WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 09-30-22
Fri, 30 Sep 2022 12:09:34 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

DISASTER RELIEF FOR HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS
Michigan residents have a way to help those who have been affected by Hurricane Ian. A-T and T has set up a text-to-give effort to help with recovery efforts. People can text IAN to 90999 to make a ten dollar donation to the American Red Cross. The Red Cross has gathered volunteers who are prepared with supplies, including cots, blankets, flashlights, food, water and clean-up kits to help people in need. Many Michigan residents spend their winters in Florida to avoid the cold, winter weather.

MSU INVOLVED IN SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER
Michigan State University is teaming up with Henry Ford Health System and Brown University to set up a national Center for Suicide Prevention. The National Institutes of Mental Health is providing 15-million dollars to set up the suicide prevention research center. Those involved say the goal is to work with health care organizations and the justice systems to identify people who may be at risk of suicide. The investigators involved in the center will be working with institutions across the country in hopes of finding solutions to prevent suicide. One in three men and one in eight women who have died by suicide have spent at least one night in jail in their lifetimes.

TROOPER SHOT UPDATE
Two Detroiters have been charged with shooting a Michigan State Police trooper. 28- year-old Andrae Scott Jr and his friend, 23-year-old, Robin Hall both facing charges. It was Tuesday morning when state police were out investigating at an apartment complex near Telegraph and I-96. They say Scott fired multiple shots that hit a trooper. The trooper -- ten year veteran Detective Sergeant Devin Kachar -- remains in stable condition. Scott has been charged with assault with intent to murder, as well as drugs and weapons charges. Hall is charged with accessory after the fact and lying to police.

MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT 355 MILLION
The jackpots for the Mega Millions and Powerball lottery games are now over 300 million dollars. Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot has grown to 355-million. If a winner selects the cash option, they would receive 183.6 million before taxes. The last time the jackpot was won was in late July when one ticket matched the numbers for a 1.3 billion dollar prize. Saturday's Powerball jackpot has grown to 322 million dollars.

FAMILY RESOURCES
Resource Centers for families will be built across Michigan, and $1.9-million-dollars will be used to help out. the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service will fund the effort within 'Children Trust Michigan' and the 'Childrens Services Agency.' The money will be used to build six centers, including 1 in Macomb County, and 1 in Washtenaw County. These family centers will be hubs in diverse communities, to prevent child abuse and neglect, but also strengthen families and connect them to resources for development.

ARCHERY BOW HUNTING
Thousands of hunters will be taking to the fields as...archery bow hunting season begins Saturday in Michigan. More than 300-thousand bow hunters are expected to be out on private and state owned public land through January first and they're expected to harvest up to 140- thousand deer. A deer management specialist with the DNR, Chad Stewart says bow hunting will help thin the herd in the state and it contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state's economy.

FURNITURE CUTS-W MI
Two furniture companies in west Michigan are planning to make millions of dollars in cuts. Steelcase in Grand Rapids plans to eliminate some 180 salaried jobs as part of 20 million dollars in cuts in business and corporate offices across the Americas due, in part , to a drop in orders. MillerKnoll in Zeeland has told shareholders it plans to cut up to 35 million dollars from its budget because of the current macroeconomic situation. MillerKnoll plans to offer voluntary retirement packages, and make other spending cuts. It says it plans to close under performing stores and focus more on online sales.

MISSING GIRL FOUND
A little girl missing in the Upper Peninsula has been found. The three-year-old girl went missing Thursday morning in Kinross Township in Chippewa County, but she has been found.

BAY MILLS RESORT & CASINO EXPANSION-BRIMLEY
Bay Mills Resort and Casino in the U-P's Brimley, southwest of Sault Ste. Marie, is planning a 65-million dollar expansion. Ground is expected to be broken on the expansion next spring with work complete by the Spring of 2024. The expansion will include: the addition of 134 rooms and marina upgrades. Bay Mills will remain open during construction.

LOTTO 47 WINNER
A Michigan Lottery player just hit the jackpot winning $5.42 million dollars...in the Lotto 47 drawing. The winner bought the ticket online. Lottery officials say it's the sixth time the jackpot has been won this year. Meantime, tonight's megamillions jackpot is 355 million dollars. Saturday's powerball is 322 million.

SPARROW HOSPITAL LAYOFFS-LANSING
A mid-Michigan hospital is laying off hundreds of workers. Sparrow Health System says mounting financial losses forced the cuts in dozens of departments at the Lansing hospital. Some hospitals have been struggling since the pandemic started two-and-ahalf years ago. An executive with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association says Sparrow lost 90-million dollars in the first half of this year, due in part to rising salaries and other costs.

AUTO INSURANCE
The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether major changes in car insurance law apply to people who were catastrophically injured before summer 2019. The case is being closely watched by insurers, health-care providers and long-term crash victims. For decades, people injured in crashes were entitled to payment for "all reasonable charges" related to care and rehabilitation. But the new law set a fee schedule and a cap on reimbursements not covered by Medicare. The Michigan appeals court recently said the law couldn't be applied retroactively. It was a victory for roughly 18,000 people who were getting long-term care when the new law kicked in.

TRAIN DERAILED-WARREN
Thursday morning. Officials are asking drivers to avoid the area . The cause is still being investigated.

PRISONER PHONE CALLS
People making phone calls to their loved ones in prison will be paying less starting tomorrow (SAT). The Michigan Corrections Department says the new rate of ninecents a minute will save families 11-million dollars a year. The change was made possible as a result of the new state budget. The Director of the Corrections Department says allowing prisoners and their loved ones to maintain communication in an affordable fashion is good for everyone involved.

RACE FOR CURE-DETROIT
The worlds leading breast cancer organization will host its 31st annual Komen Detroit Race for the Cure this Sunday on Belle Isle . Proceeds from the race will fund research efforts, and provide support to people facing breast cancer now. There will be a tent set up there called the "We Remember", where you can drop off photos of someone you've lost to breast cancer. They will be displayed inside.