Dear Neighbor,
October has arrived, and with that, the leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, and autumn is fully underway! We hope you’ll take advantage of everything Michigan has to offer this month, whether that be trick-or-treating with the kids, visiting a local pumpkin patch or cider mill with some friends, or exploring our scenic state parks brimming with peak fall foliage.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Bipartisan Bills to Implement Dyslexia Screening, Improve Literacy Head to Governor’s Desk
- Budget Update and Other Legislation to Bring More Dollars Back to Classrooms and Teachers
- Advancing the Freedom to Plan on World Contraception Day
- Sterling Heights Fire Department Open House
- City of Detroit Begins Next $1 Billion Investment in Affordable Housing
- Breast Cancer Awareness & Preventative Resources
- Honoring National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
- Local Cider Mills
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Bipartisan Bills to Implement Dyslexia Screening, Improve Literacy Head to Governor’s Desk
Affecting up to one in five children in each classroom, dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that can impact the ability to read, write, spell, and pronounce words. Data suggests that students with dyslexia who receive high-quality, phonics-based instruction early on can go on to become successful readers.
That’s why Sens. Jeff Irwin and Dayna Polehanki have fought to implement comprehensive dyslexia screening for Michigan students. Senate Bills 567 and 568, which passed out of the Michigan Senate last week with nearly unanimous support, will require schools to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia and provide evidence-based interventions to help students achieve literacy. This bipartisan legislation now heads to Gov. Whitmer’s desk for her signature.
Learn more about these bills here.
Budget Update and Other Legislation to Bring More Dollars Back to Classrooms and Teachers
My Senate colleagues and I remain committed to strengthening Michigan’s public education system. While our new 2025 state budget included a one-time decrease in the rates school districts pay into the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System (MPSERS), we recently took action to make that change permanent by passing Senate Bill 911. This redirects over $600 million from MPSERS — which is currently funded at 140% — back to our schools every year, which is equivalent to about a $400 per student increase statewide.
This legislation also eliminates the 3% payroll deduction that some employees contribute toward their retiree health care costs, putting more money back into the pockets of more than 100,000 hardworking educators and support staff. This bill has been returned to the House of Representatives for their consideration before it heads to the governor’s desk.
Similarly, the Legislature passed a school budget supplemental bill last week, investing millions of extra state dollars into school safety and mental health supports. This gives school districts the flexibility to determine where those funds are needed most — whether it be more school resource officers, counselors, therapists, or infrastructure upgrades. We’re proud to have put even more funding toward one of the most important causes we can: the safety and well-being of Michigan students.
Advancing the Freedom to Plan on World Contraception Day
For over six decades, contraception has been an integral component of women’s healthcare, giving them the power to plan their own course in life by allowing them to determine whether to have children and the number and spacing of their children.
Last week, on World Contraception Day, the Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony on the Freedom to Plan legislative package, composed of Senate Bills 973, 974, 987, 988, and 1006, that seeks to codify Michiganders’ access to contraception.
The two bills, introduced by Sens. Mary Cavanagh and Jeff Irwin, would break down financial barriers to over-the-counter oral hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraceptives. Additionally, legislation introduced by Sen. Mallory McMorrow would ensure more inclusive access to immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception.
But to get this legislation over the finish line, we need your help. Your voice is crucial in this fight. Use this toolkit to learn how you can talk with friends and family about these bills and find content you can share on social media to help us shape a future where everyone has the fundamental freedom to make decisions about their own body.
To hear the testimony provided at the committee hearing, you can watch the recorded livestream here. To learn more about our continued work to protect Michiganders’ reproductive freedom, click here.
Sterling Heights Fire Department Open House
The City of Sterling Heights Fire Department will have their annual open house to close the 2024 Fire Prevention Week on Sunday, October 13. Fire Prevention week is from October 6th through the 12th, with this year’s theme, “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!” This theme focuses on the importance of having properly installed, tested, and maintained smoke alarms that can make a lifesaving difference in the event of a home fire. This event will include an award ceremony, activities for adults and children, demonstrations, tours, various displays, and refreshments. The events run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 4 at 12850 15 Mile Road.
City of Detroit Begins Next $1 Billion Investment in Affordable Housing
The City of Detroit has begun investments in affordable housing with the groundbreaking for Preserve on Ash in North Corktown. This new development marks the first groundbreaking for what will be nearly 600 new and preserved units of affordable housing at the end of all phases. This investment was made possible by the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhood grant. This is the first phase of three, which will include 69 mixed-income housing units across five buildings and 5,800 square feet of retail space.
Breast Cancer Awareness & Preventative Resources
Approximately 13% of American women — or one in eight — will develop breast cancer over the course of their life. To spread awareness and honor those impacted by breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every October.
One company taking into account the experience of those with breast cancer is Ford. In honor of survivors, they have just unveiled a website with custom seat belt harnesses, the SupportBelt, designed for the comfort of breast cancer patients free of charge. Being in a vehicle after a mastectomy can be extremely painful, but this new accessory can allow patients to have one less issue to worry about. Click here to learn more about the SupportBelt and how to get one.
Early detection saves lives, which is why knowing your family history and getting screened annually starting at age 40 is imperative. The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages residents to take advantage of the following free health screening programs to put their health into their own hands:
- The Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP), available statewide, provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women.
- The WISEWOMAN Program helps participants understand their chronic disease risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices. Every participant receives a free health screening.
- To learn more about the BC3NP and WISEWOMAN Programs, call 844-446-8727 or visit Michigan.gov/cancer. For Spanish resources, call 800-379-1057.
Honoring National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
The tragedy of losing a baby takes an enormous, unthinkable toll on women, families, and communities across the world. And although miscarriage and stillbirth can be a common experience for women of childbearing age, pregnancy and infant loss remains a taboo topic linked to harmful stigma and shame.
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time to recognize those impacted by bereavement and share resources to spread awareness, support, and understanding. Here are a few resources to recognize this important month and help reduce the stigma associated with pregnancy and infant loss:
- Connect with a trained, caring volunteer by calling 1-800-944-4773, the Postpartum Support International helpline. You may also text the helpline at 800-944-4773 for English, or 971-203-7773 for Spanish.
- Find pregnancy and infant loss support resources, including financial assistance for funeral expenses and a list of behavioral health providers by county, from MDHHS here.
- Locate bereavement resources from Michigan Medicine here, which include loss support groups, podcasts on grief, and much more.
- Join an online community to share your story, post a tribute on the Wall of Remembrance, submit a note of gratitude for your health care providers, and explore the March of Dimes website for additional ways to commemorate Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Local Cider Mills
There’s no better way to spend a fall afternoon than taking a trip to a local cider mill. Our area is lucky to have a variety of cider mills open for you to visit and enjoy!
- Blakes Orchard & Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada, MI 48005
- Yates Cider Mill, 1950 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
- Franklin Cider Mill, 7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
- Goodison Cider Mill, 4295 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306
- Westview Orchards, 65075 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48095
- Hy’s Cider Mill, 6350 37 Mile Road, Bruce Twp., MI 48065