PICKS: It would be very hard to go against the Cougars but Macomb County has been solid all year long. Erin Flynn should leave her mark in this district.
by orionontv | May 31, 2023 | Regional News
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| Friend ––
In Michigan and across the country, the United States Postal Service is part of the fabric of our communities. For nearly 250 years, seniors, small business owners, veterans, and so many Americans have relied on this trusted institution and its dedicated employees to deliver medications, financial documents, letters to loved ones, and more.
But, for years, burdensome policies forced the Postal Service to cut costs and threatened postal workers’ ability to deliver mail on time.
That is why I championed the Postal Service Reform Act – which was signed into law just over a year ago – to make the first reforms to this institution in more than 15 years.
Recently, the Postal Service launched a new website where every American can see data about mail delivery times for their community. This performance dashboard – which was required by my historic law – will help Michiganders see if their mail is on time, and will make this institution more transparent and accountable than ever before.
Click here to access the USPS service performance dashboard!
My bipartisan law saved the Postal Service nearly $50 billion to put them on a stable financial footing and help protect reliable mail delivery. It also requires the mail to be delivered at least six days a week, so the Postal Service can help Americans in every part of the country stay connected for years to come.
While this law was historic, more needs to be done to bring the Postal Service into the future. I secured significant funding for the Postal Service to purchase a new fleet of electric delivery vehicles to help keep postal workers safe. Because of these efforts, the Postal Service is already buying trucks that will be efficient and cost effective in the long run, including vehicles being built by Ford Motor Company and members of the United Auto Workers.
Going forward – I will continue working to ensure a strong Postal Service for years to come, so that every American and Michigander can continue to rely on this critical institution – now and in the future.
Thanks for reading,
Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan |
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by orionontv | May 25, 2023 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Highlights Opening of Nearly 700 New Child Care Programs, Celebrates Progress on One-Year Anniversary of Caring for MI Future
State on track to surpass goal to open 1,000 child care programs by the end of 2024, lower costs for families and help them access child care that meets their needs.
LANSING MI – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that 687 child care entrepreneurs have opened new child care programs and an additional 1,829 center- and home-based programs have expanded to service more children—lowering costs and expanding access to quality child care for Michigan families. Today is also the one-year anniversary of Caring for MI Future, a comprehensive strategy with a goal of opening 1,000 new child care programs by the end of 2024. Michigan is well on track to continue expanding child care options, helping parents go back to work knowing their kids are safe and cared for, and lowering their costs.
“Investing in high-quality, affordable child care lowers costs for working families, helps parents go back to work, and ensures kids have a safe place to grow and develop,” said Governor Whitmer, “A year ago, we launched Caring for MI Future and set a goal of opening 1,000 new child care centers by the end of 2024. Today, less than halfway through 2023, nearly 700 new child care licenses have been issued, putting us well on track to keep expanding child care options in every region and driving down costs for families. Let’s keep working together to improve accessibility, affordability, and recruit, train, and retain early educators that live and work in their communities.”
“Child care keeps Michigan working,” said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Thanks to child care entrepreneurs and the Caring for MI Future team more families can now go to work and school knowing their children are safe, happy, healthy, and learning. We’re not done. Demand for quality child care is still high, and we need more professionals to enter the field. Our team is ready to help them succeed.”
“I am pleased with the tremendous progress towards our goal of 1,000 new child care facilities by the close of 2024. Our team at LARA has helped nearly 700 new child care entrepreneurs realize their dream of starting their own business and another 1,829 child care entrepreneurs expand their existing child care business.” said Orlene Hawks, director of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. “Over the past year we hosted webinars and child care access fairs throughout the state, connected people with start-up funding, in-person and virtually, teaching, training, troubleshooting, and learning with Michiganders that have committed their lives to creating safe spaces for children to learn and grow.”
“Because of the opportunity provided by LARA and Our Strong Start (OSS), my dream of over 20 years of owning a child care center has become a reality. Because of the grants and help of OSS, I was able to pursue and accomplish this dream,” said Tenisia Evans, owner and operator, Boss Baby Early Learning Center. Evans had owned a home-based child care since 2007 and opened her center in early 2023.
About Caring for MI Future:
Caring for MI Future is a statewide effort to help child care entrepreneurs open new or expand existing child care programs. In May 2022, Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist set a bold goal to open 1,000 new child care providers by the end of 2024. At the same time, they announced Caring for MI Future—statewide effort to help child care entrepreneurs open new or expand existing child care programs.
With the Michigan Departments of Education and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the state invested $100M million in federal Child Care Development Block Grant funds, managed and overseen by the Michigan Department of Education, to improve access to affordable child care options and create sustainable systems to support the current and next generation of child care business owners.
Through Caring for MI Future, entrepreneurs have access to resources to launch and expand their businesses. Entrepreneurs can learn more at Michigan.gov/caringformifuture and contact an Our Strong Start Navigator to learn which resources are the right fit for their goals. To date, providers in nearly every county of the state have participated in Caring for MI Future, including:
- Our Strong Start (OSS): LARA’s team of navigators continue to support entrepreneurs as they establish or expand their business. LARA’s team has helped all 687 new facilities and 1,829 expanded facilities with a variety of assistance including developing business plans, accessing grant funding, and navigating the licensing process. Our Strong Start has received 9,758 unique visitors to our website and have worked with 2,647 child care entrepreneurs.
- Facility improvement grants: The state has awarded $10.8 million towards 963 facility improvement grants in 67 counties. An additional, 2,242 applications are submitted and being reviewed. These funds are available to help entrepreneurs renovate facilities.
- Startup funding: The state is supporting entrepreneurs before and after receiving their child care license, including:
- 882 pre-licensure grants for child care entrepreneurs in 66 counties
- 196 start-up grants for child care entrepreneurs in 41 counties (available after receiving their license)
- Business development tools: Since May 2022, 738 child care entrepreneurs have participated in professional development to strengthen their business plan and set their program up for success, including 1:1 consultations, trainings, webinars, workshops, and communities of practice.
- Support recruiting and developing staff: Forty-two counties are engaging in workforce efforts to recruit, train, and retain talented early educators to live and work in their communities with grant funding from Caring for MI Future.
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by orionontv | May 25, 2023 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Signs MOU with Australia to Continue Growing Economy & Opportunity
LANSING, Mich. – Last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Michigan and Australia reaffirming our commitment to collaboration in the automotive industry, future mobility, and the transportation sector.
“Michigan is excited to work alongside Australia to continue growing our automotive, maritime, and sustainable forest bioeconomy industries, fight climate change head-on, and collaborate to make mobility cleaner and safer,” said Governor Whitmer. “This MOU will build on Michigan’s longstanding, shared heritage with Australia and help us to collaborate to create opportunities for safe, equitable and sustainable transportation options. Right now, Michigan’s unemployment is 3.8%, below 4% for only the third time since the 1970s and we have added 61,000 jobs year over year. With effective collaborations like today, we can keep growing our economy and building the future.”
“Signing the MOU enables ongoing bilateral cooperation across the Australian and Michigan automotive and technology sectors and policy makers,” said Minister King. “It promotes emission reduction outcomes, improves collaboration in future transport technologies, and enhances supply chain connectivity.”
The MOU signed by Governor Whitmer and Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King increased collaboration between Australia and Michigan to get ready for more accessible, safer, and more connected transportation in the future. It will support the continuous collaboration between Australian and Michigan policymakers and the automotive and technology industries. This MOU will serve as the foundation for the two jurisdictions’ ongoing cooperation to ensure that the transportation industry contributes to the effort to reduce emissions. Michigan has made a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, like that of Australia. Previously, the State of Michigan and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Andrew Broad, signed an MOU in October 2018 to work together on cutting-edge automobile and road technologies that will enhance mobility.
Areas of possible cooperation in the MOU include:
- Sharing information on science, technology, regulations, and policies; co-hosting conferences, workshops, and meetings between Michigan and Australia and other nations.
- Exchanging best practices in workforce development and skilled trades.
- Creating new initiatives to address the demands of developing technologies.
- The formation of a collaborative task team to offer guidance on bolstering Australian and Michigan technology clusters and linking important coordinating bodies
Governor Whitmer was joined for the signing by Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO, MEDC, Terri Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President, Chief Real Estate and Global Attraction Officer, MEDC, Eric Shreffler, Senior Vice President, Market Development, MEDC, Kathryn Snorrason, Interim Chief Mobility Officer, OFME and Katelyn Wilcox, Assistant Chief of Protocol, MEDC.
Through the Australian Integrated Multimodel EcoSystem (AMES), a project of the University of Melbourne, the MOU between Australia and Michigan has advanced significantly. The MOU promotes connections between, for instance, Michigan’s Mcity and American Center for Mobility off-road facilities and AMES, which has a live test bed on Melbourne city streets. This MOU will serve as the foundation for future cooperation between our two jurisdictions ensuring that the transportation industry contributes to the effort to reduce emissions.
This MOU builds on Governor Whitmer’s commitment to cleaner, safer, and more accessible mobility in Michigan. The updated MOU between Michigan and Australia reaffirms our dedication to working together in the automotive industry, future mobility, and the transportation industry. Accessibility, safety, traffic, and productivity benefits are possible with new and developing transportation technologies.
In August 2023, the Michigan Department of Transportation intends to send a delegation to ITS Australia, and MEDC is collaborating with ITS Australia on the possibility of holding a virtual session in advance of the event.
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by orionontv | May 24, 2023 | Regional News
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Kicks Off First Meeting of Juvenile Justice Advisory Council
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II kicked off the first meeting of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, which will inform Michigan’s juvenile justice reform efforts through the lived experiences of those who were impacted by the system. The Advisory Council was established within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) after a unanimous recommendation from the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform.
“We are committed to centering the lived experiences of those who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system as we address complex challenges faced by thousands of young Michiganders each year,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “The individuals on this council can help shine a light on where improvements must be made, as we work to better serve young Michiganders and lead the nation on justice issues.”
“Our goal is a juvenile justice system that is more effective, more transparent, more consistent, and more data driven, where decision-making is evidence-based and laser-focused on positive outcomes for every youth,” said Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement. “This advisory group, and especially the members who have experienced the system, will help policy makers better understand what works and what doesn’t, so that Michigan can achieve those goals and make a positive difference in the lives of young people statewide.”
“By sharing their lived experiences with us, our advisory council members will give us an irreplaceable perspective to inform our juvenile justice reform efforts,” said Suzanna Shkreli, who was named MDHHS’ Director of Juvenile Justice Reform in March. “Under Director Elizabeth Hertel’s leadership, MDHHS is tackling the systemic and persistent issues within the juvenile justice system to ensure that youth have the support, resources, and opportunity to safely return to their communities and thrive.”
The Juvenile Justice Advisory Council was established to work to improve the juvenile justice system through review of and changes to department policy and practices; provide support to prior and current juvenile justice youth, adults, and their families; and to share their experiences and suggestions for how the system can be improved. Initial focuses will include job training and skill development, consultation and implementation of juvenile justice policy, and improvements to residential facilities. Council members will serve two-year terms.
Advisory Committee Members
The Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform was composed of leaders from across branches of government, state and local agencies, those working in and impacted by the system, and other stakeholders, and was facilitated by The Council of State Governments Justice Center. To learn more about the recommendations, please visit https://michigancommitteeonjuvenilejustice.com/jj-reform-task-force/.
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by orionontv | May 23, 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.
