Wednesday News Summary 10-26-22Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:06:11 EDT
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
ABSENTEE VOTES
Election day is less than two weeks aways, but more than 770-thousand people have
already voted. Executives at the Michigan Secretary of State office says 1.81 million
absentee ballots have been requested as of yesterday. Election workers expect about
half of the votes for the November General Election to be filed via absentee ballot. A
total of 4.2 million people voted in the gubernatorial election four years ago. People
who have not returned their ballots yet are advised to turn them in at your local clerk's
office in person or put them in a drop box.
CRUMBLEY PARENTS TRIAL DATE
A new trial date has been set for the parents of Oxford High School murderer Ethan
Crumbley. An Oakland County Circuit Court judge has scheduled the trial for James
and Jennifer Crumbley on January 17th. They are charged with involuntary
manslaughter. The prosecutor says the parents bought the gun used in the shooting
last November for their teenaged son and didn't get him help when he needed it. A
hearing is scheduled for this Friday for both sides to discuss experts who will be called
to testify during the trial. 16-year old Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty Monday to all
charges related to the shooting that left four classmates dead and seven others injured.
POT PRICES DROP
The acting director of the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency is vowing to crack
down on illegal marijuana getting into the market. Talking with reporters in Lansing
yesterday, Brian Hanna said he's not sure how pot is getting into the system, but they
want to expose any cheaters. The agency is hiring more agents to inspect grow
operation and other facilities. Crains Detroit reports the price of an ounce of marijuana
has fallen from 203-dollars to about 110-bucks in the past year-and-a-half.
FLINT WATER CRISIS
A team of prosecutors say they will appeal a judge's decision to dismiss criminal
charges against seven people connected to the Flint water crisis. The state Attorney
General's office says the public deserves to hear the evidence against the defendants
including the former state Health Director. The prosecutors say they followed the law
as it pertains to the use of a one-person grand jury and is prepared to move forward.
One of the defendants said in a statement there simply is no basis for an appeal and to
suggest an appellate court can somehow wave its magic wand and revitalize the
indictment that was ruled invalid borders on the absurd.
POWERBALL JACKPOT $700 MILLION
The fifth largest Powerball jackpot ever is up for grabs tonight. The 700-million dollar
prize is the result of no one matching all the numbers drawn since early August, or the
past 35 drawings. The cash option for a winner would be 335.7 million dollars before
taxes. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
CITIES RECEIVE FUNDS FOR WATER SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS
Nine Michigan cities will receive money to make improvements to water systems. The
Governor and Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced the grants
Tuesday. The nearly 15-million dollars in Community Development Block Grant WaterRelated Infrastructure grants were awarded to Clare, Dowagiac (da-Wah-ghac), Evart,
Hillsdale, Imlay City, Iron River, Lapeer, Reading (Reed-ing) and Reed City. The
money can be used to make improvements to their existing water, sewer, and
wastewater public infrastructure systems.
GOVERNOR DEBATE
The gloves were off as Governor Whitmer and her Republican challenger Tudor Dixon
squared off in their final debate ahead of the November election.
The two women clashed on everything from handling inflation and school shootings to
abortion. Dixon said that despite her views, she would accept the outcome of the vote
on the abortion proposal.
Whitmer claimed Dixon can't be trusted.
Dixon and Whitmer accused each other of taking a radical stance on abortion rights.
DETROIT POLICE CRASH
Four people -- including two police officers -- were involved in a crash last night in
Detroit.
The crash happened around 7:30 on the city's east side.
A Detroit Police cruiser crashed into an SUV... with the cruiser then hitting a tree.
The two people inside the SUV were taken to the hospital with injuries. One of the
officers also suffered minor injuries.
An investigation continues this morning.
SOUTH LYON THREAT
South Lyon High School was on lockdown Tuesday, after officials say someone wrote a
threat on a bathroom mirror. Police say the mirror threat in the second floor bathroom
claimed someone was Gonna shoot the school up today. Sheriff's deputies
investigated and found the threat wasn't credible. Earlier this month, South Lyon East
High School went on lockdown for a different threat. A 15-year-old student was
arrested and charged in THAT incident.
PICTURED ROCKS STAIRCASE
A storm last week has caused some damage at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore's
Miners Beach. The National Park Service says the main staircase there has significant
damage. Visitors will have to use the staircases at either end of the beach instead.
They are asking visitors not to climb up and down the bluff because that will cause
more damage and more beach erosion.
GRAND RAPIDS DOG PARK REOPENS
A dog park in Grand Rapids is reopening after expansion and improvements. Hillcrest
Dog Park on Fuller Avenue is reopening with the improvements thanks to a voterapproved parks millage. Improvements included an expanded fenced off-leash area, a
wooded nature path, benches, bike loops and landscaping improvements.
WHITMER-DIXON EVENTS
Fresh off the debate... Whitmer and Dixon are back on the campaign trail today,
making a final push for voters with the election less than two weeks away.
Gretchen Whitmer will be staying in Metro Detroit after last night's debate at Oakland
University... she'll be joined by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Attorney
General Dana Nessel in Canton... kicking off her "Getting Things Done" bus tour at
1:30 this afternoon.
Republican Tudor Dixon is headed to the west side of the state to speak with voters
today. She will be host a rally in Benton Harbor as part of her "Freedom Tour" series.
The event will happen at Secret Garden at the Harbor and start this evening at 6 p.m.
GOV KIDNAP TRIAL
Jury deliberations continue today... in the trial of three jackson County men accused of
plotting to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The prosecution presented a final appeal yesterday before deliberations began.
Joe Morrison, Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar -- former members of the militia group
Wolverine Watchmen -- face a main charge of providing material support for a terrorist
act... including gun drills and ambush training.
The three men are NOT accused of having a direct role in the scheme to kidnap the
governor.
MAN THREATENS FAMILY-CHEBOYGAN COUNTY
In Cheboygan County, authorities say a 48-year-old man is in jail after threatening his
family before he tried to run from officers. Deputies and state troopers responded to a
home in Waverly Township Monday night and were informed Richard Kenroy was
drunk and had a gun. The suspect then got into a vehicle and drove towards law
enforcement at a high rate of speed. Officers were able to stop him and arrest him.
Kenroy faces several federal charges including two counts of assault with intent to do
great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation and carrying a concealed weapon
while under the influence.
CHILD PORN METRO DETROIT
A Metro Detroit man has been convicted of distributing and possessing child
pornography.
U-S Attorney Dawn Ison says 39-year-old Emory Day of Wyandotte sent child
pornography to others and fantasized about the sexual abuse of a child.
The investigation into Day began when a man called 9-1-1 to report that he had
received child pornography over MeetMe.
The FBI and Dearborn Police Department identified Day as the man who sent the
content -- he faces up to 40 years in prison.
SCHOOL BUS HIT-HOUGHTON LAKE
No students were injured when a Houghton Lake school bus was hit by a vehicle
Tuesday morning. The superintendent says all 14 students on board are safe and were
not hurt. The bus was reportedly getting back on the road after dropping off some
students when a pickup clipped the back of the bus. The truck ended up in the ditch
but the bus only has scratches.
COVID-MI
In the past week, there have been more than 12-thousand new cases of the
coronavirus in Michigan. There were also 158 more Covid-19 related deaths.
SAFETY PATROLS IN W MI
A new safety service patrol begins in west Michigan's Kent County next month. This
service will assist motorists and first responders during traffic incidents on freeways.
Whether its a crash, an abandoned vehicle, debris on the roadway, a flat tire, or a
driver in need of fuel, the Safety Service Patrol is on call and ready to help clear the
scene as safely and quickly as possible.
The Safety Service Patrol (also known as the Freeway Courtesy Patrol) has been in
place and successful for MDOTs Metro and University regions.
CYBERSECURITY FORUM
Are you concerned about cyber security with your company? Well, the Small Business
Administration is holding a cybersecurity forum online this afternoon . It's free, but you
have to pre-register at SBA-dot-gov.
THREE MEN FOUND GUILTY
Three men accused of a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have
been found guilty. Joe Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar have been convicted of
of providing "material support" for a terrorist act as members of a paramilitary group,
the Wolverine Watchmen. They held gun drills with a leader of the scheme, Adam Fox.
Fox was disgusted with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 and said he wanted
to kidnap her.
In a separate trial, Fox and three others were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy in
federal court. Two men were acquitted.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady®NSI