Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/elections-politics/michigan/legislature/)
Michigan’s 2022 election entered its final hours as voters and local officials prepared for in-person voting on Election Day. Polls across Michigan open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m.
Michigan voters will make choices in a variety of local and statewide races — including governor, attorney general, secretary of state, the state’s 13 congressional seats, and the 148 members of the Michigan Legislature. There also are three statewide ballot proposals up for vote.
SOLAR DISPUTE: Large-scale solar projects are a hotly disputed topic in Livingston County and elsewhere in the state, especially in rural areas with lots of farmland that could become project sites. Complex, interconnected questions about local government authority, private property rights and renewable energy sources. We talk to a Conway Township farmer, Consumers Energy, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and Michigan Environmental Council. By Ruth Thornton. FOR ALL POINTS.
TRIBAL LIAISON OFFICE: A new proposal would create an Office of the Tribal Legislative Liaison to improve communication between the House and Senate and Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes. We talk to the president of the United Tribes of Michigan, who is a citizen of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Department of Health and Human Services and sponsors from Ann Arbor and Clare. References the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Other sponsors include lawmakers from Marquette, Lansing, Traverse City and St. Joseph. By Liz Nass. FOR CLARE AY MILLS, MIDLAND, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LEELANAU, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE, MARIE, ST. IGNACE, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE, LEELANAU AND ALL POINTS.
House Bill 4673, one of two “right to repair” bills currently being considered by Michigan legislators, is intended to make it easier for farmers and their independent mechanics to get access to parts, documentation and important software needed to restore the expensive machines back to full functionality.
The TPP program was designed to help students avoid becoming truant in Montgomery county, Maryland. Rebecca Marcolini who serves as the director of the TPP (Truancy Prevention Program) with Montgomery County wants to end truancy
TPP is a volunteer program created in 2010 through the state’s attorney’s office to help kids and teens identify what is keeping them from attending school and setting a goal in place for them to reach their full potential.
https://youtu.be/BeKZdmsLvmE
Truancy Prevention Program
Students begin the program with an orientation and are in the program for 10 weeks. Those who are 10 to 20 % truant are invited to voluntarily participate in the program that lasts 2 1/2 hours per session and is during school hours.
The program serves mostly middle school students. Resource officers act as mentors to the students within the program depending on the schools preference if they would like them to help out with the program.
“This is not like a punitive thing, it’s not like the police are involved to get the kids,” said Lauren DeMarco, the director of public affairs for the state’s attorney’s office.
Both Marcolini and DeMarco emphasized how in the program students are not in trouble but are here to help those who sign up to help them with attending class and raise their grades. “The essence of this program is to determine what is holding back this child,” said Marcolini.
To figure out what is holding the child back from coming to school, TPP will bring in a mentor so that the child can discuss what’s going on whether that is bullying, helping out a younger sibling, or staying up playing video games.
Those who successfully finish TPP get to participate in a graduation ceremony acknowledging the work that students have done in completing the program.
Montgomery County council members Andrew Friedson and Gabe Albornoz began the June 11 meeting with a proclamation acknowledging the work that parks and recreation have accomplished this year.
“I circle this date on the calendar every year because it’s an opportunity for us to acknowledge the incredibly dedicated and professional staff of both departments, ” said council member-at-large Albornoz.
Council vice president Friedson said the recognition has taken new meaning during and after the pandemic. “We have relied on our parks and on our recreation department to provide wellness, community, and health needs,” said Friedson.
Directors from both Montgomery County Parks and Department of Recreation chose employees in the organization and highlighted the work that they provide for them.
Every two years, residents fill out a survey of the services in the county that they appreciate and like the most. Both departments come out in the top three each time the survey is done.
“This is kind of the Super Bowl season, the summer season for our friends at the recreation center,” said Friedson.
Albornoz talked about how staff members were at the Germantown Fourth of July event until 2 a.m. making sure people got home safely and got to their cars.
The recreation department shared a video detailing the work that its employees provide for Montgomery County residents.
“Our team works extremely hard and is relatively a small team, we have about 2,500 seasonal workers from lifeguards, out of school time, to senior programs you name it they do it, ” said Robin Riley, who serves as the director of recreation for Montgomery County Recreation.
Members of Montgomery County Department of Recreation. Photo By Liz Thomas
Members of the recreation department who were acknowledged worked in different sectors such as high school, elementary, seniors and camp directors.
“They are the fuel in our engine and the grease on our wheels,” said Riley.
Montgomery County Recreation has many programs to offer for residents to participate in.
Montgomery County Park Director Michael F. Riley said the eight year plan that was developed called “The Big Three.” This plan focuses on developing a world class public athletic field at parks and schools, destination trail network and park activation that focuses on bringing community members of diverse backgrounds together.
“Historically we have built beautiful parks with beautiful facilities,” said Riley. Montgomery County Parks has over 420 parks across 37,220 acres,102 campsites, 136 picnic areas and 276 playgrounds.
PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS: A lawmaker from Onsted wants Michigan to establish a Purple Stars program in schools to address the special needs of children of members and veterans of the military. Services include help with varying state-to-state education requirements and the pressures of frequent moves Some other states have done so already. By Sophia Brandt. FOR BLISSFIELD, ADRIAN, MONROE, CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.
“I voted” stickers dot the shirts of people around East Lansing as in-person voting for the Michigan midterm elections occurred. Voters and precinct captains noticed a good turnout, though still lower than that of general elections.
Margie Ring, 3rd Precinct captain, said, “We’ve had 288 voters in person so far and at a better pace than we were for the primary elections.”
DARK SKY ASTROTOURISM: Michigan now has its third internationally recognized dark sky park, this one on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The parks are a big draw for astrotourists. The other two are in Mackinaw City and Jones, Cass County. Six state parks in eastern and Northeast Michigan are also designated as dark sky reserves. By Mackenzie DeRaad. FOR IRON MOUNTAIN, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, MONTMORENCY, ALPENA, ALCONA, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD AND ALL POINTS.
With the Nov. 3 election on the horizon, clerks across the state of Michigan are preparing to make the voting process as smooth as possible. On top of executing her regular duties, Delta Charter Township Clerk Mary Clark has been raising awareness about the election process and the disinformation often surrounding it.
Michigan parole boards may soon have more power thanks to lawmakers. A new bill, just passed by the Senate, will give victims and families of a Michigan serial killer some relief.