Dear Neighbor,
I hope this letter finds you well. As your State Senator, I am committed to keeping you informed about the latest events in our community. With May being in full swing, I encourage you to get involved in our area’s community events!
Featured in Today’s Newsletter:
- Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Action
- City of Warren Events
- City of Sterling Heights Events
- New Michigan Lead Blood Testing Laws Now in Effect
- Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) 50 Year Anniversary
- National Life Insurance Day
- Student Loan Repayment Program Aimed to Expand Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Help protect Lake Sturgeon When Fishing This Spring
As always, it is an honor to represent you. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-8360.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Action
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote understanding and compassion for individuals struggling with their mental health. My Senate colleagues and I have worked hard to help address the mental health crisis here in Michigan by:
- Expanding access to mental health care coverage – Last spring, Senate Bill 27, championed by Sen. Sarah Anthony, was signed into law, requiring insurance companies to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as physical health services.
- Preventing suicide through commonsense gun safety legislation – Firearms account for over half of all suicide deaths, and 90% of suicide attempts with firearms are successful. That’s why my colleagues and I passed an 11-bill gun violence prevention package in 2023, including a “red flag” law that helps temporarily remove firearms from the homes of people who pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. In the first year since this law took effect, 30% of the Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) filed mentioned threats of self-harm or suicide.
- Investing in mental health care and suicide prevention – The state budget is an impactful tool lawmakers use to uplift and support the mental health needs of our communities. In the 2025 budget, we secured:
- $48.2 million to support substance use disorder treatment and prevention efforts;
- $30 million to increase access to 24-hour crisis services, outpatient behavioral health care, and psychiatric rehabilitation;
- $9.4 million to provide statewide coverage for 988, the suicide and mental health crisis line;
- $1.2 million to support suicide prevention programs for veterans and their families;
- $750,000 to provide resources for community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans, service members, and their families; and
- $250,000 to support Six Feet Over’s suicide loss survivor program, a non-profit that provides mental health education and support to individuals with lived experiences of suicide.
City of Warren Events
Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration
The City of Warren will be hosting an Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Rd., on May 17. This event will take place from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. and will include music, food vendors, and fun!
Skilled Trades Job Fair
The City of Warren will be hosting a skilled trades job fair on May 21 at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Rd., from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. This event will feature hands-on demonstrations, employer networking, and career building opportunities in high-demand trades such as electrical and plumbing, welding and fabrication, HVAC and construction, automotive and mechanical, police and dispatch, and more.
To learn more about events in the City of Warren, please visit cityofwarren.org/events.
City of Sterling Heights Events
Clean-Up Saturdays
The City of Sterling Heights Dept. of Public Works will be hosting Clean-Up Saturdays every Saturday in May from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at its facility located at 7200 18 Mile Rd.
During these Clean-Up Saturdays, residents are encouraged to bring various items for disposal, including furniture, lumber, tires, dirt, tree stumps, and more. It’s important to note that certain items will not be accepted, such as commercial waste, air conditioning units, ammunition or explosives, DEA controlled substances, lab chemicals, non-standard gases, radioactive materials, shock-sensitive materials, unknown/unidentified gases, and medical sharps.
These events are designed to help residents responsibly dispose of items that may not be suitable for regular trash collection. By participating in Clean-Up Saturdays, you can ensure that your unwanted items are disposed of properly, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment for everyone in Sterling Heights.
Plant Exchange
The annual Sterling Heights plant exchange will be happening this Saturday, May 10, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Sterling Heights Nature Center, located at 42700 Utica Rd.
This Plant Exchange is a wonderful opportunity for gardeners to come together and share their love for plants. Participants are encouraged to bring plants of various varieties packaged in plastic bags, pots, boxes, or other small containers. Each plant should be accompanied by a card that includes the plant’s name, a brief description, and care instructions. In addition to exchanging plants, gardeners can also bring gardening magazines and books to exchange or donate. This event is a great way to meet fellow gardening enthusiasts, learn about different plant varieties, and contribute to the beautification of our community.
Please note that selling of plants is not permitted at this event. The focus is on sharing and exchanging plants to promote a sense of community and environmental sustainability.
Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade
Sterling Heights will be hosting its 46th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade on May 26. This year’s theme is “We Are One: Honoring Our Past, Uniting Our Future,” and promises to be a heartfelt tribute to all veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
The activities will begin at 9:00 am, starting with remarks from the 2025 Grand Marshal, John “Jack” Jones, who served in the Navy during World War II, Mayor Michael C. Taylor, and Chairperson of the Arts Commission Jeanne Schabath. At 10:00 a.m., the parade will kick off from the City Center parking lot and travel south down Dodge Park Road. The parade will feature marching bands, scout troops, civic groups, and individuals.
For more information on the Memorial Day Parade or Ceremony, please contact the Sterling Heights Community Relations Department at 586-446-2470.
New Michigan Lead Blood Testing Laws Now in Effect
In October 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 145 and 146 of 2023 into law, requiring blood lead testing for all Michigan children at 12 months and 24 months of age. These new laws are now officially in effect, requiring physicians to provide blood lead testing to all young children in Michigan.
No amount of lead in the blood is safe. Children and babies are most at risk of dangerous health effects caused by lead exposure, which can affect learning, behavior, speech, hearing, growth rates, and development of the nervous system.
The new Universal Blood Lead Testing Law works to increase the number of children tested in the state. Children with elevated blood lead levels may qualify for nursing case management services, with staff trained to visit families at their homes to discuss ways to help lower blood lead level. They may also qualify for services provided through the Lead Safe Home Program, which can help eligible families find and fix lead hazards. Eligibility for the program is based on Medicaid or household income status and home location. Eligible families must also submit a completed application.
Visit Blood Lead Testing to learn about the different types of tests and what it means to have an elevated blood lead level and Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe for more information about lead hazards, blood lead testing and lead services.
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) 50 Year Anniversary
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is celebrating its 50 Year Anniversary. MIOSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of Michiganders. It has spent the last 50 years working with businesses and workers to keep people safe and help businesses to thrive.
To learn more about MIOSHA, please visit michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/miosha.
National Life Insurance Day
May 2 was National Life Insurance Day! The Michigan Dept. of Insurance and Financial Servies (DIFS) is reminding consumers that the department offers Life Insurance and Annuity Search Services (LIAS) to help locate lost or forgotten insurance policies or annuities.
In 2024, DIFS was able to recover more than eight million dollars in unpaid life insurance and annuity benefits for Michiganders.
DIFS created the LIAS program in 2016 to help those who cannot find information about their deceased family member’s life insurance policies or annuity contracts. In 2024, DIFS staff processed 1,666 LIAS requests, resulting in more than $8 million for 110 claimants. Since the program’s launch, LIAS has recovered nearly $46 million for Michiganders.
DIFS can help Michiganders with their life insurance or annuity concerns by:
- Providing publications, shopping tips, locators, and other information about buying life insurance or annuities in Michigan on the DIFS Life and Annuities website.
- Reviewing and acting on consumer complaints involving insurance companies, agencies, and agents. Consumers are encouraged to first attempt to resolve disputes directly with their insurance company or agent, but if a resolution cannot be reached DIFS can help try to resolve the dispute. Complaints can be filed online at Michigan.gov/DIFScomplaints.
- Operating the DIFS Call Center, where Michiganders can speak with a live specialist Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling 877-999-6442. DIFS can also be reached via email at DIFSInfo@michigan.gov.
For more information on LIAS, call 877-999-6442 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., visit Michigan.gov/LIAS, or email DIFS-LIAS@michigan.gov. A national resource is also available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners at EApps.NAIC.org/Life-Policy-Locator.
Student Loan Repayment Program Aimed to Expand Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services is offering a student loan repayment program aimed to expand opioid use disorder treatment.
An estimated 1.3 million Michigan residents need treatment for SUD but are not receiving it, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. A needs assessment conducted by MDHHS identified workforce shortages as a leading cause for this gap. Michigan currently ranks 40th in the number of SUD counselors per adult with an SUD. This shortage, in part, is due to high costs and barriers to education and certification.
Through the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program, providers may be eligible for student loan repayments between $15,000 and $30,000. The program is available to medical doctors and osteopathic medicine doctors, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and substance use disorder counselors who begin offering opioid treatment or expand treatment that is already being offered. Providers who work in a variety of health care settings are eligible to apply.
The program is being funded through the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, which is receiving payments from the nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors, as well as opioid manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson.
Applications must be submitted by Monday, May 19. Applications and other resources are available at Michigan.gov/miota. Health care providers are encouraged to review the materials and submit applications when the cycle begins.
For more information, email MDHHS-MIOTA-LRP@michigan.gov.
Help protect Lake Sturgeon When Fishing This Spring
The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources reminds fishermen to be aware of lake sturgeon fishing regulations and rehabilitation efforts this spring. Fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited except in a few locations in the state. In the Lower Peninsula, lake sturgeon may be encountered in places such as Manistee Lake, the Manistee River, Muskegon Lake, the Muskegon River, the Grand River, the Kalamazoo River, and Saginaw Bay and its tributaries, but it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon in these waters; any lake sturgeon incidentally caught while targeting other species must immediately be released. Additionally:
-
- Never hold a sturgeon in a vertical position by its head, gill covers or tail.
- Never touch the fish’s eyes or gills.
- Handle the fish as little as possible.
Waters with sturgeon possession seasons include Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, Otsego Lake, the Menominee River and Black Lake. Waters with sturgeon fishing seasons (catch-and-release only) include the Detroit River, the St Mary’s River, Portage-Torch Lakes and the Ontonagon River. In all other waters in the state of Michigan, it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon. (See Page 15 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations for detailed information related to lake sturgeon.) Anglers can report incidental (unintentional) capture of lake sturgeon and report illegal harvesting or targeting of lake sturgeon at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField or by calling the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline: 800-292-7800.