Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach

by | Apr 7, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach.

Written Friday April 4th at 6:04 PM

Updated Saturday April 5th at 8:44 AM

Oxford went in house with their new Varsity Football Coach.

The Wildcats named Trevor Potts as their new varsity football coach with the move confirmed by Oxford Community Schools Instagram and Facebook pages and also Wildcats assistant Athletic Director Brandon Goredl.

“Oxford football is proud and excited to announce Coach Trevor Potts as our Varsity Head Football Coach. Coach Potts will continue to uphold the culture of leading students to become great young men and to lead to program to successes on the field. Congratulations Coach Potts” the program tweeted on their X page.

Potts takes over for Coach Zack Line who went back to the NFL to be with Coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.

Potts is no stranger to the Red and the Wildcats community. He was the defensive coordinator at Oxford from 2020-2024 under Line and was an assistant at Adams for 15 years learning under Coach Tony Patritto. Potts helped lead the Wildcats to the Red crown and an 21-14 postseason win at Davison last season.

Oxford will have two big returners in quarterback Jack Hendrix and running back Preston Wilder coming back. They also have program strength which should help in Potts first year as head coach along with a brutal non conference which includes Hartland (week one,) Macomb Dakota (week nine,) and that’s not mentioning the Red which has Adams, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Lake Orion.

The transition period should be smooth with the players knowing Potts really well but he will have some of his wrinkles to the Wildcats system. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

X Tweet announcing the hire

https://x.com/OxfordFBall/status/1908293616432296401

Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

by | Apr 4, 2025 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2025

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Treasury: Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

Treasury Safeguards Have Protected Scammers from Stealing
Individual Income Tax Refunds

LANSING, Mich. – With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Department of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft.

Cybercriminals are constantly using new tricks and tactics online to obtain personal information so they can fraudulently file state income tax returns and claim refunds on behalf of unsuspecting taxpayers. Typically, cybercriminals try to create a sense of urgency to incite an immediate response from taxpayers. For example, a scammer may allude to taking criminal actions against you for failing to respond.

“Vigilance is really the key to fighting scammers,” said Deputy State Treasurer Kavita Kale, who oversees Treasury’s Revenue Services programs. “Always examine the calls, emails and texts you receive to ensure they’re from a verified source. Scammers will take advantage of our life situations and look for those brief moments when we let our guard down.  Always take the extra steps to confirm you are communicating with an authorized source.”

Often, the taxpayer is already a victim of identity theft when a cybercriminal attempts to claim a state tax refund.

To be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft:

  • Only connect to the internet over secure, password-protected networks.
  • Do not click on links or pop-ups, open attachments or respond to emails from individuals you don’t know.
  • If you are unsure of the email sender, type a website name by hand rather than clicking on an embedded link.
  • Do not respond to online message requests for personally identifiable information. Most organizations–banks, universities, companies, Treasury–do not ask for your personal information over the internet.
  • Limit who you share information with by reviewing the privacy settings of your social media accounts.
  • Trust your intuition. If you think an offer is too good to be true, then it probably is.
  • Password-protect all user accounts and devices that connect to the internet with strong passwords at least 12 characters long.
  • Do not use the same password twice. Choose a password that means something to you and only you. Change your password on a regular basis.
  • If something seems suspicious, report it to the proper authorities.

As an additional layer of taxpayer protection, Treasury sends confirmation quiz letters to some taxpayers to help prevent the loss of state income tax refunds. Refunds are issued after a taxpayer’s identity has been verified. This measure is to protect your refund and ensure it is going to you, not someone trying to fraudulently collect your tax refund. If you receive a confirmation quiz letter, follow the directions.

To learn more about the state Treasury Department, go to Michigan.gov/Treasury or follow @MITreasury on X or LinkedIn. Additional information about state individual income taxes can be found at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax.
AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

by | Apr 2, 2025 | Regional News
Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert on genetic testing services. The new alert comes as she is urging 23andMe customers to consider deleting their accounts to protect their sensitive personal data following the genetic testing company’s bankruptcy.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized in her alert the difference between genetic testing conducted for medical purposes by health care providers and testing performed by private direct-to-consumer genetic testing services.

“While DNA testing conducted for medical purposes by a health care provider is strongly protected by federal privacy laws, results from private direct-to-consumer genetic services are not considered medical records and lack these legal protections,” Nessel said. “Amid the 23andMe bankruptcy, consumers should be mindful of the potential risks of these private services and take steps to protect their data.”

After creating an account and receiving their report, some commercial genetic testing customers may have no more use for the service. They should consider deleting their accounts. Then they should request the destruction of any stored data.

To prevent unauthorized access or misuse of their data, account holders should:

  1. Take steps to delete their account from the company’s website.
  2. Request the destruction of their genetic data.
  3. Revoke permission for genetic data to be used in research, if applicable.

Most genetic testing services should have instructions for completing the above actions on their website.

Consumers who suspect their genetic data has been compromised can report their concerns to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach

Seaholm has a new Baseball Coach

by | Apr 1, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Seaholm has a new Baseball Coach.

Written Tuesday April 1st at 1:40 PM

The Maples have a new baseball coach according to the MHSAA website.

Seaholm named Steve Oshinsky their new head coach. He takes over for John Toth who stepped down after nine years coaching the program.

Toth led the Maples to a 24-11 record last season and his best season was a 26-5 record with a Division One State Regional Semifinal appearance. He was 29-48 in his seven years but 50-16 his final two years.

It will be very interesting to see what Oshinsky does with Seaholm after the success they have had recently.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Seaholm Baseball website MHSAA

https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/seaholm/boys/varsity/baseball/2024

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach

Waterford Kettering has a new Boys Basketball Coach

by | Apr 1, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Waterford Kettering has a new Boys Basketball Coach.

Written Monday March 31st at 8:38 PM

Waterford Kettering has their new boys basketball coach as they are about to enter the OAA this winter.

The Captains named Rex Walters as their new boys basketball coach.

“Big thank you to AD Shayne Hynes, Principal Ben Harwood, and Waterford district AD Alison Sartorius and the search committee for the opportunity to work with the young men at Waterford Kettering. Excited to get to work and get back on the Basketball Court” Walters said on X.

Walters takes over for Coach Steve Emert who stepped down earlier in the month. Emert went 9-81 in his four years with the Captains which also went 2-44 in the last two years.

Walters will have an experienced team in Jordan Jarrell, Gustas Garbenis, Haiden Bigelow, Braycen Harrington, Dylan Hamel, Josh Wagner, Jessie Redick, Brycen Land, Jack Buczek and Katim Jallow coming back.

Walters is the father of former Adams standout Gunner Walters and Clarkston standout Ace Walters.

He played at Northwestern and Kansas and played in the NBA for ten years with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and the Miami Heat. He coached the Detroit Pistons G-League team in Grand Rapids along with assistant coaching jobs with the New Orleans Pelicans and served as an assistant at Nevada and at Wake Forest. He was also the acting head coach for a time at Florida Atlantic and San Francisco according to MIPrepZone’s Matt Mowery.

This looks to be a home run hire with Walters taking over the program. Waterford Kettering is in a long rebuild and entering a new league is going to be a challenge. It will be very interesting to see what Walters does with the Captains.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on the developing story.

 

Walters Tweet on X

https://x.com/CoachRexWalters/status/1906846531304456534

 

MIPrepZone Story.

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2025/03/31/kettering-hires-former-college-nba-player-coach-rex-walters-as-boys-hoops-coach/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tw-MIPrepZone&utm_source=twitter.com

Consumers Energy Announces New Electric Rate Hike

Consumers Energy Announces New Electric Rate Hike

by | Apr 1, 2025 | Regional News

Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

Consumers Energy Announces New Electric Rate Hike Case Just 7 Days Following Approval of $154 Million Increase

LANSING— Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recommits to Michigan utility ratepayers her pledge to intervene in every rate case before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), as Consumers Energy announced a new electric rate hike request on Friday— just seven days following the approval of their latest rate hike and one week before that rate hike takes effect on April 4.

By law, utility companies can only file rate hike requests once every 12 months, as measured from the day they file their rate hike application. Friday’s filed announcement comes 364 days since the filed announcement in Consumers’ last rate hike case, and their intended application date of June 2 would come a mere 366 days since they filed their last rate hike application.

“By allowing Consumers Energy and DTE to file a new rate hike every twelve months, the State is allowing these billion-dollar businesses to ask for more and more before anyone can even gauge the impact of the previous rate hike,” said Nessel. “Meaning they’re back asking for more money before anybody knows if their proposed investments made any difference in reliability or affordability for customers.”

While it remains unknown how many additional millions of dollars Consumers Energy will seek to bill from their customers in this upcoming rate hike request, the utility corporation opened their previous cases seeking to hike residential electric rates by 8.2% in 2024 and nearly 5% in 2023. A summary of Consumers Energy’s new rate hike request is expected to be filed before the formal application, which the corporation indicates it will file in June.

“Consumers Energy just got the green-light to raise electric rates, and one week later they’re back with their hands out before putting any of their new earnings to work for their customers,” Nessel continued. “My office will continue to hold Consumers Energy and DTE accountable before the Commission, and expose again and again the unjustifiable costs they try, perennially, to foist upon their bill-paying customers.”

In January, the MPSC approved DTE’s latest rate hike, which will allow the utility corporation to bill electric customers an additional $217 million annually, though the efforts of Attorney General Nessel were successful in slashing that rate hike in half. DTE has already indicated to the MPSC (PDF) they intend to file their next electric rate hike request next month. In addition to DTE’s filed notice for their upcoming electric rate hike request (U-21860), Consumers Energy has an open natural gas rate hike request before the commission as well (U-21806).

The Attorney General has saved Michigan consumers more than $3.7 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC. Consumers Energy sells electricity to approximately 1.9 million customers throughout Michigan and natural gas to 1.8 million customers across the state.