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Event to raise funds for child abuse, neglect prevention statewide

LANSING – Child abuse and neglect prevention supporters can make a difference in the lives of Michigan children and families by taking part in the 19th annual Pam Posthumus Signature Live Virtual Auction Event Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. People can help fund child maltreatment prevention programming in all of Michigan’s 83 counties by bidding on sports and concert tickets, travel packages and more. The event seeks to raise $500,000 in critical funds for the Children’s Trust Fund, which is within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Money raised from the auction ...

MDHHS urges Michiganders to continue routine screenings

LANSING – Life-saving cancer screenings have experienced a significant decline during the pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting an 87% drop in breast cancer screenings and an 84% decrease in cervical cancer screenings nationally in April 2020 compared to the five previous years. Screening disparities among low-income minority women were already evident prior to COVID-19 and the pandemic has intensified those disparities. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michigan women to resume these routine screenings. People in ...

AG Nessel reissues ransomware consumer alert as federal website focuses on threat, awareness

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing a consumer alert in response to a new, organized effort to combat ransomware. Recently, the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal agencies teamed up to launch a new website with comprehensive resources on preventing and responding to ransomware to help public and private organizations defend themselves against the increasing threat of hackers. Ransomware is a form of malware that threatens the security of your electronic devices when it ...

Dial Help receives donation of drug deactivation kits

HOUGHTON — You may have heard the news that there were an estimated 93,331 overdoses in 2020, a record high up 30% from 2019. This is the kind of number that can make people feel hopeless to stop opioid misuse. But there are everyday things you can do to make an impact. One of them is safely disposing of prescription drugs. There are drug disposal sites available across the UP where people can drop off expired or unused prescriptions. Another option is drug deactivation kits that allow old prescriptions to be safely disposed of in the trash, without the risk of being abused if someone ...

Have a bushel of fun picking pine cones

Looking for an outdoor side hustle? Collecting a bushel of pine cones this month will net you $75 and help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plant trees in state forests. Sept. 1 through 30, you can pick red pine cones and drop them off by appointment at six DNR locations: three in the Upper Peninsula and three in the Lower Peninsula. Fresh cones can be found in felled treetops from recent timber sales, on state forestlands and in recently gathered squirrel caches (yes, you can steal from a squirrel). If picking from a recent timber sale, logger permission is necessary, and ...

As invasive European frog-bit spreads, boaters reminded to ‘Clean, Drain and Dry’

European frog-bit, an invasive aquatic plant, has been found in the lower Lincoln River in Mason County. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy also has confirmed the presence of European frog-bit in several other locations across the state. “Because aquatic invasive plants like European frog-bit are difficult and costly to control, we are reminding boaters, waterfowl hunters and anglers to remove plants and debris from boats, trailers and gear after each use to prevent the spread of this and other invasive species,” said Joanne Foreman, invasive species ...