LARA

LANSING, MI – The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill to ease regulatory requirements for nursing homes and make it easier to provide quality care. House Bill 5609, introduced by state Rep. Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian, would reform licensing, inspection and reporting requirements for Michigan nursing facilities, which are done by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The bill aims to standardize the scope and severity of nursing home citations, as well as improve the timeliness to make sure they are corrected. “We were having providers leave the state,” Kahle told MLive, “because it was too onerous and too inconsistent on this survey process.”The Health Care Association of Michigan, which represents long-term care facilities, supports the bill. Four voted against the bill: state Reps. Jim Haadsma, D-Battle Creek; Cynthia Johnson, D-Detroit; Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor; and Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo.

CARO, MI — A Caro woman who had been offering in-home child care is now prohibited from doing so after an investigation and emergency action by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Child Care Licensing Bureau. LARA’s Child Care Licensing Bureau has summarily suspended and issued a notice of intent to revoke the family child care home license of Crystall Lutes, located at 299 Cass River Drive in Caro, according to a LARA news release. A complaint investigation that concluded on Jan. 19 found violations of the Child Care Organizations Act and administrative rules, including but not limited to the following:lack of appropriate care and supervision;household member’s suitability and conduciveness to the welfare of children;and failure to notify the department after receiving an allegation of inappropriate contact with a child. Lutes is now prohibited from operating a family child care home and must inform all parents of children in her care that her license has been suspended and she can no longer provide child care. In the release, LARA officials said, “It was critical to take emergency action to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the children at this family child care home.”To learn more about child care licensing and regulations or how to file a complaint, visit www.michigan.gov/michildcare.

The world’s first commercial octopus farm is closer to becoming reality - but scientists are up in arms.

A marijuana testing lab has filed a lawsuit against Michigan regulators after a major product recall and allegations of unreliable results.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has suspended the daycare license of a Garden City in-home daycare.

A Garden City woman’s daycare license has been suspended after a child in her household put another child she was caring for in the clothes dryer and turned it on, officials said.

The state of Michigan has shut down a Clarkston senior living center after reports of horrifying living conditions. Now, there’s more action in the case.

A Canton Township daycare has its license suspended by the state, but as of now, what happened inside the home day care is still a mystery.

A Canton Township family child care home has had its license suspended after a “high-risk special investigation,” officials said.

A Detroit daycare’s license was suspended after an unexplained burn on a child’s leg sparked an investigation that revealed too many children were being cared for, officials said.

The license was suspended after a report showed unpleasant living conditions that included staff failing to notice that a patient had died.

An Oakland County group home is shut down by the state of Michigan after claims of how residents were being treated.

Batches were found to contain banned chemical residues.

Advocates for Stephen Lara say his case shows how the government abuses its power to seize assets.

The swift retreat of U.S. troops and advance of the Taliban over large portions of Afghanistan has left many veterans of the 20-year-old war conflicted.

That first patient complained to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in 2004, but the complaint was dismissed because the doctor had no priors and agreed to take classes on professional sexual misconduct.

The U.S. Marshals Service charged the man three months after a Union County teacher was killed in a shootout involving alleged members of Mexican drug cartel.

On Friday, horrified witnesses watched a young teen fall 20-feet from a rock climbing wall at the Wyandotte Street Art Fair.

Another Fourth of July holiday has passed, and again, it was an explosive one. I’m talking about the sky in your neighborhood, of course.

Every morning Odalys de la Caridad Lara Reyes gets to work and starts to read out loud

State officials are revealing new information about the bodies and remains inside a Ypsilanti crematory that is under investigation.

YPSILANTI, MI – The state of Michigan has taken action against an Ypsilanti crematory operating illegally without a license. State regulators removed all bodies awaiting cremation Thursday, June 24, from Tri-County Cremation Services, a crematory operating unlicensed in Ypsilanti, according to a notice from Michigan’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. On June 4, the state issued an order to the crematory, located at 1106 Michigan Ave., and its owners O’Neil Swanson II and his wife Diane Swanson. Tri-County Cremation Services identified O’Neil Swanson as its “member” on filings made with LARA’s Corporations Division in early 2021. O’Neil Swanson was convicted of conversion of funds under the Prepaid Funeral and Cemetery Sales Act in 2019, officials said.

There are new calls for answers about what’s going on inside a crematory in Ypsilanti.

On Friday, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) ordered a Ypsilanti crematory to immediately stop operations.

Authorities said the owner, O’Neil Swanson, had his mortuary license taken away due to violations at Swanson’s Funeral Home in Flint and is not legally allowed to own a cemetery or crematory.

YPSILANTI, MI – A crematory in Ypsilanti was ordered to cease operations Friday for operating without registration. Michigan’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued the notice against Tri-County Cremation Services, 1106 Michigan Ave., and its owners O’Neil Swanson II and his wife Diane Swanson. LARA ordered them to immediately cease operations and provide proof to the Cemetery Commissioner that O’Neil Swanson no longer owns, operates or has a controlling interest in the crematory business, according to a LARA release. Tri-County Cremation Services identified O’Neil Swanson as its “member” on filings made with LARA’s Corporations Division in early 2021. O’Neil Swanson was convicted of conversion of funds under the Prepaid Funeral and Cemetery Sales Act in 2019, according to the release.

LARA and the Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) have summarily suspended and issued a notice of intent to revoke the group child care home license of Shelley Macfarlane in Romulus.

The state of Michigan is preparing to unveil new guidelines for implicit bias training for employees, particularly those in health care.

Beaumont is partnering on a new psychiatric hospital with Universal Health Services, which paid $122 million to settle whistleblower lawsuits

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- The Owosso barber who became a figurehead for those opposed to executive orders issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer nearly a year ago, is facing a $9,000 fine for giving unlicensed hair cuts on the steps of the state’s Capitol and sanitation and equipment violations. The order states it is effective 30 days from the date it was signed. The Michigan Board of Barber Examiners was created under Article 11 of Public Act 299 of 1980, to regulate the services of barbers, barber students, barber colleges, barber instructors, student instructors and barbershops in Michigan, according to LARA. Read more on MLive:Owosso barber says shop will stay open ‘until Jesus walks in or until they arrest me’Michigan Supreme Court sides with Owosso barber, sends case back to lower courtOwosso barber says he won’t be bullied as Michigan AG’s Office files motion to find him in contempt of courtState drops lawsuit aimed at shutting down defiant Owosso barber

PORTAGE, MI – An adult foster care home had its license suspended after officials saw a video of a wheelchair-bound resident being assaulted. Vernon Ave., is an adult foster care small group home that was allowed to care for six adults, per the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Its license was suspended March 26 and LARA plans to revoke the license entirely. The investigation found violations of the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act and and administrative rules related to mistreatment of a resident, physical abuse of a resident, and caregiver suitability, according to a news release from LARA. The incident was caught on a cell phone video by a witness, the report said.

TAWAS CITY, MI — State officials have suspended a childcare group home license in Tawas City. The investigation began Jan. 4 after the Child Care Licensing Division received a complaint against Shaffer. Investigators allege they found violations of the Child Care Organizations Act and administrative rules. Shaffer’s adult son was also present, and though he was not caring for children, Shaffer told the inspector she would not remove him from the home during daycare hours, state officials allege. Effective Tuesday, the summary suspension order prohibits Shaffer from operating a childcare group home at any address or location.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A nurse who worked at Bronson Methodist Hospital has had her license suspended over allegations she took fentanyl from hospital vials and replaced the liquid with saline. In a LARA administrative complaint, investigators said problems with two milliliter vials of fentanyl were discovered in late August. Hospital investigators found data on the dispensing machine that showed a particular person had used a function, allowing more access to fentanyl vials, more frequently than other staff. According to the complaint, Marshall allegedly admitted to taking fentanyl from vials on eight occasions from mid-July to mid-August. She would replace the fentanyl with saline and put the vials back in the fentanyl stock.

DETROIT – Michigan state officials are responding to a story about a crunch when it comes to renewing certain professional licenses. She said she’s trying to arrange to be re-certified as a Temporary Limited License Psychologist (TLLP). “I was unable to get in.”As a Master’s level clinical psychologist, she is licensed to practice counseling while she continues her education. Read: Therapists losing jobs due to Michigan license renewal crunch caused by pandemicIn four separate attempts, Local 4 asked a representative of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to address the complaints. At every turn, officials with LARA have declined an actual interview, but did send written answers to many questions.

DETROIT – COVID-19 is making it difficult for the State of Michigan to keep up with certain licenses. Hundreds of psychologists are scheduled to lose their certification because they are not able to get their licenses renewed. “Kids lost their therapist, I was that therapist,” said Norm Gajowiak who lost his license to practice psychology. As of 12 days ago he became unlicensed to practice because he can’t get a mandatory test for recertification. He says what hurts him the most is watching the kids he had to say goodbye to and seeing them cry.

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. A Canton womans child care family home license that was suspended by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in July has been reinstated. LARA initially suspended Sheila Robbins license, effective July 31. An original notice posted by LARA cited a drug screening as the reason for the initial summary suspension. However, an administrative law judge granted LARAs motion to lift the summary suspension on Aug. 28. LARA also withdrew its notice of intent to revoke.

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. Additional fees are listed in the table below:State License Type Initial License Fee Class A Marijuana Grower $4,000 Class B Marijuana Grower $8,000 Class C Marijuana Grower $40,000 Excess Marijuana Grower $40,000 Marijuana Microbusiness $8,000 Marijuana Processor $40,000 Marijuana Retailer $25,000 Marijuana Secure Transporter $25,000 Marijuana Safety Compliance Facility $25,000 Marijuana Event Organizer $1,000 Temporary Marijuana Event See Rule 63 Designated Consumption Establishment $1,000For temporary marijuana events each marijuana event organizer is expected to pay an initial licensure fee of $500 for each day of the scheduled event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales:

LANSING, Mich. – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will start accepting applications for adult-use marijuana establishments Friday. Licenses for the sale of recreational marijuana could be awarded in November and December. Some Michigan communities have chosen to not allow recreational marijuana sales. If marijuana is for sale at the event they are expected to pay a $500 fee for each licensee authorized to sell product at the event. View the document below to see which communities have opted out of recreational marijuana sales:

CNN VideoMISSION, Texas (CNN) - Mission, Texas, Police Cpl. Jose "Speedy" Espericueta couldn't wait to watch his 13-year-old son play in his first football game. "Being the first football game, we gathered agencies from across the valley to let him know that we're still there, even though his dad's not." The turnout at Joaquin's football game was the latest show of community support for the family in the past few months. Lara, who organized Saturday's gathering for Joaquin's football game, and said that "nobody hesitated on showing up."

Lara and Eric Trump have welcomed a baby girl, Carolina Dorothy. The president's son shared the news with his followers on Twitter late Monday. "@LaraLeaTrump and I are excited to welcome Carolina Dorothy Trump into the world. Eric Trump (@EricTrump) August 20, 2019Ivanka Trump sent her younger brother and his family well wishes on Tuesday, tweeting, "We love you Lara, Eric, (big brother) Luke and sweet Carolina!" Eric, 35, and Lara, 36, welcomed son Luke in September 2017.

Cerebral palsy has been added to the list of debilitating medical conditions approved for Michigan medical marijuana patients. Cerebral Palsy was approved by LARA after the Medical Marihuana Review Panel members unanimously recommended approval. LARA also denied the condition of Chronic Aggressive Behavior after panel members unanimously recommended denial. Effective immediately, Cerebral Palsy is now added to the following current list of debilitating medical conditions already approved for medical marijuana in Michigan: