WSV’s Steph Hightree writes, “I like that April helps shine a light on autism by celebrating Autism Awareness Month but what I really wish they would celebrate is Autism Acceptance Month. With one in 54 people being autistic we really need to change our focus to acceptance versus awareness. Everyone should be aware by now. Autism is here and it’s not going away. But the acceptance part is when things start to change. Acceptance starts with you. When you accept the fact that life is different now and that your child will be living a life that you may not have been prepared for, your life will become easier.”
Reported incidents of antisemitism in Michigan are up 240% since 2015, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Michigan.
WSV’s Amy East writes, “Two years ago when we bought our place in beautiful Cass County, I dove into the county’s and my own family’s history, discovering that my ties to the area went deeper than I’d known. There is a richness to the county’s intertwined Potawatomi, European, and African American history that I’d never learned in school, or maybe never appreciated.
“Earlier this year, the Cass County Board of Commissioners saw fit to appoint me to the Historical Commission. As part of the publications committee, I’ll be editing and updating books that share our history with anyone who cares to read about it. Will there be an opportunity for more archaeology, maybe here at home? I’d like to think so, I hope so. There are many, many questions to be answered and stories to be told. Give me a couple years and we’ll see what I can do.”
Inforum Michigan, a leading women’s organization, was recently holding a virtual information session to discuss the issue of sexual assault when Kalimah Johnson happened to stumble on the conversation via social media.
Given that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who is African American, was a featured guest, Johnson was interested in the presentation since she counsels sexual assault victims. So she stopped to check it out. Worthy provided her perspective and shared her efforts to bring justice to victims, but only four of the 14 women serving as ambassadors were Black.
At-Large Three Rivers City Commissioner Clayton Lyczynski will not seek reelection this fall, citing a desire to prioritize time with his daughters who are fast approaching graduation.
WSV’s Aundrea Sayrie writes, “One gets weary. Not including last week, Newsweek reports that an additional 181 Black people have been murdered at the hands of police since George Floyd, and it hasn’t been a year. When Derek Chauvin’s verdict was read last week, I did not rejoice. I did not feel excitement of any sort. I was in total shock witnessing the anomaly of accountability of a police officer. This never happens.”
Among bills introduced by the Michigan Legislature this month, gay conversion therapy would be prohibited for minors under SB 367, sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), or HB 4651, sponsored by Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield). At least three Michigan cities have previously banned the practice, which, according to the Human Rights Campaign, falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Downtown resident Justin Mitchell announced his candidacy for Three Rivers First District City Commissioner this week, marking the first time the seat will be contested since 2009. Mitchell will face incumbent Pat Dane in November.
Welcome to Screen Tea Podcast! Put away that Quietus box in favor of listening to Lisha and Jules go on and on about Alfonso Cuaron’s 2006 sci-fi thriller Children of Men! Find a nice spot in the UK countryside (preferably far away from Charlie Hunnam’s wig) and tune in as Lisha fantasizes about swapping secondary and main characters, Jules gets to properly geek out over one of her favorite sci-fi flicks, and both of your hosts lean hard into Michael Caine’s Lennon impression. This is not a happy film, but it is a ridiculous episode, so enjoy anyway!
WSV’s Malachi Carter and guest Laurie Butler continue their discussion concerning the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd.
Following a lengthy discussion Tuesday, Three Rivers City Commissioners set the first of what is expected to be at least two public hearings on amendments to the city code that would allow marijuana facilities within city limits as special exception uses. Commissioners had previously discussed the possibility of presenting the proposed amendments and ordinance language to the citizens of Three Rivers on a future ballot but according to Mayor Tom Lowry, City Attorney J. Patrick O’Malley determined it wasn’t possible from a legal standpoint.
With a 3-2 vote the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a request from 3B District Court for an exception to the county’s hiring freeze during its regular meeting Tuesday, April 20.
WSV’s Malachi Carter and guest Laurie Butler discuss the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes last year, was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Glen Oaks Community College has named three new head coaches for men’s basketball, softball, and bowling.
The GOP-led state Legislature’s ongoing feud with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has seeped into the budget process for the next fiscal year, with the state House proposing major funding cuts and attempting to exert more control through a quarterly budgeting process.
Doug & Alek are joined by Watershed Voice Columnist and Office Manager Steph Hightree to discuss parenting during a pandemic, how paramount in-school counseling has been for her daughter Cadence, the trials and triumphs of her son Nathan, the joys of camping and her dogged pursuit of a Playstation 5 for her husband in the first of two back-to-back episodes with Ms. #MomLife herself.
Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to eliminate a critical deadline associated with the seminal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) is hopeful that the legislation — decades in the making — will move forward.
Soon the roar of motorcycles will be heard across the campus of Glen Oaks Community College, the new regional host site for the State Motorcycle Safety Training course.