Capital News Service

Lessons from monkeypox can shape future health communication

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HEALTH COMMUNICATION: One of the challenges in addressing the monkeypox virus was how to get information to the most high risk populations verus adding to stigmatization of gay men. Health officials from Ottawa and Kalamazoo counties explained how they handled their messaging. Health coordinator at a LGBTQ+ resource center in Grand Rapids weighs in on the messaging and concerns. By Sarah Atwood. FOR HOLLAND, GRAND RAPIDS, WKTV and ALL POINTS

Capital News Service

Flu season could worsen as worries about coronavirus decline

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FLU SEASON: State and local health authorities are bracing for a tough flu season now that fewer people wear masks to protect from COVID. Also, immunity may be down because of easier flu seasons in recent years. The message from state health officials: Get your flu shots. We talk to officials with the state health department, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and the Michigan Association of Local Public Health. By Sarah Atwood. FOR ALL POINTS.

Capital News Service

Legislative foster care fixes headed to governor

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FOSTER CHILDREN: The statistics are grim: By the time Michigan foster children are 21, one in three are homeless, one in four are imprisoned, one in two are unemployed and three out of five don’t finish high school. Lawmakers are seeking to help out by expanding the definition of a relative able to adopt them and requiring lawyers who represent foster training to get special relationship training. By Sarah Atwood. We talk to statewide children’s advocates and the bill sponsors. FOR ALL POINTS

Capital News Service

Lawmakers could change certification to ease paramedic shortage

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State lawmakers want to create a statewide certification to become a paramedic to help address shortages, in addition to a national certification. Critics say that would lower the standard of care and not improve recruitment for a job that few people seem to want. We speak with a statewide association of EMTs, a Lansing Community College professor and a Dearborn Heights paramedic instructor. By Sarah Atwood. FOR LANSING, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS AND ALL POINTS

Business & Economy

Michigan seniors want more in-home care but funding is needed

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AGING MICHIGANDERS – In-home care and other services for the state’s seniors can’t keep up with what is one of the most rapidly aging populations in the country. Advocates say not enough state support is available to help seniors age in place. They hope that the American Rescue Plan Act can remedy the problem, and make needed structural changes to an outdated system. With officials from AARP Michigan, Tri-County Office on Aging, and Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia. By Sarah Atwood. FOR ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Free lunch funding change worries some school officials

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SCHOOL LUNCHES – Michigan educators and advocates are concerned about children going hungry or going into lunch debt due to Congress’s decision to stop federal funding for free lunches for all schoolchildren. We talk to officials in Traverse City and Grand Rapids as well as the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan School Board Association and the Michigan League for Public Policy. By Sarah Atwood. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL, WKTV and ALL POINTS.

News

Wars in Vietnam, Ukraine bracket war protester’s life

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Terry Link is a longtime activist in Michigan. Born in Detroit, Link went to Wayne State University where he became interested in social justice and activism. The Vietnam war was happening and, like many other college students, he joined protests against the war. “At that particular time, there was a professor who had a philosophy class on nonviolence as a way to fight against war and other injustices. For one of our classes we were invited to go to D.C. for an anti-war protest.

News

Holt high school student honored for art work

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Kaitlyn Silengo is a senior at Holt High School who recently was celebrated for her artistic talents in an unconventional way. Silengo was honored at the Holt High School board meeting March 14 for winning an art contest. Her art now hangs in the McDonald’s at 2400 N. Cedar St. in Holt. The contest was based around “What Michigan Means to Me, and was meant to help the McDonald’s owner get to know her new state. Holt Superintendent David Hornak introduced Silengo to the School Board, and presented her with a certificate.

News

New refuge for foster dogs a step closer in Holt

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HOLT – On a unanimous vote, animals in Delta Township waiting to be fostered or adopted are one step closer to having a refuge. That place, proposed by the nonprofit Happy Feet Pet Rescue, would be 3276 E. Jolly Road. The plan was approved by the Holt-Delhi Planning Commission. Requested location

Happy Feet Pet Rescue representative LuEllen Smith said, “We are not a shelter, but a temporary place for animals to stay while they’re getting cleared by the vet to go to people’s homes.”

Trustee Pat Brown questioned Smith about the availability of inside and outside space. Brown asked about the types of animals that were available for fostering and adopting, “I watch Lone Star Law.

Business & Economy

Holt business brews specialty coffee, community

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Just off Cedar Street in Holt, in a building where Corvettes were once sold, is the Coffee Barrel, a shop whose employees pride themselves on making coffee, from roasting the beans to serving drinks.

“We have a unique process that’s different from 95% of other coffee roasters. We use a fluid air method, which is basically roasting the coffee beans in an air popper.” Dan Seagren, 50, explained. He is one of the main roasters at the Coffee Barrel. “Lots of places use steel drums to roast the beans, but the beans can get burned on the sides. Beans roasted this way have more flavor because the bean is heated evenly from the air.”