Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/elections/michigan/page/5/)
YOUNG VOTERS: A record number of under-21 voters in the state turned out for the 2022 election. Now party and nonpartisan groups are gearing up to push young voters to show up at the polls next year. We hear from the League of Women Voters, Department of Civil Rights and Secretary of State. By Stephanie Ruahe. FOR ALL POINTS.
HATE CRIMES: There’s a call to strengthen Michigan’s hate crime laws at a time when such incidents are increasingly common. We hear from the executive director of the Department of Civil Rights, lawmakers from Northville, Canton Township and West Bloomfield and a national Muslim rights advocacy group. By Liz Nass. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
RED FLAG LAWS: Law enforcement agencies are wrestling with the challenge of enforcing a new law that requires the subjects of extreme risk protective orders to surrender their firearms. We talk to the Whitehall police chief, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the lead sponsor from Royal Oak and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. By Liz Nass. FOR DETROIT, WKTV, LUDINGTON, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
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.
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.
TELEPRESCRIPTIONS: During the pandemic, doctors were allowed to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine instead of face-to-face appointments. But that option may be coming to an end under a proposed rule by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Doctors serving rural patients want to keep the telemedicine option. We talk to a medical director for the Thumb area, a University of Michigan health policy professor and the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. By Samuel Blatchford. FOR ALL POINTS.
CHILD CARE: Running for office is demanding but even harder when you have a young child. Proposed legislation by Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids. would make child care a legitimate campaign contribution expense. Chang is the first state senator to give birth in office. By Dan Netter. For DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS AND ALL POINTS.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has repealed the 1931 law that criminalized abortions and intentional miscarriages, ensuring reproductive freedom for the people of Michigan.
LEAD TESTING: Only 14% of the state’s 6 year old were tested for lead poisoning in 2021. Advocates say all should be. A package of bills would require testing of all children between 9 to 12 months and again at 2-3. High-risk kids, such as those living in pre-1978 housing, would be tested again at 6. We talk to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Homes and a national nonprofit. By Jaden Beard. FOR DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS, LANSING AND ALL POINTS.
SEXUAL ASSAULT BILLS: Minors would learn about sexual consent as early as sixth grade and young patients could not receive pelvic treatment without parental consent under a package of bills designed to prevent sexual abuse. Another measure requires medical records to report treatment involving penetration and that an additional individual be present during certain medical examinations of minors. By Maggie George. FOR ALL POINTS.