In emergency situations, quick action by first responders can mean the difference between life and death. Michigan firefighters and police officers are permitted to use Narcan to save lives from opioid overdoses, but unfortunately they’re unable to use an EpiPen to help someone experiencing a dangerous allergic reaction.

It doesn’t make any sense, and that’s why Sen. Nesbitt supported legislation to fix it. Senate Bill 418 would create the Law Enforcement and Firefighter Access to Epinephrine Act and allow trained law enforcement officers and firefighters to possess and administer epinephrine to individuals in situations of anaphylactic reactions.

A companion measure would add law enforcement agencies and fire departments as “eligible entities” allowed to obtain prescriptions for and purchase auto-injectable epinephrine devices, commonly referred to as EpiPens, and distribute them to their officers or firefighters.

As we move toward reopening our state, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced official opening dates for state park and state forest campgrounds, state harbors and other DNR-managed outdoor spaces. Some of the announced dates include:

For more information, click here.

Last week the Senate unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 122, which denounces the violent actions some have taken in response to the tragic death of George Floyd.

Americans are justifiably upset, and Sen. Nesbitt fully supports everyone’s First Amendment right to protest and peacefully assemble. There have been many recent incidents of Michiganders peacefully demonstrating to make their voices heard, and Nesbitt commends those who have participated in these demonstrations, but he believes we cannot allow violence to overcome the positive message that peaceful protestors are trying to display.

While many have already received their federal stimulus checks from the Internal Revenue Service, others are still waiting to receive their payment. But some Americans may have unknowingly thrown away their stimulus payments. Recently the U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS started sending out economic impact payments in regular white envelopes that could be mistaken for junk mail.

Almost 4 million people — including those for whom the agency does not have bank accounts on file — will be getting their stimulus payments in the form of prepaid debit cards. These debit cards come in envelopes that do not bear any federal markings.

To help taxpayers identify the cards, the IRS said cards will arrive in a plain white envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services” with a return address from Omaha, Nebraska. When you open the envelope, the card will be issued by MetaBank and will include the Visa logo. Additionally, the envelope will include a letter explaining that the enclosed debit card is the Economic Impact Payment Card.

For more information and answers to other frequently asked questions from the IRS, click here.

Michigan students have been using distancing learning with the closure of all public school buildings in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. But as the school year officially comes to a close, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has been receiving a number of questions from parents and educators about ensuring that students receive the appropriate support to graduate during this unique time.

Many schools have already ended coursework for seniors, but the MDE also recognizes that schools and districts will still work with students through the summer to help them obtain the appropriate credits to graduate. Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-65 provides districts with the flexibility to remove barriers to graduation due to the COVID-19 school closures.

Read the full memo on the flexibility offered under the executive order, or visit www.Michigan.gov/mde for more information.