News & Notes - 7/12/23 Chronicles

Macomb scores big with state budget
MACOMB COUNTY — As the state of Michigan passed a $81.7 billion budget on June 28, Macomb County received a significant amount of funding for projects around the county.

Macomb County’s government received $40 million to fund a renovation project at the Macomb County Jail. The $230 million project aims to rework the jail’s intake and health systems to address mental health and substance abuse issues among inmates.

“The central intake and assessment facility is a critical component of keeping our community safe,” Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement. “We are committed to upholding our constitutional responsibility to care for those that are in our custody. This new facility will provide us with the necessary space to implement vital programs and services that can make a real difference.”

A $13 million allocation was included for upgrades to Selfridge Air National Guard Base for runway extension to prepare the base for a fighter mission in the future.

“We can now begin the difficult but essential process of refurbishment and expansion that will allow for a new fighter mission to be assigned here into 2027 and beyond,” state Rep. Alicia St. Germaine, of Harrison Township, said in a statement.

Lake St. Clair Metropark received $5 million to renovate the park’s north marina to build a new seawall, a new walkway, update and raise utilities, replace piers with floating docks and make ADA-accessible improvements.

 

Slotkin includes Selfridge protections in NDAA
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Selfridge Air National Guard Base pilots can breathe a little easier now, as a plan to delay the retirement of the base’s A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets was included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Part of the 34 provisions submitted by Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, includes a ban on retiring Air National Guard fighter squadrons until the Secretary of the Air Force submits a fighter squadron recapitalization plan.

Other provisions from Slotkin include bans on purchasing PFOS-containing products, the requirement of a Department of Defense report on the potential risks of Chinese autonomous vehicles, cancer screenings for military firefighters and restrictions on training foreign militaries.

 

MDOT installs distracted driving signs at the border
STATEWIDE — The Michigan Department of Transportation installed new signs along the state’s borders last month informing incoming drivers of the new distracted driving law.

Coming into effect on June 30, the new law prohibits drivers from using a phone for social media, the internet and other nonemergency purposes while operating a motor vehicle, even while stationary at stop signs and red lights. The law expands on prior bans for talking and texting while operating a vehicle. First-time offenders will be charged a $100 civil fine and/or 16 hours of community service with $250 fines and/or 24 hours of community service for subsequent offenses. Penalties are increased if the cited driver is involved in a crash and for school bus and commercial vehicle operators. Statewide dynamic signs will also display the message, “NEW MICHIGAN LAW, NO HANDHELD DEVICES, WHILE DRIVING.”

 

Swimming across America for a cure
DETROIT — At press time, swimmers and volunteers were preparing for the fifth annual Swim Across America-Motor City Mile scheduled for July 7 on Belle Isle in the Detroit River. A 2-mile swim, a 1-mile swim and a half-mile swim were scheduled.

Swim Across America-Motor City Mile benefits cancer research at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, where roughly 500 researchers are working to prevent cancer, improve outcomes for patients and improve quality of life for cancer patients and survivors.

One participant, Julie Brabbs, pictured right with her husband Steve, is the chief administrative officer at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. Brabbs also is a cancer patient and currently raised $14,232 for cancer research with more donations expected.

Brabbs, 56, of Ann Arbor, is currently being treated with Keytruda, which is an immunotherapy cancer treatment that was funded and created in a Swim Across America lab at Johns Hopkins University.

For more information on Swim Across America, visit swimacrossamerica.org.