Thursday News Summary 12-01-22Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:18:18 EST
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
MSU TRUSTEE RESIGNS
A Republican member of Michigan State University's governing board has resigned
with years left in his term.
Pat O'Keefe notified the governor's office and other trustees today. He cited
displeasure over the ouster of a business school dean and the process of selecting an
interim president following the resignation of Samuel Stanley Jr. O'Keefe says the
Board of Trustees is struggling to be transparent to the public. He was elected to an
eight-year term in 2020.
O'Keefe's departure means Governor Whitmer will pick a successor.
CHATFIELD DOCUMENTS BLOCKED
An Ingham County Judge has stopped the release of multiple documents surrounding
the Attorney General's investigation into Former House Speaker, Lee Chatfield.
Chatfield is under investigation over allegations of sexual abuse, drug use and financial
improprieties from his time in office.
Dana Nessel has urged the court to keep any information surrounding the investigation
suppressed.
ASCENSION BORGESS NURSES COULD STRIKE-KALAMAZOO
Nurses at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo say they could go on strike if they
don't reach a deal with the hospital system. The president of the local chapter of the
Michigan Nurses Association, Lori Batzloff, says they're hopeful that they'll be able to
make some progress at the table. But, she says if Ascension continues to demand
takeaways from the nurses, the nurses need to be prepared to take action.
GRAND RAPIDS VIOLENCE MEETING
In Grand Rapids, several nonprofit groups and others offered ideas on how to cut
violence in the city. WOOD TV reports the SAFE Task Force awarded five groups 10-
thousand dollars to put crime reduction efforts into place next Spring and Summer.
This comes after Grand Rapids had a higher amount of gun violence over the summer.
EMU ROUNDUP-KALAMAZOO AREA
It was a wild morning near Kalamazoo on Wednesday as six emus....the tall bird
resembling an ostrich....had escaped from a farm in Oshtemo Township. Emus are an
average five feet 7. The sheriff's department said in a Facebook post....quote-"Never
a dull day." The emus were all rounded up within a couple of hours. Sheriff Richard
Fuller blamed the emus' escape on the weather....saying they were most likely spooked
by high winds and falling tree limbs.
GEN CO CHARGES
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announcing the arrest of a 38-year old man
from the Flint area for sexually assaulting and trafficking multiple children. Swanson
says the G.H.O.S.T team, along with Burton police and the Michigan State Police were
notified of a young victim in a hospital that lead them to the suspect. Joseph Mitchell of
Burton is currently being held at the Genesee County Jail on a 110-thousand dollar
cash bond. Sheriff Swanson says he believes there are more victims.
OAKLAND CO POLIO
Oakland County is joining the small list of communities across the country that are
looking for signs of polio infections in sewage. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention announced the expansion. The county will collect and test local sewage for
polio for at least four months. Some places in New York state began testing earlier this
year after a man was diagnosed with paralytic polio outside New York City. CDC
officials say they have been talking with other communities about also starting polio
wastewater testing.
CHRISTMAS TREE MONTH
It is now Christmas Tree Month in Michigan as declared by Governor Gretchen
Whitmer. Michigan is third in the U.S. for Christmas tree production, according to the
executive director of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association, Amy Start. She says
the state produces about two million trees a year, that are shipped all over the country.
Last weekend and this weekend are the busiest for Christmas tree farms. Like
everything, Start says prices are a little higher for Christmas trees, but she says you
can save by going with a little smaller tree or a different variety.
RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN
A boost for the Salvation Army's red kettle campaign. Someone dropped a rare, gold
coin into a red kettle at the Kroger store on Nine Mile in Macomb County -- in
Southeast Michigan -- on Tuesday night. It's the tenth straight year the mysterious
donor has put the Kruggerand into a kettle. The coin is worth about 17-hundred dollars.
MCDONALDS FOR LIFE
How about a free happy meal-- for the rest of your life? McDonald's is giving a chance
for THREE people to get free McDonald's meals for life. Every order completed in the
McDonald's app worth more than a dollar will enter customers into a contest to win a
McGold card. THREE of those people will be randomly selected to get a special card
that will grant them free McDonald's for life. Those three people will also get three
cards to give away to friends... so they can enjoy a lifetime of free Happy Meals too.
The promotion starts on December 5.
KWAME KILPATRICK OWES TAXES
The IRS is hitting former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick with a bill for THOUSANDS of
dollars in unpaid income taxes.
According to records obtained by The Detroit News, Kilpatrick owes the IRS 634
THOUSAND dollars from 2003 to 2008 -- a timespan that covers nearly his entire
tenure as mayor.
The federal government now has a right to Kilpatrick's property -- everything from real
estate to personal property.
Nearly two years ago, former President Donald Trump commuted Kilpatrick's 28-year
prison sentence.
GRAND BLANC MAN THREAT
A Flint area man will appear in court today... facing charges after making threats
against a California congressman and the head of the FBI.
32-year-old Neil Walter of Grand Blanc is accused of leaving a phone message for
Representative John Garamendi, saying he was going to die. Walter also posted
comments on Facebook next to a video of FBI Director Christopher Wray, threatening
to kill him.
Walter allegedly made the threats in November. His parents say their son has a history
of mental illness.
GOP CHAIR RACE
The race to become the leader of the Michigan Republican Party continues to get more
crowded.
Kristina Karamo -- the former GOP secretary of state candidate -- has announced her
bid to become party chair. Karamo joins former GOP attorney general candidate Matt
DePerno... who's also running to be the state's top Republican.
Karamo lost to incumbent secretary of state Jocelyn Benson during the November
election.
Pete Hoekstra -- a former west Michigan Republican congressman and ambassador to
the Netherlands under former President Donald Trump -- is also considering a run.
Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon also says she's considering a run at
party chair.
TRAVERSE CITY COMMISSIONER
In Traverse City, 11 candidates are in the running to become the next city
commissioner, and fill a vacancy created on the board when Commissioner Ashlea
Walter resigns at the end of the year to serve her elected term on the Grand Traverse
County Commission. All eligible candidates will be interviewed December 14th. The
person selected will serve from January to Mid-November next year.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
It's the first day of December and the busy holiday season is here. Tonight is Hospitality
Night in downtown Cheboygan. The annual Christmas Bazaar returns this weekend on
Mackinac Island. It begins Friday night with the arrival of Santa and the tree lighting.
Petoskey's downtown holiday open house is Friday night. Hometown Holiday Parade
and tree lighting is set for Friday evening at the St. Ignace Marina. Downtown
Cheboygan's Parade of Lights is Saturday night.
DOROTHY ZEHNDER 101
One of the most influential people in Frankenmuth turns 101 today.
Happy Birthday to Dorothy Zehnder -- beloved co-founder of the Bavarian Inn
Restaurant and Lodge.
Even at 101, Zehnder's family says she can still be found in the kitchen at the
restaurant.
Zehnder -- a member of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame -- also owns the River
Place and Covered Bridge shops in Frankenmuth.
Zehnder's family says she still loves a good party. Today they will gather to celebrate
her milestone birthday with a 101 Dalmatians themed party.
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