by Becky Andrus | Jun 22, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Urges President, Congress to Temporarily Pause Federal Gas Tax
Letter highlights actions that would offer real relief to working families facing rising prices right now
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to President Biden urging him to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax. Getting this done would offer families facing high gas prices real relief right now. She also listed proposals she has put forward at the state level and encouraged other states to follow suit.
The full text of the letter is below:
Americans are feeling the pain at the pump. This month, gas reached $5 a gallon nationwide. For working families in Michigan from Macomb to Marquette who are facing rising prices on everyday expenses, this is unsustainable. While the causes are varied, from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia to ongoing supply chain challenges, the pain being felt by people is tangible. We have all seen it, heard it, or felt it ourselves. I am grateful to you for releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but we must do more to help families.
I write to you today to urge you to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax. In March, I led a group of governors to support of this proposal.
Getting this done would save families money right now. As Americans bear the brunt of inflation and face rising prices on everything from groceries, childcare, rent, and other critical expenses, the federal government has the ability to reduce the price of fuel and put more money in their pockets. Getting this done will offer real, immediate relief without compromising the federal government’s ability to make infrastructure investments.
Here in Michigan, you have a willing partner in providing relief to families and putting more money in people’s pockets. In March, I called for a temporary suspension of the state sales tax on gas, and last month, I proposed MI Tax Rebate Right Now, a plan to send $500 to Michigan’s working families right away. We can take this step because of our effective fiscal management and hardworking people and small businesses, who helped our state bring in billions in additional revenue. MI Tax Rebate Right Now proposes sending some of that revenue back to Michiganders because they need it now more than ever.
I will work across the aisle with the Michigan Legislature to get this done and use every tool at my disposal to ensure working families can pay the bills and put food on the table.
The American people are counting on all of us to provide real relief right now so they can pay the bills and put food on the table. Let us draw on the grit and determination our working families show every day. I urge you to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax, and I pledge to continue finding creative ways to put money back in people’s pockets.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 21, 2022 | Regional News
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| Hi there,
I’m sure you’ve continued to see the news about the heartbreaking mass shootings in places like Uvalde, Buffalo and Tulsa in recent weeks. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for young Americans – not car accidents, not drug overdoses, not cancer.
This epidemic is taking far too many lives, and that’s why the House passed a package of legislation this month aimed at keeping our kids safe and curbing this crisis. One of the bills we passed was my Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act, a safe gun storage bill I introduced after the shooting at Oxford High School last November.
My team and I began working on this bill just weeks after the tragedy in Oxford that took the lives of four high school students, and it is based on the events that happened in that horrible shooting. We focused on building a serious, practical piece of legislation that would make a real difference in preventing similar tragedies in the future. Through conversations and meetings with first responders, community members, hunters, sportsmen, and other folks on the ground, it became clear that ensuring the safe storage of guns was essential.
We settled on an idea that’s pretty simple: gun owners who have children living in the home must take reasonable steps to secure their firearms, and can be held criminally responsible if they fail to do so and people get killed.
It’s a straightforward idea that’s meant to encourage responsible gun ownership and to keep our kids safe. Most Michiganders do this already as a matter of habit.
The day after the shooting in Uvalde, I was coincidentally scheduled to speak at the Oxford Virtual Academy graduation. It was a deeply emotional moment for the students, their families, and school staff, with so many raw emotions bubbling up after the tragedy in Texas.
No community should ever have to undergo that pain and grief. Our response to similar shootings over the last decade has always been the same: an outcry for change, followed by marches and protests, but no legislative action. This time appears to be different. The Senate appears to have reached a bipartisan deal on mental health and gun safety, which I hope will hold.
As the representative of a community that’s experienced the immense pain of a school shooting, I’m committed to getting a bill signed into law that will protect our kids and help prevent this kind of violence in the future.
That’s why I’m encouraged by the bipartisan framework the Senate has developed and am eager to vote on it as quickly as possible. It’s a compromise, but would, if passed, represent bipartisan consensus for the first time in 25 years.
– Rep. Elissa Slotkin |
by orionontv | Jun 21, 2022 | Local News
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenny Bhatti
248-391-0304 ext. 1003
[email protected]
ORION TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
Orion Township, MI (May 20, 2022) – Orion Township was recognized for environmental leadership by
the statewide Michigan Green Communities program. As part of the 2021 Michigan Green Communities
(MGC) Challenge, 44 participating local governments were awarded gold, silver, or bronze seals of
achievement reflecting community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and
resilience, recycling, environmental justice, and more. Ten communities received bronze certification,
twelve received silver certification, and twenty-two received gold certification.
Orion Township achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including economic
development, materials management, water protection, and community engagement. A few years ago,
Orion Township, implemented a community-wide garbage and recycling program. The recycling program
included participation in Recyclebank – a rewards points system for recycling. Just for signing up and setting
out recycling each week, residents can earn points to redeem at local stores or donate to the school district
for one of their recycling programs.
The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program is open to all local governments in Michigan, at no cost.
MGC is a sustainability networking, benchmarking, and technical assistance program. It guides and supports
communities in adapting to a changing climate, protecting infrastructure, improving the quality of life for
residents, and creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for the state of
Michigan.
Michigan Green Communities is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and
Energy; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan
Townships Association. More details about this program can be found at www.migreencommunities.com.
Questions regarding the Michigan Green Communities program can be directed to
[email protected].
by Becky Andrus | Jun 20, 2022 | High School Sports
MHSAA NOW: The weekly newsletter of the Michigan High School Athletic Association
THIS WEEK
We’re into the second day of the final weekend of the 2021-22 sports school year, and today’s edition includes previews of the Girls Soccer, Softball and Baseball Finals and coverage of Thursday’s Semifinals. We also highlight an all-stater whose final high school goal clinched last weekend’s Division 1 girls lacrosse championship.
Do you know a high school sports fan who would enjoy this weekly newsletter? Share this link to register on MHSAA.com and be added to the MHSAA NOW mailing list.
AROUND THE STATE
This weekend’s Girls Soccer Finals field includes two of the winningest champions in MHSAA history, and two teams hoping to celebrate the ultimate prize for the first time. Hudsonville Unity Christian with 10 Finals titles and Marian with nine trail only Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s 12 on the list of most MHSAA girls soccer championships.
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The team with the second-longest winning streak in MHSAA baseball history, and the appearances of three likely high-round Major League Baseball draft picks are among several intriguing storylines as we head into this weekend’s Baseball Finals at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium.
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The roster for this weekend’s MHSAA Softball Finals at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium makes for a power-packed lineup. The 16 teams playing for four championships have combined to claim 28 Finals titles in the past. Unionville-Sebewaing and Stevensville Lakeshore are among those sitting second in MHSAA history with seven championships won – and with opportunities to tie the record of eight Saturday.
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As much as he tried to keep it out of his mind, it became nearly impossible for Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior pitcher Jacob Pallo to do so late in his team’s Division 2 Semifinal against Goodrich. Pallo was four outs away from a no-hitter Thursday, but then a bloop single with two outs in the sixth ended that hope of him making history.
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Things were not going according to plan for Allen Park early in Thursday morning’s Division 1 Semifinal at Secchia Stadium. Mattawan, fresh off an upset of top-ranked South Lyon on Tuesday, came out in giant-killer mode again, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead against the No. 2-ranked Jaguars. “Those nerves, they got us early, but we came back to play,” said third-year Allen Park coach Michael Kish.
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Trenton and Essexville Garber are not used to making long runs in softball. In fact, most of the players on both teams weren’t even born the last time their schools reached the Softball Semifinals. The newcomers put on a show Thursday on the state’s biggest stage, with Trenton holding off Garber, 2-1, in a classic pitcher’s duel at sunny, windswept Secchia Stadium.
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Up until there were two outs in the top of the seventh inning of its Division 4 Semifinal on Thursday, Riverview Gabriel Richard was winning with an unusual formula. At that point, the Pioneers had three more errors (5) than hits (2), but still found themselves up a run as they looked for some insurance. After the first two batters made outs, the Pioneers found insurance, and then some.
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Boose finished her senior season Saturday with one of the most memorable moments in Brighton girls lacrosse history. Her overtime goal gave the Bulldogs a 12-11 victory over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern and the Division 1 championship after the they had finished runners-up the previous three seasons.
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GAME TIME
Upcoming MHSAA Tournament Schedule
MHSAA TV
For a complete list of all games and streaming options go to mhsaa.tv.
Click here for a schedule of available student broadcast video streams.
by orionontv | Jun 20, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday June 18th at 7:15 PM
Updated Sunday June 19th at 12:05 PM
Hello all, hope all is well. The MHSAA hasn’t released the boys and girls basketball districts as of yet. Now I did like a projection list of teams that could be the districts.
THESE ARE NOT THE OFFICIAL DISTRICTS, these are my projections. If you have any questions please comment on the comments, DM, or tweet me. I will gladly explain.
I used my early district projections along with the volleyball and MHSAA divisions lists for the 2022-2023 seasons which included the Co-Op’s and the teams that moved up.
Hopefully these are the districts. Here are my projections for Divisions one and two. It took me a few hours so here goes.
Division One
Alpena
Marquette
Petoskey
Sault Ste Marie
Gaylord
Traverse City Central
Traverse City West
Muskegon
Muskegon Mona Shores
Muskegon Reeths Puffer
Cedar Springs
Greenville
Rockford
Mt. Pleasant
St. Johns
DeWitt
Bay City Central
Bay City Western
Midland
Midland Dow
Saginaw Heritage
Saginaw Arthur Hill (Boys Only)
Grand Haven
Holland
Holland West Ottawa
Zeeland East
Zeeland West
Coopersville
Grand Rapids Northview
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
Grand Rapids Union
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
East Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills
Grandville
Hudsonville
Jenison
Wyoming
Byron Center
Caledonia
East Kentwood
Lowell
Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg
Kalamazoo Central
Mattawan
Richland Gull Lake
St. Joseph
Stevensville Lakeshore
Battle Creek Harper Creek
Battle Creek Central
Jackson
Jackson Northwest
Battle Creek Lakeview
Coldwater
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Portage Central
Portage Northern
Sturgis
Mason
Grand Ledge
East Lansing
Lansing Holt
Lansing Everett
Lansing Waverly
Brighton
Hartland
Howell
Okemos
South Lyon
South Lyon East
Ann Arbor Pioneer
Ann Arbor Skyline
Ann Arbor Huron
Dexter
Saline
Belleville
Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti Lincoln
Romulus (Boys Only)
Taylor
Brownstown Woodhaven
Monroe
Riverview (Girls Only)
Gibraltar Carlson
Temperance Bedford
Trenton
Wyandotte Roosevelt
Canton
Plymouth
Salem
Northville
Novi
Novi Detroit Catholic Central
Detroit Henry Ford
Livonia Stevenson
Livonia Churchill
Livonia Franklin
Redford Thurston
FARMINGTON
Dearborn
Dearborn Heights Crestwood
Dearborn Fordson
Allen Park
Wayne Memorial
Westland John Glenn
Detroit Cass Tech
Lincoln Park
Detroit Martin Luther King
Detroit Western
Melvindale
River Rouge
BERKLEY
OAK PARK
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
Detroit Renaissance
Detroit Mumford
Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit
Fraser
Grosse Pointe North
Grosse Pointe South
Hamtramck
HARPER WOODS
St. Clair Shores Lakeview
Roseville
Sterling Heights
Warren Cousino
Warren Woods Tower
Warren Mott
Warren De LaSalle
GROVES
SEAHOLM
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
NORTH FARMINGTON
Birmingham Brother Rice/Birmingham Marian
Orchard Lake St. Marys/Farmington Hills Mercy
TROY
TROY ATHENS
ROCHESTER
ADAMS
STONEY CREEK
ROYAL OAK
Chippewa Valley
Macomb Dakota
Sterling Heights Stevenson
Macomb L’Anse Creuse
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North
St. Clair Shores LakeShore
Romeo
Utica Eisenhower
Utica
Utica Ford II
Port Huron
Port Huron Northern
Lapeer
Davison
Flint (Boys Only)
Flint Kearsley
Flint Carman Ainsworth
Flushing
Fenton
Linden
Holly
Grand Blanc
Swartz Creek
CLARKSTON
LAKE ORION
OXFORD
AVONDALE
PONTIAC
Waterford Kettering
Waterford Mott
Milford
Lakeland
Walled Lake Western
Walled Lake Central
Walled Lake Northern
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Division Two
Escanaba
Gladstone
Kingsford
Negaunee
Houghton
Boyne City
Cheboygan
Kalkaska
Grayling
Kingsley
Big Rapids
Reed City
Cadillac
Ludington
Remus Chippewa Hills
Clare
Gladwin
Ogemaw Heights
Standish Sterling
Midland Bullock Creek
Shepherd
Fruitport
Montague
Muskegon Oakridge
Muskegon Orchard View
Whitehall
Spring Lake
Fremont
Grant
Howard Tri County
Newaygo
Sparta
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern
Comstock Park
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Grand Rapids West Catholic
Wyoming Lee
Alma
Belding
Central Montcalm
Ionia
Portland
Grand Rapids Christian
Grand Rapids South Christian
Grand Rapids West Aviation Academy
Kentwood Grand River Prep
Wyoming Godwin Heights
Wyoming Kelloggsville
Allendale
Hamilton
Holland Christian
Hopkins
Hudsonville Unity Christian
Comstock (Boys Only)
Allegan
Ostego
Paw Paw
Plainwell
South Haven
Coloma (Boys Only)
Benton Harbor
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
Dowagiac
Edwardsburg
Niles
Battle Creek Pennfield
Constiantine
Marshall
Parchment
Three Rivers
Vicksburg
Charlotte
Eaton Rapids
Hastings
Lake Odessa Lakewood
Olivet
Wayland
Fowlerville
Haslett
Lansing Catholic
Lansing Eastern
Lansing Sexton
Williamston
Adrian
Chelsea
Hillsdale
Jonesville (Boys Only)
Parma Western
Onsted
Pinckney
Carleton Airport
Milan
Tecumseh
Dundee
Ida
Monroe Jefferson
Flat Rock
Grosse Isle
New Boston Huron
Riverview (Boys Only)
Romulus Summit Academy North
Taylor Prep
Romulus (Girls only)
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
Canton Prep
Dearborn Divine Child
Dearborn Star International
Garden City
Dearborn Advanced Tech
Dearborn Heights Annapolis
Dearborn Henry Ford Academy
Dearborn Heights Robichaud (Boys Only)
Detroit Cesar Chavez
Detroit Cody
Detroit Lincoln King
Detroit Voyaguer
Livonia Clarenceville
Redford Union
Redford Westfield Prep
FERNDALE
FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
Hazel Park
Clawson
Warren Fitzgerald
Warren Lincoln
Detroit Collegiate Prep
Detroit Edison
Detroit Southeastern
Detroit University Prep
Detroit University Prep Arts and Design
Detroit University Prep Science and Math
Detroit Denby Tech
Detroit East English
Detroit Osborn
Eastpointe
Harper Woods Chandler Park
St. Clair Shores South Lake
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Detroit Country Day
Orchard Lake St. Marys (Girls Only)
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy
Center Line
Macomb Lutheran North
Madison Heights Lamphere
Warren Michigan Collegate
Warren Regina
Algonac
Armada
Marine City
Marysville
Richmond
St. Clair
Almont
Croswell-Lexington
Imlay City
North Branch
Yale
Durand
Flint Powers
Goodrich
Lake Fenton
Brandon
Clio
Corunna
Flint Hamady
Flint (Girls Only)
Mt. Morris
Owosso
Birch Run
Bridgeport
Saginaw
Caro
Frankenmuth
Bay City John Glenn
Carrolton
Essexsville Garber
Freeland
Saginaw Swan Valley
Saginaw Arthur Hill (Girls Only)
by Becky Andrus | Jun 20, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist Sign Juneteenth Proclamation
Today marks the first time Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued a proclamation declaring June 19th as Juneteenth Celebration Day in Michigan. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when slavery was abolished in the United States.
“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth as an official state holiday for the first time,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today presents an important opportunity to celebrate and elevate the stories of Black Americans as we continue to make record investments in communities of color. Since we took office, the lieutenant governor and I have prioritized building a state representative and responsive to the people we serve, addressing racial disparities and improving equity across Michigan. I am proud to declare June 19th as Juneteenth Celebration Day, and I am committed to working with anyone to build a more equitable and just state for all Michiganders.”
“Juneteenth marks a crucial day in our nation’s history to recognize the important progress we’ve made, while committing ourselves to the ongoing effort to center equity in all our work and make Michigan a place where every person can succeed,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “As the first Black lieutenant governor in our state, I’m building the policies and practices that will address and undo the damage racism and injustice has caused on our communities. That’s why we continue to invest in schools, job training, environmental justice, infrastructure and supporting businesses – all transformational investments and policies that celebrate, support and uplift communities of color. I am proud of the progress we’ve made thus far and will continue to work every day to make sure every all Michiganders have the support and opportunities they need.”
Juneteenth originated on June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, where he read General Order #3, stating that all slaves were free, and that former masters and slaves were absolutely equal in personal and property rights. Acting as the date of emancipation, June 19th also became a long-standing day of celebration, meant to honor African American resilience and the end of slavery.
Since they took office, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have been committed to making Michigan a more equitable and just state. The governor assembled the most diverse cabinet in Michigan’s history to ensure that government is more representative of all Michiganders. More than 338 Black Michiganders have been appointed to boards, commissions and full-time positions, and 60% of appointees are women or people of color. The governor also appointed 12 Black Michiganders to the bench out of 41 judicial appointments. Under Executive Order 2020-163, the governor required implicit bias training for all state employees.
In response to COVID-19, Governor Whitmer established the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities by Executive Order 2020-55. The task force, which Lt. Governor Gilchrist chairs, has made real progress in bringing down the COVID disparity for Black Michiganders and has extended its work to tackling health disparities as a whole.
Additionally, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-163, recognizing racism as a public health crisis and creating the Black Leadership Advisory Council. The Council is the first of its kind in Michigan to elevate Black leaders and representatives and take initial steps to address racism within state government.
Last year, Lt. Governor Gilchrist launched his ‘Making Real Change’ Tour across Michigan to highlight the administration’s continued efforts to flatten and eliminate racial disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour focused on what the state has learned to apply those lessons to equitably administering vaccines and building the resilience required to reduce racial disparities in health and other areas within communities.
Governor Whitmer made strides in police reforms when she called on the legislature to address racial disparities and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and communities of color. The governor also made Michigan a leader in transparency and accountability by developing a new web page to improve public access to information on the use of force and traffic stop data, department policies and training requirements.
View the full proclamation here.
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