by orionontv | Oct 2, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday September 30th at 5:10 PM
West Bloomfield (4-2): The Lakers have some serious concerns on defense and the stats prove it. They have allowed over 30 points in three of the last four weeks including a 44-36 loss to Clarkston on Friday night and were down 37-14 at one point in the fourth quarter. Rick Nance had a really rough game but the defense as mentioned has some serious concerns. They have allowed 166 points this season (27.6 ppg) which is un Laker like. Bryce Rowe did not play and Kari Jackson and Montelle Johnson are out for the season with ACL and MCL injuries. They have Oxford looming next week.
Lake Orion (6-0): The Dragons defense was just incredible in their 35-0 win over Adams on Friday night. They had six sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble return for a touchdown. Lake Orion was solid offensively as well with Raymond Payne’s two scores, Billy Roberson and Tristian Hill each had a score as well. The Dragons are rolling right now. They have a big one looming with Clarkston for the Red next week.
Clarkston (4-2): The Wolves were very impressive especially offensively in their 44-36 win over West Bloomfield on Friday night. Clarkston had a 37-14 lead in the fourth quarter. The game really wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Griffin Bowman had three rushing touchdowns while Brody Kosin had two touchdown catches while Desman Stephens had a touchdown pass, an interception, and a touchdown score in the game. Lukas Bowman was also very good as well. The defense was solid all night including a big fourth down stop at the two yard line. The Bowman twins have been very good as had Brady Collins along with Stephens and Kosin as well. Clarkston has Lake Orion looming for the Red next week.
Adams (3-3): The Highlanders had a rough night in their 35-0 loss to Lake Orion on Friday night. Adams was dominated everywhere in the game. I know they are a very young team but Coach Tony Patritto has to be very disappointed with the performance. The postseason could be very interesting to watch for the Highlanders with what’s ahead. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.
Oxford (2-4): The Wildcats needed a big win like this and they got it by winning 38-28 over Stoney Creek. This could be the turning point that Coach Zach Line talked about during the preview show and the podcast. Oxford still has a shot to get into the postseason with their very tough schedule. Jack Hendrix and Luke Johnson were huge for the Wildcats in the game. Johnson had two touchdowns including a 50 yard rushing score while Hendrix had three passing scores including a 51 yard catch by Liam O’Neil, a 47 yard catch by Dean Rice, and a one yard catch by Ian Jones. They have West Bloomfield looming next week.
Stoney Creek (1-5): The Cougars postseason hopes took a huge hit with a 38-28 loss to Oxford on Friday night. Stoney Creek was leading most of the game but let Oxford come back and seal the win. Jayden McCarthy had all four rushing touchdowns on the night. The Cougars have a tough stretch ahead of them. They have Adams looming next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech (6-0): The Warriors rolled in their 40-0 win over Bloomfield Hills on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech rested their starters in the second half for the second week in a row. It’s also great to keep them healthy as they get ready for the final stretch. They have Rochester looming next week.
Harper Woods (3-3): The Pioneers had a very tough loss to Groves on Friday night falling 20-12. Harper Woods will be fine in the postseason with three losses to three really good teams. They have Farmington looming next week.
Groves (4-2): The Falcons went into Wayne County and beat Harper Woods 20-12 on Friday night. Chris Little had a big night. He caught an interception and threw for a touchdown in the game. Groves is rolling right now. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.
Farmington (2-4): The Falcons have really struggled since Cam Pettaway went down. They fell 33-7 to Rochester on Friday night. Farmington has been outscored 79-7 in the last two weeks and it won’t get any easier. They have Harper Woods looming next week.
Bloomfield Hills (0-6): The Blackhawks have had a rough two weeks. They fell 40-0 to Southfield Arts and Tech on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has been outscored 89-0 in the last two weeks. They have a tough one looming with Groves next week.
Rochester (2-4): The Falcons earned a surprising 33-7 win on their homecoming over Farmington on Friday night at Rochester Stadium. Jack Lower had a solid game for Rochester. The defense was also solid all night for Rochester. They have a tough one with Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.
Seaholm (5-1): The Maples spread the wealth in their domination of Troy on Friday night. Seaholm has outscored the Colts 94-6 in their last two meetings including a 42-6 blowout. The Maples have scored 198 points in the last four weeks which is really impressive and have allowed 20 points in three weeks. The Kinnie boys are the Kinnie Boys along with Kyle Robbins and Jack Lewis. They had a great night all around and have all been playing really well down the stretch. The Maples have a big one with Avondale looming next week.
North Farmington (3-3): The Raiders have started to turn things around which is a great sign for them in their 9-6 win over Oak Park on Friday night. Duke Blanch had a three yard touchdown run but he got hurt in the game. The defense shut down a good Knights offense all night. They also got a field goal as well. The Raiders sit in a great spot right now. They have Pontiac looming next week.
Oak Park (2-4): The Knights had another tough loss falling 9-6 to North Farmington on Friday night. They lost their last two games by a combined eight points. The defense was solid all night for Oak Park but the offense including Artelle Guyton who had a 15 yard rushing touchdown also struggled and that’s a credit to the Raiders defense and their coaching staff. The Knights have Ferndale looming next week.
Troy (3-3): The Colts could be in some trouble after a 42-6 loss to Seaholm on Friday night. The schedule has clearly hurt them and it’s showing in their losses. Troy has scored 12 points in two games and allowed 94 points in the last three weeks which were all losses (31.3 ppg) in that stretch. The schedule looks very manageable going forward for the Colts with Berkley looming next week.
Troy Athens (2-4): The Red Hawks bounced back after two really tough weeks with a 35-15 win over Pontiac on Saturday afternoon. Troy Athens took advantage in the middle quarters and built a 28-7 lead at one point to get the win. They have Royal Oak looming next week.
Ferndale (3-3): The Eagles are starting to put it together after winning 61-8 over Berkley at Hurley Field. Ferndale has scored 94 points in the last two weeks. Cullen Hock had five touchdowns in the game. He has started to turn things around. They have Oak Park looming next week.
Avondale (6-0): The Yellow Jackets had no problem with Royal Oak winning 42-0 on Friday night. Avondale has been dominant in the division and they are well on their way to clinching the crown. They have a big one looming with Seaholm next week.
Berkley (0-6): The Bears were blown out 61-8 by Ferndale at Hurley Field on their homecoming Friday night. That is five losses at Hurley Field which is unheard off for Berkley. They have Troy looming next week.
Royal Oak (2-4): The Ravens had a ton of trouble with Avondale on Friday night falling 42-0. Royal Oak really struggled moving the football against a very good Avondale defense. They have Troy Athens looming next week.
Pontiac (3-3): The Phoenix had a rough homecoming on Saturday afternoon falling to Troy Athens 35-15. Pontiac had a tough time with mistakes against the Red Hawks. They have another tough matchup with North Farmington looming next week.
by orionontv | Oct 2, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday September 30th at 5:10 PM
AROUND THE OAA TOP TEN-Week Six
- Lake Orion
- Southfield Arts and Tech
- Clarkston
- Avondale
- Seaholm
- West Bloomfield
- Groves
- North Farmington
- Harper Woods
- Adams
TROY ATHENS 35, PONTIAC 15.
FERNDALE 61, BERKLEY 8.
AVONDALE 42, ROYAL OAK 0.
NORTH FARMINGTON 9, OAK PARK 6.
SEAHOLM 42, TROY 6.
GROVES 20, HARPER WOODS 12.
ROCHESTER 33, FARMINGTON 7.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 40, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.
OXFORD 38, STONEY CREEK 28.
CLARKSTON 44, WEST BLOOMFIELD 36.
LAKE ORION 35, ADAMS 0.
BEST WIN: Seaholm: The Maples have been very impressive as of late. They have scored 194 points in the last four weeks including a 42-6 win over Troy on Friday night. The Kinnie brothers, Kyle Robbins, and Jacob Vance were very good against the Colts. Seaholm has some big games coming up which should help them especially with the postseason looming in a few weeks.
TOUGH LOSS: Stoney Creek: The Cougars postseason hopes took a hit after Stoney Creek fell 38-28 at home on Friday night. The Cougars need to win out to make the postseason most likely. Oxford is in the same boat as well. Jayden McCarthy had four rushing touchdowns in the game. Stoney Creek has a tougher challenge ahead of them if they want to make the postseason.
TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Oak Park: The Knights have had a ton of bad luck in the last two weeks. Oak Park has lost their last two games by a combined eight points including a 9-6 loss to North Farmington on Friday night. The Knights defense was solid all night but the offense had their struggles. Postseason hopes could be very interesting to watch going forward for Oak Park.
VALENTI RANT: West Bloomfield: The Lakers defense is a big concern heading into the final three weeks. They have allowed 30 points or more in three of the four weeks including a 44-36 loss to Clarkston on Friday night. They are without their linebackers in Kari Jackson and Montelle Johnson as they are out for the season with ACL and MCL injuries respectably. Bryce Rowe did not play against Clarkston. West Bloomfield needs to address their defense in the worst way if they want to have a deep postseason run.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Troy: The Colts have really struggled in the last three weeks. The defense has allowed 101 points in that stretch. The non conference schedule has really hurt Troy especially with the three losses. The schedule looks manageable but the postseason could be a question mark.
by orionontv | Oct 2, 2023 | Regional News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 29, 2023 |
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AG Nessel Joins Coalition of 11 States Urging Congress Not to Defund the Inflation Reduction Act
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Multistate Letter Urges Appropriations Leadership to Protect Funding for the Implementation of Historic Climate Legislation
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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 11 states in calling on Congress to protect the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) from harmful budget cuts.
“The Inflation Reduction Act will provide the necessary funding to help states respond to climate-related events and convert to cleaner energy sources,” Nessel said. “Any cuts to monies authorized by this legislation could jeopardize the efforts to support expanding opportunities for clean energy jobs and entrepreneurship in local communities. I stand firmly with my colleagues in asking Congress to maintain robust funding for this legislation.”
In August 2022, President Biden signed into law the IRA, the nation’s largest-ever investment in addressing climate change. The IRA directs hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide toward climate solutions, providing significant incentives for clean energy, energy efficiency, and more.
The letter asks Congress to reject cuts proposed by House leadership that threaten the IRA’s ability to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good, green jobs. Proposed cuts could rescind over $20 billion authorized by the IRA.
The multistate coalition opposes cuts to programs that would, among other things:
- Help rural small businesses and agricultural producers convert to renewable energy and make energy cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable for Americans living in rural areas;
- Spur economic opportunity in disadvantaged communities while also reducing pollution, and encouraging clean energy technology; and
- Help low- to moderate-income families transition to cleaner homes and appliances.
Proposed cuts to various federal agencies’ budgets, including the Council on Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, Treasury, and the Department of Labor, could also hinder the effective roll-out of these and other programs under the IRA.
Funding to implement the IRA is important to ensure that the progress made on climate goals benefits—and does not further burden—disadvantaged and low-wealth communities.
On the anniversary of the IRA, the White House announced that in its first year, over 170,000 clean energy jobs have already been created nationwide, and that the law is estimated to create 1.5 million jobs over the first decade of its implementation.
The letter was led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and joined by AG Nessel and the attorneys general of Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
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by orionontv | Sep 28, 2023 | Regional News
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| Friend ––
The Big Three auto companies are making record profits, and it’s time for auto workers to get their fair share. When the auto industry was in jeopardy back in 2008, UAW workers made real sacrifices to ensure the Big Three survived. Now that these companies are back on their feet – and making billions of dollars in profit – workers deserve a fair share of that success.
I recently joined striking UAW workers on the picket lines to stand in solidarity with them as they fight for the wages and benefits they deserve. They’re not just fighting for auto workers – they’re fighting for the future of the middle class, and it’s time to stand with them.
For me – and for many in our state – this fight is personal. I grew up in a union household. My mother was a Service Employees International Union steward, and my father was a member of the National Education Association. They taught me to stand up and fight for what’s right — no matter who or what is in your way — and so much of who I am today is because of them.
Click HERE to watch more.
Unions built the middle class, and I’ll continue to have their backs as they fight for a fairer future for all workers.
Thanks for reading,
Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan |
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by orionontv | Sep 26, 2023 | Regional News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 26, 2023 |
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Attorney General Nessel and the FTC Sue Amazon for Illegally Maintaining Monopoly Power
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Lawsuit contends Amazon’s ongoing pattern of illegal conduct blocks competition, allowing it to wield monopoly power to inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses
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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and 16 other state attorneys general today sued Amazon.com, Inc. alleging that the online retail and technology company is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. The FTC and its state partners say Amazon’s actions allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing against Amazon.
“The illegal monopolistic practices of the behemoth Amazon hurt both its own customers and its marketplace sellers, many of whom are small businesses.” said Nessel. “Amazon has taken improper steps to dominate all other online superstores and online marketplaces, decreased competition, and raised prices for everyday shoppers. The free market is meant to work for both buyers and sellers, and Amazon has corrupted the market in its favor.”
The complaint alleges that Amazon violates the law not because it is big, but because it engages in a course of exclusionary conduct that prevents current competitors from growing and new competitors from emerging. By stifling competition on price, product selection, quality, and by preventing its current or future rivals from attracting a critical mass of shoppers and sellers, Amazon ensures that no current or future rival can threaten its dominance. Amazon’s far-reaching schemes impact hundreds of billions of dollars in retail sales every year, touch hundreds of thousands of products sold by businesses big and small and affect over a hundred million shoppers.
“Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “The complaint sets forth detailed allegations noting how Amazon is now exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them. Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Amazon to account for these monopolistic practices and restore the lost promise of free and fair competition.”
“We’re bringing this case because Amazon’s illegal conduct has stifled competition across a huge swath of the online economy. Amazon is a monopolist that uses its power to hike prices on American shoppers and charge sky-high fees on hundreds of thousands of online sellers,” said John Newman, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “Seldom in the history of U.S. antitrust law has one case had the potential to do so much good for so many people.”
The FTC and states allege Amazon’s anticompetitive conduct occurs in two markets—the online superstore market that serves shoppers and the market for online marketplace services purchased by sellers. These tactics include:
- Anti-discounting measures that punish sellers and deter other online retailers from offering prices lower than Amazon, keeping prices higher for products across the internet. For example, if Amazon discovers that a seller is offering lower-priced goods elsewhere, Amazon can bury discounting sellers so far down in Amazon’s search results that they become effectively invisible.
- Conditioning sellers’ ability to obtain “Prime” eligibility for their products—a virtual necessity for doing business on Amazon—on sellers using Amazon’s costly fulfillment service, which has made it substantially more expensive for sellers on Amazon to also offer their products on other platforms. This unlawful coercion has in turn limited competitors’ ability to effectively compete against Amazon.
Amazon’s illegal, exclusionary conduct makes it impossible for competitors to gain a foothold. With its amassed power across both the online superstore market and online marketplace services market, Amazon extracts enormous monopoly rents from everyone within its reach. This includes:
- Degrading the customer experience by replacing relevant, organic search results with paid advertisements—and deliberately increasing junk ads that worsen search quality and frustrate both shoppers seeking products and sellers who are promised a return on their advertising purchase.
- Biasing Amazon’s search results to preference Amazon’s own products over ones that Amazon knows are of better quality.
- Charging costly fees on the hundreds of thousands of sellers that currently have no choice but to rely on Amazon to stay in business. These fees range from a monthly fee sellers must pay for each item sold, to advertising fees that have become virtually necessary for sellers to do business. Combined, all of these fees force many sellers to pay close to 50% of their total revenues to Amazon. These fees harm not only sellers but also shoppers, who pay increased prices for thousands of products sold on or off Amazon.
The FTC, along with Michigan and its other state partners, are seeking a permanent injunction in federal court that would prohibit Amazon from engaging in its unlawful conduct and pry loose Amazon’s monopolistic control to restore competition.
Joining Michigan and the FTC on the lawsuit are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file for a permanent injunction and other equitable relief in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington was 3-0.
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by orionontv | Sep 25, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday September 24th at 11:40 PM
These are the top 21 according to History Now and Between Taormina co-host Anthony Taormina.
- Berkley- Bears win over Oxford on the road gives them a ton of confidence.
- Oxford- Wildcats win over Clarkston gives them confidence going into districts and possibly the Red.
- Clarkston- Wolves loss to Oxford could be a good thing to motivate them for districts.
- Troy Athens- Red Hawks are the consistent yardstick of the OAA.
- Troy- Colts continuing to build heading into districts.
- Adams- Highlanders could play spoiler in the Red.
- Royal Oak- Ravens on track to win the White and possibly move up to the Red.
- Bloomfield Hills- Blackhawks proving they are for real in the White.
- Rochester- Falcons continue to improve despite playing Red schedule.
- Seaholm- Maples beating on teams outside of the Red but very young team as seen with their Junior Varsity.
- Lake Orion- Dragons continue to improve, strong showing against Red teams.
- Avondale- The road to the Blue runs through Auburn Hills.
- Groves- League title looks lost for the Falcons but they are one of the stalwarts in the White.
- Stoney Creek- Must start winning league games if your the Cougars.
- West Bloomfield- Lakers continue to improve in the White.
- North Farmington- Raiders need some help if they want to win Blue.
- Farmington- Falcons have difficult stretch coming up.
- Ferndale- Eagles can play spoiler in the Blue.
- Pontiac- Phoenix can play spoiler in the Blue.
- Southfield Arts and Tech- Can Warriors improve after win over Oak Park???
- Oak Park- Knights continue to improve.
at September 24, 2023 No comments:
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Saturday, September 23, 2023
Written Saturday September 23rd at 3:40 PM
AROUND THE OAA TOP TEN-Week Five
- Lake Orion
- Southfield Arts and Tech
- West Bloomfield
- Avondale
- Seaholm
- Clarkston
- Adams
- Harper Woods
- Groves
- Pontiac
WEEK FIVE RECAP.
PONTIAC 34, BERKLEY 28.
FERNDALE 33, ROYAL OAK 14.
AVONDALE 25, OAK PARK 20.
NORTH FARMINGTON 24, TROY 6.
SEAHOLM 49, TROY ATHENS 14.
HARPER WOODS 49, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 46, FARMINGTON 0.
GROVES 42, ROCHESTER 7.
CLARKSTON 39, OXFORD 13
WEST BLOOMFIELD 36, ADAMS 32.
LAKE ORION 49, STONEY CREEK 28.
BEST WIN: Avondale: The Yellow Jackets earned a big 25-20 win over Oak Park on Friday night after scoring a touchdown with eight seconds left in the game after the Knights had taken the lead with 1:08 left in the game. Avondale has a ton of confidence right now which is a great sign. They have Royal Oak looming next week.
TOUGH LOSS: Adams: The Highlanders are getting better despite falling 36-32 on Friday night to West Bloomfield. Adams will be fine but they have a tough one looming with Lake Orion next week.
TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Berkley: The Bears scored points, there is hope despite falling 34-28 to Pontiac on Friday night. Berkley has Ferndale looming next week.
VALENTI RANT: Troy: The Colts were exposed on Friday night as they fell 24-6 to North Farmington. Troy has scored six points against the Raiders. They have Seaholm looming next week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Troy Athens: It was not a happy homecoming for the Red Hawks as they fell 49-14 to Seaholm on Friday night. Playoff dreams could be dashed right now. They have Pontiac looming next week.
