WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 10-28-22
Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:52:43 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

JOBLESS RATES
Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates receded in all 17 Michigan labor market areas
between August and September, that according to data released Thursday by the
Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Payroll jobs advanced
largely due to local schools and colleges re-opening for the fall. Michigan's labor
market area unemployment rates ranged from 3.2-to-5.5 percent during last month,
with a median decrease of five-tenths of a percentage point.

PANDEMIC FRAUD CHARGES
A mother and son are among six people indicted on federal charges related to a
COVID pandemic fraud scheme involving more than one million dollars. The U.S.
Attorney in Grand Rapids say Roshell Beaty, her son Christopher Branch and four
others from Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids submitted nearly 100 falsified and
fraudulent claims and certifications for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, in
their own names and with some names who were victims of identity theft. Investigators
say Michigan and four other states paid out more than 760-thousand dollars in
pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. In addition, five suspects are charged
with fraud in connection with loans intended to relieve small businesses of burdens and
costs associated with the pandemic.

CHENEY CAMPAIGNS FOR SLOTKIN
Incumbent Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin picking up support from a Republican.
Representative Liz Cheney, who lost her primary race in Wyoming, is coming to
Michigan next week in support of Slotkin who is seeking re-election and facing State
Senator Tom Barrett in the 7th Congressional District. Slotkin and Cheney are both on
the Armed Services Committee. The two are scheduled to appear in the Lansing-area
next Tuesday.

VOTING TIME OFF
Michiganders don't get ANY time off to vote...but a lot of other U-S states do. Twentynine states -- plus the District of Columbia -- require that employers permit workers the
time off to vote on Election Day. Twenty-two of those states require that the time off is
paid. States without voting leave laws include close watched swing states -- like
Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. According to Bloomberg Law, a federal
proposal to ensure workers have voting leave has stalled in Congress.

UM PLAYER RETWEET
A University of Michigan regent is speaking out - after a Wolverine running back
shared an anti-semitic Kanye West video.
Donovan Edwards retweeted the video - then deleted it - calling it a glitch that he didn't
mean to happen. U of M Regent Jordan Acker -who is Jewish - says that while Kanye's
speech has been painful, he believes Edwards is a good kid who made a mistake. He
spoke with Coach Harbaugh and says he has agreed to bring the team to the
Holocaust Museum after the season is over.

BLOOD PRESSURE
A major drug company is recalling two blood pressure medications over fears they
could cause cancer. Aurobindo Pharma USA is recalling two lots of quinapril and
hydrochlorothiazide. The pills could contain high levels of nitrosamine, which has been
linked to cancer.

NEW TREES
New trees will be planted in several Michigan communities. The Michigan Department
of Natural Resources is teaming up with the DTE Foundation and Re-Leaf Michigan to
plant new trees in 31 Michigan communities. Over $100-THOUSAND dollars in grants
will be used to complete the tree-planting projects. The trees are planted along streets,
parks and public spaces. They will be planted and anchored this fall and during the
spring of 2023.

MICHIGAN TAKE OUT
When it comes to take out - in Michigan - we prefer Chinese. That's according to a new
survey of the 50 states by Wise Voter. Chinese is preferred by most states in the U.S.,
with just over a handful of states choosing pizza. After Chinese, Michigan's top five
includes Italian, followed by Thai, Mexican and Korean food.

SCHURR PRELIM CONTINUES
A preliminary exam continues today for former Grand Rapids Police officer Chris
Schurr, who shot and killed motorist Patrick Lyoya after a struggle last April. Schurr is
charged with second degree murder and a judge will decide if there's enough evidence
for him to stand trial. Several witnesses testified on Thursday including a friend of
Lyoya's who was in the car with him and took video of the shooting which was played in
court. The video shows a struggle and Lyoya grabbing Schurr's taser, before Schurr,
who was on top of Lyoya shot him in the back of the head.

CRUMBLEYS IN COURT-METRO DETROIT
The parents of the Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley will be in court this
morning -- for a hearing to determine if expert witness testimony will be admissible
during trial. Earlier this week -- the judge set the trial date for James and Jennifer
Crumbley for January 2023. They each face FOUR COUNTS of involuntary
manslaughter .. accused of gross negligence in allowing their son access to the
handgun that investigators say he used in the shootings.
On Monday -- Ethan Crumbley pled guilty to FIRST DEGREE murder and terrorism
charges. He told the court that he gave his father money to buy him a gun .. and that
the weapon was NOT locked up.

COUPLE KILLED IN BATTLE CREEK CRASH INTO A HOUSE
Two people have been killed when their car crashed into a home in Battle Creek and
they were both ejected from the vehicle. Police say 72-year-old Willie Stokes and 67-
year-old Barbara Weaver were killed. Police believe speed was a factor and say
neither of the victims were wearing seat belts. There was minor damage to the home,
but no one in the house was injured.

ARTPRIZE CHANGING HANDS-GRAND RAPIDS
The operation of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids is changing hands. The independent
organization that ran ArtPrize for the past several years is dissolving and handing over
the reins to the city of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, and Kendall
College of Art and Design.
Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss says Every destination community has a
destination event that captures the spirit and aspirations of that community. She says
for them, ArtPrize has been a manifestation of the independent creative spirit that
defines Grand Rapids, and has captured the imagination of people from around the
world.

POWERBALL
Lottery players have a chance to win the SECOND highest Powerball jackpot EVER
this weekend. The grand prize has grown to 800-MILLION dollars -- with a cash option
of over 383-MILLION dollars. There have been 36 drawings in a row with no grand
prize winner. The biggest Powerball jackpot in history was over 1 point 5 BILLION
dollars in 2016...and three winning tickets shared the prize.

MONROE TRAIN-PEDESTRIAN CRASH
Monroe Police are investigating an accident involving a train and a pedestrian. A few
railroad crossings are expected to be closed for a few more hours.

MICHIGAN RIOTERS
Two more Michigan residents are being charged for their alleged involvement in the
January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors have charged two St. Clair
County residents -- identified as 67-year-old Deborah Kuecken of Ira Township, and 71-
year-old Gary Smith of Casco Township -- with four separate misdemeanor charges --
including, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and knowingly
remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
Both appeared Thursday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, and are being ordered to
appear in Washington, D.C., where the criminal cases were filed.

I-696 CLOSURE
If you'll be driving in Metro Detroit this weekend, heads up. the I-696 rebuilding project
continues this weekend. Westbound I-696 will close TODAY at 8 p.m. from Telegraph
to I-275 as work continues on widening the shoulders and re-paving the road. It will be
closed throughout the weekend and reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday.

WOMAN BOUND OVER FOR MURDER
In Petoskey, an Emmet County woman who shot and killed her live-in boyfriend in an
alleged act of self-defense has been bound over for trial. 48-year-old Heather Mogg
was arrested in August for the shooting of 50-year-old Jonathan Tippett. She is
charged with second degree homocide, possessing a firearm and possessing a firearm
under the influence of alcohol. Mogg told deputies she had acted in self defense after
a physical altercation between the two.

GRAND RAPIDS EMBEZZLEMENT
A former Grand Rapids city employee has pleaded guilty to two counts of
embezzlement. 35-year-old Lenee Brooks had been accused of embezzling tens of
thousands of dollars as someone who oversaw the public auction of impounded
vehicles. She faces up to 15 years in prison.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY CRASH
Two drivers were taken to the hospital in Petoskey after a Thursday morning crash in
Inverness Township. Deputies say a 17-year-old girl from Cheboygan failed to stop at
an intersextion and hit a vehicle driven by a 26-year-old Cheboygan woman. Both
vehicles went off the road and overturned. Both were said to suffer only minor injuries.

HIGH SPEED INTERNET
The U.S.D.A. has announced more than 59 million dollars to help bring high-speed
internet access to rural Michigan communities. The projects include the Baraga
Telephone Company in Houghton County, Michigan Central Broadband in Crawford,
Kalkaska, Otsego and Presque Isle Counties and Upper Peninsula Telephone
Company in Dickinson, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee and Ontonagon
Counties.

DRUG TAKE BACK
Check your medicine cabinet for expired medications. The Drug Enforcement
Administration is hosting its 23rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on
Saturday from 10 to 2. Many police agencies throughout Michigan are taking part in
the event. Go to DEAtakeback-dot-com to find a collection site near you.