WATZ Today's Country

Monday News Summary 10-10-22
Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:32:12 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

PANDEMIC RESTAURANT
A judge declining to dismiss the case against a western Michigan restaurant owner who
was jailed and fined $15-thousand dollars for violating state orders that banned indoor
dining during the pandemic. Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, owner of Marlena's Bistro and
Pizzeria, asking an Ingham County judge to dismiss the case against her and award
her damages. However, The Grand Rapids Press reports Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes
sided with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which filed
a complaint against her in February 2021.That complaint eventually resulted in the
restaurant being shuttered for five months after the agency suspended her food license.

HAMPTON INN
The shooting suspect involved in a 7-hour standoff with police Thursday in downtown
Dearborn is facing ten charges, including murder. The 38-year-old suspect allegedly
killing an employee of the Hampton Inn and then barricaded himself in a hotel room.
On top of the murder charge, charges include two counts of felonious assault, assault
with intent to murder, resisting and opposing police, and five counts of felony firearm.

SECOND DEBATE
A second debate has been added as the race for governor enters the home stretch.
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer will debate Republican challenger Tudor Dixon on
October 25th at Oakland University. The pair will add the event to their schedules
alongside a previously-scheduled debate on October 13th in Grand Rapids. Over the
summer, Whitmer agreed to participate in both debates -- but Dixon only committed to
the first. Her decision to now participate in the second debate comes one day after a
new poll showed her 17 points behind Whitmer ahead of the November election.

WHITMER CRITICS
Critics of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer--including her Republican Opponent
Tudor Dixon--have hit on the Governor's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a
reason to vote against her. But nearly 42 per cent of likely Michigan voters in the latest
Detroit News/WDIV statewide poll found Covid restrictions will make no difference in
whether or not they vote for Whitmer this fall. The poll found other topics--including
abortion--are more likely to be major issues for voters in the November 8th election.
Whitmer had a 17 percentage point lead over Dixon in the latest poll.

BLOOD DRIVE
The countdown is on to the annual college football showdown between Michigan and
Ohio State. The game will be played November 26th in Columbus this year. But the
Blood Battle between the rivals kicks off today. This year marks the 40th year of the
spirited competition between the two universities to collect the most pints of blood
during a series of blood drives for the Red Cross in October and November. This years
event takes on added significance due to Hurricane Ian and the need for blood
donations in Florida.

JUDGE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A Michigan judicial candidate is facing domestic assault charges, partly based on video
footage suggesting he hit his girlfriend repeatedly with a belt. Domestic violence
advocates in the community say they felt compelled to actively speak out against his
candidacy. The candidate's girlfriend and his attorney deny that he actually struck her.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Jason Kolkema was arraigned on the charges in
mid-September. Kolkema is a 51-year-old attorney running for Muskegon County's 14th
Circuit Court judicial seat. He has told supporters that he was striking a chair with a belt
and not his girlfriend as suggested by the video shot by an office worker in a
neighboring building.

HUGE MEGA MILLIONS
The Mega Millions jackpot is approaching half-a-billion-dollar ahead of Tuesday night's
drawing. The jackpot currently stands at an estimated $445-million-dollars, with a cash
option totaling $226-million-dollars. The annuity option means getting an initial payment
followed by 29 annual payments, and each payment is 5-percent larger than the
previous one. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot prize is roughly 1 in 3-
million.

ALDI RECALL
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a food safety alert on Friday
warning of an E. coli outbreak linked to ALDI frozen falafel. According to this alert, there
have been 20 people with reported illness, 11 of which live in Michigan. The CDC
emphasizes that the true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than
reported and may not be limited to the known states. ALDI announcing a voluntary
recall of the Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and the Garlic & Herb Falafel in
particular.

GAS PRICES
Gas prices in Michigan are up again this week. A gallon of unleaded gas is sitting at
$4.36, up 19-cents from a week ago. Prices in Metro Detroit are cheaper than most of
the state, with a gallon of gas costing you $4.29. Possible reasons for the week's
increases include Midwest oil refinery fires, supply chain disruptions caused by
Hurricane Ian, and OPEC's decision to slash oil production.

DIA ART
Something new at Detroit Metro Airport -- and it has nothing to do with flying. Typically
an outdoor program -- the Detroit Institute of Arts is trying something different with its
Inside-Out exhibition. There are five new art pieces being displayed at the Evans
Terminal now at Detroit Metro Airport, as announced by the DIA. They say Inside-Out
has outdoor locations across Metro Detroit -- including in Warren, Birmingham, Troy,
River Rouge, and Greektown. But DIA officials say the large open spaces of the airport
lend themselves to the type of art typically displayed at those exhibitions. They say
having fresh new pieces in the airport builds interest and sparks conversation amongst
travelers. More information can be found at dia.org.

MENOMINEE FIRE
Crews from several fire departments were battling a large fire Friday at a paper mill in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula that began hours earlier in a warehouse. A spokesman for
Resolute Forest Products said the fire, which was producing a dense cloud of smoke in
Menominee, Michigan, began about 11 p.m. Thursday in a warehouse that contained
pulp and waste paper. No injuries were reported in the fire along Michigans border with
Wisconsin. But the blaze was so large crews from five fire departments were called to
the scene.

PORTER TOWNSHIP FIRE-EXPLOSION
A man was airlifted to a hospital after being injured when his house caught on fire and
exploded Sunday morning in southwest Michigan's Porter Township, south of
Kalamazoo. The Cass County Sheriff's Office says the 53-year-old man was found
outside the home. They say nearby residents helped him until first responders arrived.
The sheriff's office does not suspect foul play.

ASSAULT CHASE-BATTLE CREEK
A man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting someone at a home early Sunday
morning, then leading police on a high speed chase in Battle Creek. Police say the
suspect had been invited to the home at about 3:30 Sunday morning and was chased
out by brothers of the victim and the man fired several shots, but no one was hit.
Police saw his vehicle later and he allegedly led police on a chase with speeds
reaching more than 100 miles per hour. Police lost him and later arrested him at his
home. Police say they found several assault weapons in his vehicle.

WORLD WAR TWO SOLIDER LAID TO REST-W MI
A World War Two soldier from west Michigan , who went missing in 1945 while fighting
in France, has finally been laid to rest. Family, friends and veterans gathered Saturday
afternoon in Byron Township to honor Private First Class Donald Hofman. For 77
years, his remains were that of an unknown soldier. WOOD TV reports that because of
advanced technology, Hofman's remains were recently identified and returned to the
Grand Rapids area. His 94-year-old younger brother, Reverend Leonard Hofman, said at the service... He
never received much honor but today he does.

COURT EXPENSES
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed another extension of a law that makes people
convicted of crimes responsible for a portion of local court expenses. The law raises
millions of dollars for local governments but doesn't apply to others who use Michigan's
court system. It has been criticized as unfair at minimum and unconstitutional at worst.
The Legislature in September voted to keep the law going for another 18 months.
Whitmer, a Democrat, says she signed the extension last week. The state Supreme
Court last spring heard a challenge from a man who was ordered to pay $1,200 in
Alpena County. In July, the court said it would hear even more arguments during its
new term.

CANOE RACER DIES-N MI
A canoer taking part in a race in northern Michigan's Frankfort died on Saturday. The
Michigan Canoe Racing Association says that one of their members, Nick Walton, died
during a race from Point Betsie to Peterson Beach in Benzie County. They say on their
Facebook page that Walton and many others fell off of their canoes multiple times
during the race as the winds were strong and the air temperatures were in the low 50's.
The Coast Guard was called to the scene and picked Walton up by helicopter and took
him to Munson Hospital in Traverse City-where he was pronounced dead. The Canoe
Racing Association says he will be deeply missed in their paddling community.

MENOMINEE FIRE
With a fire continuing to burn at Resolute Forest Products/K & K Warehousing in
Menominee in the U-P, firefighters are traveling to Menominee from several hours
away to relieve tired firefighters. W-L-U-C reports departments are coming from as far
north as Ishpeming and as far south as Brown County, Wisconsin. There's also a
signup sheet to take meals to firefighters. The Marinette County Highway Department Division of Emergency Management, says
the industrial fire is expected to burn for several days. The EPA is on-site and
conducting air monitoring.

STERLING HTS SENIOR BLDG-NO HEAT
As the temperatures continue to fall -- residents of a Sterling Heights senior apartment
complex have been without heat for nearly a week.
Seniors at Lakeside Towers told W-D-I-V that management says the heat won't be
turned on until November. The first freeze warning of the fall in Metro Detroit was
Friday night.
Some residents of the government-subsidized building have been using their ovens to
heat their apartments -- a practice that can lead to fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

ABANDONED CATS-LEELANAU COUNTY
The Leelanau County Sheriff's Department is requesting information on several cats
that were abandoned at an animal hospital last week. The 29 cats were abandoned
outside of the V.C.A. Cherryland Animal Hospital in Elmwood Township during the
overnight hours when the business was closed late last week. The cats, ranging in age
from several weeks to several years old, were placed in cages outside the building.

LOTTERY CLUB WIN
A Mount Pleasant Lottery Club has won a Lucky 7's Fast Cash jackpot of more than
$616-thousand dollars. The four person Cabin Corner Lottery Club bought the winning
ticket at the Cabin in Mount Pleasant.