Monthly Archives: March 2020

(March 21, 2020 12:30 PM) Michigan Legislators will join Attorney General Dana Nessel this weekend in answering calls to her office’s Consumer Protection hotline. Joining Nessel will be Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, state Sens. Curtis Hertel Jr. and Jeremy Moss, and Reps. Julie Brixie, Christine Greig, Jim Haadsma, Kara Hope, Sheryl Kennedy, Matt Koleszar, Laurie Pohutsky, Yousef Rabhi and Angela Witwer. Also participating will be Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek, who is also Nessel's director of legislative affairs. The group will answer calls: Today Noon-1 p.m.: Rabhi and Witwer 1-2 p.m.: Haadsma and Hertel 2-4 p.m.: Moss and Greig 4-5 p.m.: Pohutsky and Brixie Sunday Noon-2 p.m.: Hope and Kennedy 2-4 p.m.: Koleszar and Brixie 4-5 p.m.: Knezek Nessel’s Consumer Protection intake team had received 1,053 price-gouging complaints related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by 5 p.m. Thursday. That’s up from 75 as of March 13. “With the upswell in consumer complaints, I’m happy to have the extra help from my friends in the Legislature to answer hotline calls,” Nessel said. “Michigan consumers deserve a government that works for the people, and this is a clear example of lawmakers rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.” Typically, complaints are received…

(March 21, 12:10 PM) Beginning Monday, March 23, all 131 Michigan Secretary of State branch offices will be modifying current operations, returning to regularly scheduled branch hours, 9-5 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 11-7 on Wednesdays. They will remain closed on Saturdays. During this time in-person transactions will continue to be available only for critical services and by appointment. “In our first week offering limited services by appointment only, branch staff have carried out critical transactions for first responders, grocery store drivers and medical personnel—people our society especially needs credentialed to work at this time,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “The best way to show appreciation for the service of our branch staff is to limit your in-person transactions to only those which absolutely must be done at a branch.” All Secretary of State offices shifted to operating by appointment only on March 16, and will do so through April 5, to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Operations were assessed throughout the first week of the shift in service, resulting in the coming change in hours and further streamlining of critical service provision. Starting March 23, in-person services will be limited to the items listed below…

(March 21, 2020 9:30 AM)  As of 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, there is one presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Jackson County. The individual is not receiving care at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. Yesterday, the Henry Ford Allegiance Health COVID-19 drive-through screening and testing center tested 44 individuals for COVID-19. An additional 21 people did not need to be tested; these individuals were provided with education. Local COVID-19 information and facility closure updates are regularly updated and available at HenryFord.com/COVID19Jackson.  

(March 22, 2020 8:04 AM) In an email message sent yesterday afternoon to members of American 1 Credit Union, the credit union’s President/CEO Martha Fuerstenau announced that, beginning today, March 21, American 1’s operating hours will be reduced to the hours of 9am–1pm, Monday through Saturday. All branches lobbies that remained open after a partial lobby closure this past Monday will also close to the public beginning Monday, March 23. All drive thru and digital services continue operating to serve members. “Up until this point, we have done our best to keep as many locations open as possible to provide continued service to members, while still keeping a safe and healthy space for employees,” stated Fuerstenau in the email. “Unfortunately we've reached the point where we can no longer balance those things.” American 1 is currently operating at about 40% of regular staffing due to COVID-19. According to the email, the credit union shortened their hours out of necessity to keep staff healthy and prevent burnout. The new operating hours were chosen to line up with the hours of some local grocery stores in hopes people who are running errands will complete their banking at the same time. American 1…

(UPDATED March 20, 2020 9:50 PM)  Updated to include extended hours this weekend.  The phone lines are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; however, operations have been extended until 7 p.m. today and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Michigan Department of Attorney General has surpassed 800 consumer complaints of price-gouging related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as the office today received a complaint of a new COVID-19 scam making an appearance in Michigan. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office has sent another business a cease and desist letter for selling high-priced face masks.   An Oakland County resident reported being contacted via phone by scammers who said they could provide a COVID-19 test kit, so long as the individual prepaid for the item. The person immediately recognized it as a scam and contacted the Attorney General’s office.    “Pre-paying for products that never arrive is only one method scammers will use to rob people of their hard-earned money or to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims,” Nessel said. “We may start to see more scams related to COVID-19, and I urge Michiganders to remain vigilant. We must not fall victim to these predatory practices.”   As of…