by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Top Games This Week.
Written Sunday February 28th at 5:40 PM
Here are the top 15 games this week not in any particular order but these are some games that needs to be must to keep a close eye on.
Boys Top 15 Games this week.
Week of March 1st-March 7th
Ferndale at Orchard Lake St. Marys (Saturday): Jason Drake returns to his old stopping grounds to play his former team.
North Farmington at Oak Park (Tuesday): Knights riding off an emotional win on Friday. The Raiders are coming off a tough loss.
Clarkston at North Farmington (Thursday): Could this be the Raiders best chance to beat Clarkston???
Southfield Arts and Tech at Groves (Thursday): Expect another tense drama in this one.
Lake Orion at Berkley (Tuesday): This has Blue title implications in this game.
Oxford at Lake Orion (Thursday): Wildcats look to keep the Dragons in the same division with them.
Seaholm at Oxford (Tuesday): If the Maples are healthy then Wildcats beware.
Troy at Groves (Saturday): Groves has always been an upset trap. The Colts better beware.
Stoney Creek at Bloomfield Hills (Tuesday): Battle of three point specialists in Bloomfield Hills.
Troy Athens at Oxford (Friday): Do the Wildcats have an answer for Michael Justice???
Pontiac at Rochester (Saturday): This should be the first real test for the Phoenix.
Stoney Creek at Adams (Thursday): This is shaping up to be a very good game.
Groves at Adams (Tuesday): This is shaping up to be a trap game for the Highlanders.
West Bloomfield at Clarkston (Tuesday): This might be the Lakers best chance to beat Clarkston.
Lake Orion at Lapeer (Friday): Dragons were embarrassed last season at Lapeer.
Girls Top 15 Games this week.
Week of March 1st-March 7th
North Farmington at Adams (Monday): Last game went overtime between these two teams. Are we in for an encore???
Oxford at Berkley (Monday): This is a classic trap game for the Wildcats.
Lake Orion at Troy Athens (Monday): This is a classic trap game for the Dragons.
Clarkston at Troy (Monday): I’m wondering where the Colts mindset is at after Saturday’s loss to Berkley.
Clarkston at West Bloomfield (Wednesday): Can the Wolves avenge their only loss in the Swamp???
Oxford at Lake Orion (Wednesday): If both teams win on Monday then the Blue is on the line.
Farmington at Adams (Wednesday): Another make or break game for the Falcons.
Lake Orion at Midland (Friday): A huge MPR game looms in Mid-Michigan between two very strong programs.
Stoney Creek at Rochester (Saturday): What a game for the Falcons to come back from COVID protocol.
Royal Oak at Groves (Monday): Ravens should have this one circled after the Falcons shocked Royal Oak earlier in the season.
Southfield Arts and Tech at Seaholm (Friday): Could this be the chance for the Warriors to get their first win???
Berkley at Royal Oak (Friday): The Bears stunned Royal Oak last season but now it’s Berkley that makes the short trip to meet the Ravens.
Seaholm at Troy Athens (Wednesday): Maples have played a tough non-league schedule and it gets tougher with a trip to play the Red Hawks.
Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy at West Bloomfield (Saturday): Lakers have another tough team brewing on the weekend.
Lapeer at Oxford (Thursday): Wildcats should be motivated after losing to the Lightning last season.
by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Regional News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2021
Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Kicks off March by Declaring the Month as March is Reading Month
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Whitmer issued a proclamation declaring the month of March as Reading Month in Michigan. Throughout the month, schools, children, and adults alike use this time to promote the importance of reading.
“Every year the country uses this month to promote reading and imagination. I am proud to declare March as Reading Month in Michigan and I encourage everyone to find time to read,” said Governor Whitmer. “This month, we should recommit ourselves to encouraging children and young adults to read diverse literary works early and often so they can see themselves and others in what they read.”
The governor is committed to ensuring students and schools have the resources they need to learn and teach safely. That is why, in January, Governor Whitmer proposed her MI COVID Recovery Plan that invests $1.7 billion directly to our schools. She also proposed her FY2022 executive budget recommendation that makes the largest investment in K-12 schools in Michigan history.
A report from MSU and the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) showed that 97% of school districts have met the governor’s goal to get students back to in-person learning by today, March 1st.
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by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Regional News
Governor Whitmer Extends Michigan’s Liquor License Renewals from April 30 to July 30
LANSING — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced a three-month extension for liquor licensees to renew their 2021 licenses. The annual license renewal expiration date will be extended from April 30 to July 30 this year to assist licensees who have been impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing additional time to renew their licenses. The governor’s action will be implemented by administrative order issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). The license renewal extension will benefit approximately 19,000 licensees.
“Our bar and restaurant owners have made incredible sacrifices during this pandemic and they should not have the additional stress about renewing their liquor license by April 30 this year,” said Whitmer. “We want to ease the burden by extending the customary deadline so they can focus on getting back to business. My administration has also secured crucial support for these businesses through a bipartisan supplemental budget that I signed to provide greater financial relief for small business owners in our hospitality industry.”
Licensees are strongly encouraged to renew their license online to ensure timely processing of their renewal application and avoid any potential delays with mailing their renewed license. Licensees do not have to wait to renew their license. Licensees may renew their license(s) when it originally expires or at any time before the extended due date of July 30.
“This extension will allow staff from the MLCC Licensing Division to work with those licensees who need the extra time to renew,” said Orlene Hawks, director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) where the MLCC is housed. “Those who still wish to renew immediately will have the opportunity to do so, but this new deadline will also give our licensees the flexibility to wait a few months to renew their license.”
Licensees are encouraged to visit the MLCC website often for updated information at www.michigan.gov/lcc. The MLCC Licensing Division appreciates licensees’ timely renewal and is working to ensure that this year’s renewal goes smoothly.
“The Commission is pleased to implement Governor Whitmer’s action. This extension is a big step toward getting our bar and restaurant owners back to a new normal as quickly as possible,” said MLCC Chair Pat Gagliardi. “Licensees in the hospitality industry across the state won’t have to worry about losing their license over the summer months, which typically is a busy time for them.”
Licensees are reminded that failure to renew and receive an updated license may result in violations and/or automatic termination of the license.
For more information on the coronavirus / COVID-19 state of emergency, please visit the State of Michigan’s coronavirus website at: www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer on FDA Authorization of Safe, Effective Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the United States Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine:
“This scientific breakthrough is terrific news for our families, frontline workers, and small businesses who are eager to get vaccinated and continue our steady return to normalcy. We now have a total of three safe, effective vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
“As supply continues increasing because of the efforts of the Biden administration, I am confident that we can reach our goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders 16 and up at a rate of 50,000 shots per day, a metric we have been meeting in recent weeks. Our vaccine rollout will continue to focus on our most vulnerable, promote equity, and prioritize our essential workers and older at-risk Michiganders. The addition of this one-and-done vaccine will help us get shots in arms quicker.
“I also want to call on the Michigan Legislature to pass the MI COVID Recovery Plan so we can use the over $5 billion allocated to us in a bipartisan bill to speed up our vaccination efforts and expand testing, tracing, and lab capacity. Every day, week, and month that goes by, we get closer to putting this virus behind us, but I want to remind everyone that we must not let our guard down. It will take time to widely distribute the three vaccines, and we must all continue to do our part by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing our hands frequently.”
Michigan has administered more than two million vaccines, moving the state closer to Governor Whitmer’s goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible. As part of these efforts, Michigan is working to administer 50,000 shots per day through Governor Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, partnering with private organizations and nontraditional venues to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.
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by Becky Andrus | Feb 26, 2021 | Regional News
Governor Whitmer Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Biden Administration Action to Support Auto Workers and the Industry at Large Amid Global Semiconductor Shortage
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, joined by Governors from Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and South Carolina, sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to redouble efforts on behalf of the U.S. auto industry and its workers in light of plant closures and production volume reductions in several states brought on by a global shortage of auto-grade semiconductor wafers.
“Auto workers are the backbone of Michigan’s economy, and President Biden has already proven himself to be a strong ally when he pushed for the 2009 auto rescue that saved this industry,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Today, I’m urging President Biden to do everything in his power and to leave no stone unturned to protect auto jobs throughout the supply chain at risk because of this shortage. I am grateful for the President’s efforts to date to address this critical issue, including his recent actions calling for a supply chain review of the semiconductor industry and am hopeful we can once again count on President Biden’s leadership to ensure this vital industry has what it needs to continue bolstering our economy and providing good-paying jobs to hundreds of thousands of hard-working union members and their families.”
The automotive industry is heavily reliant on semiconductors given their use in vehicle safety, control, emissions, and driver information systems. The global auto-grade semiconductor chip shortage has already resulted in plant closures and production volume reductions in several states.
“We know of other foreign governments that continue to urge wafer and semiconductor companies to expand production capacity and/or temporarily reallocate a modest portion of their current production to auto-grade wafer production. We respectfully request that the Biden Administration do the same by continuing the drumbeat on behalf of automakers in the U.S. and their workers until there is a sufficient semiconductor supply to meet the strong demand for our vehicles, which has been one of the bright spots in our recovering economy,” the Governors wrote.
To view the letter, click the link below:
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by Becky Andrus | Feb 26, 2021 | Regional News
February 25, 2021
Media Contact: Lynda Robinson, 313-348-8220
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced that eligible Michiganders can apply for the new Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program.
The MEUC program was created as part of the federal Continued Assistance Act (CAA) and provides an additional $100 per week in supplemental benefits. MEUC is payable for the weeks ending January 2, 2021, through the week ending March 13, 2021.
Potentially eligible claimants have received a notice either by mail or in their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account about the availability of MEUC and how to apply.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for MEUC:
- Claimants must have earned at least $5,000 in self-employment income (net) in the most recent taxable year.
- Claimants must be receiving unemployment benefits for weeks covered by the MEUC program, which are the weeks ending January 2, 2021 through March 13, 2021.
- Claimants must apply online for the MEUC program and must submit proof of self-employment income.
- MEUC is not available for claimants who are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
Claimants are required to submit documentation of the net earnings of self-employment income obtained during the most recent taxable year. For example, if the claim was filed in 2020, documentation should be from 2019.
Acceptable documentation includes, but is not limited to tax returns, 1099’s, bank receipts, business records, invoices and billing statements. This does not include W-2 wages earned with an employer. MEUC payments will not begin until self-employment income documentation can be verified. The proof of income must be related to self-employment, not W-2 wages.
For more information on MEUC and other unemployment programs, visit Michigan.gov/UIA.
