Updates About People

The Detroit Regional Chamber unveiled the agenda for this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference, scheduled from May 28th to May 31st on Mackinac Island. This year’s event will showcase a U.S. Senate debate and panels with leaders in business, politics, and higher education. The debate will feature the top three Democratic and Republican candidates, all competing for the open seat. The vacancy arises as current U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow prepares to retire from her position following an earlier announcement that she will not be seeking reelection. Other notable items on the conference agenda include speeches from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Dan Gilbert of Rocket Companies, and more.

You can find more details on the Mackinac Policy Conference website.

Amidst the NFL draft festivities in Detroit, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law two bills aimed at bolstering cardiac emergency response in Michigan high schools. House Bill 5527 mandates the development of comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans, including the establishment of emergency response teams, AED placement, staff training, and annual simulation drills, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Complementing this, House Bill 5528 requires high school coaches to be certified in CPR and AED use. Both bills garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature.

Advocates, including bill sponsors Rep. John Fitzgerald (D – Wyoming) and Rep. Tyrone Carter (D – Detroit) and NFL player Damar Hamlin, emphasized the importance of equipping schools with lifesaving equipment and training. The Chasing M’s Foundation, co-founded by Hamlin, announced a significant donation of AEDs to Michigan high schools, emphasizing the vital role of CPR and AED knowledge in saving lives. The bill signing ceremony featured hands-on CPR training sessions, highlighting the importance of community readiness in responding to cardiac emergencies.

Recent controversies surrounding Michigan’s state-run youth psychiatric services, including lawsuits, patient escapes, and allegations of inadequate care, have prompted the initiation of an audit by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). Specifically, the Office of Recipient Rights (ORR), responsible for safeguarding the rights of mental health service recipients, is under review.

Sen. Michael Webber (R – Rochester Hills) and colleagues requested the audit last year amidst concerns about management practices at facilities like the Hawthorn Center in Northville. Complaints of substandard care, including allegations of physical abuse and poor living conditions, have underscored the need for transparency and accountability in state-operated psychiatric hospitals. The audit, expected to take approximately six months, aims to identify systemic issues and promote improvements in patient care and oversight protocols. Despite some scrutiny over its handling of the situation, MDHHS asserts that it is fully supportive of transparency efforts.

As investigations unfold, necessary reforms are anticipated to ensure the well-being of vulnerable youth under state care.