Wednesday News Summary 12-07-22Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:11:49 EST
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
ELECTION INVESTIGATION
Special Counsel Jack Smith -- appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to
oversee multiple ongoing investigations into former President Donald Trump -- has
reached out to officials in Michigan, in addition to two other states. A spokesperson for
Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett has confirmed receipt of the subpoena sent by
Smith, who has also reached out to elections officials in Wisconsin and Arizona. All are
required to furnish records of any and all documents and communications involving
former President Donald Trump, his campaign and a series of aides and allies who
assisted in his alleged efforts to overturn the 20-20 election. Special Council Smith is
overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into the presence of classified
documents at Trump's Florida estate -- Mar-a-Lago -- as well as key aspects of a
separate probe involving the Capitol incident on Jan. 6, 2021.
NOT WORKING PAY
A report says the state is spending more than five million dollars to pay workers who
aren't working. The Michigan Corrections Department, State Police and Health
Department are paying more than one million dollars for workers who are on paid
administrative leave. The Free Press says many times the workers put on leave are not
given a specific reason. Some employment experts say its a way for the state to try to
force long-time workers to quit. In one case, a worker in the Department of
Environmental Quality was on paid leave for more than five years before coming back
to work last year.
GREEKTOWN ELEVATOR SHOOTING
Police say a man wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in Greektown has been
arrested in Ohio. They say the man shot and killed someone after they failed to hold
the elevator door for him. It happened in the early hours of November 27th near the
Fishbones restaurant. Detroit Police Chief James White said the shooting happened on
the eighth floor of the building after an argument. Police have not released the man's
identity, but say he will be extradited to Michigan for formal charges.
BLACK FRIDAY REPORT
Michigan's small business owners started off strong on Black Friday.. with credit card
sales up four percent for the weekend OVER the same time period last year. That's
according to the Michigan Retailers Association. Spokesperson Andrea Bitely said
small businesses rely on strong holiday sales for survival during the winter months.
Bitely says the current retail environment for small businesses is *OKAY* but we can
boost it by focusing on shopping local this holiday season.
TRAVEL MICHIGAN
Having a hard time coming up with gift ideas for some people on your list? Travel
Michigan vice president Dave Lorenz suggests the gift of travel. Lorenz says a lot of
people also like popular events like "Van Gogh in America" at the D-I-A and concerts.
He says travel in the state pumped 28 Billion into the state economy before the
pandemic, and he says things are coming back. He says not enough people are going
back to work though.
LYOYA FAMILY LAWSUIT
As former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr will go on trial in the shooting
death of Patrick Lyoya (Lee-oy-uh) , attorneys for Lyoya's family are expected to file a
lawsuit . Attorneys Benjamin Crump and Ven Johnson are expected to announce a
civil lawsuit against Schurr and the city of Grand Rapids in the shooting that occurred
after a traffic stop last April.
Johnson's office has said it would share evidence that it claims will show "racial
profiling". Shurr is White and Lyoya was black.
COVID MI
Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across Michigan.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the state saw
just under 12 THOUSAND new cases over the past week. That's an increase from the
previous week, when there was just under 9 THOUSAND new cases.
242 people died in the last week due to the virus. The virus has been detected in all of
the states 83 counties... but the community risk level for Michigan remains low.
GOV TRIBAL MEETING
Governor Gretchen Whitmer attended the Tribal Summit in Sault Ste. Marie. She met
with Tribal leaders to address?shared priorities . She also announced her appointment
of Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Judge
Maldonado will be the first Tribal citizen ever appointed to the Michigan Court of
Appeals.
MANUFACTURING GRANTS
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation says 24 small manufacturers
around the state have been awarded a total of 559-thousand dollars to help them adopt
Industry 4-point-0 technologies. MEDC CEO Quentin Messer says as Michigan
continues to lead the world in advanced manufacturing, these Industry 4.0 grants will
help Michigan manufacturers of all sizes adopt new and innovative technologies that
will enable them to remain competitive well into the future.
Among those receiving grants: Calumet Electronics Corp in Houghton, Progressive
Dynamics, Inc in Calhoun, Die-Matic Tool & Die, Inc in Kent , and Link Industries in
Cheboygan.
E LANSING DEER
The city of East Lansing will take comments tonight about its deer management
program with an open house at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University will be at the
open house for one-on-one conversations with community members about the deer cull
as 79 deer were removed from city parks.
East Lansing officials have been working on deer management in and around
residential areas since 2011.
BORGESS NURSES-KALAMAZOO
Ascension Borgess Hospital nurses in Kalamazoo have voted to give their bargaining
team the ability to call for a strike. 86-percent voted in favor of the move as the nurses
union is working on a contract deal with the hospital. Negotiations are next set for
Thursday.
HOMELESSNESS ORDINANCES-GRAND RAPIDS
Grand Rapids city commissioners will consider two ordinances to limit the homeless
begging and loitering downtown. The proposed measures ban sitting down in specific
public spaces and regulate when someone can ask for money. Community leaders
who proposed the ordinances asked city leaders to consider them to promote the
safety , health and well being of the homeless, residents and others working or visiting
the city. In a letter to city officials, they say there are concerns about harassment,
assault, trespassing and other disturbing behaviour that needs to be addressed with a
focus on improving outcomes for the homeless or struggling with mental health.
The president of Mel Trotter Ministries called for common sense steps.
RECESSION
We may be headed for a mild recession. That's according to the director of supply
chain management research at the Grand Valley Seidman College of Business....Brian
Long. He says the auto industry may not be hard hit, but office furniture and area
aerospace contractors will feel it. Long says the Federal Reserve must control inflation
in order to avoid a recession.
EASTPOINTE PROPOSAL
The Eastpointe City Council is deadlocked on a proposal that would punish those who
call in false threats to police.
The ordinance would give residents an invoice for calling certain emergency services
when they're not needed.
The incidents include setting a false alarm, bomb threats, social media threats,
improper use of fireworks, reckless driving resulting in damage and "tampering" with
fire hydrants.
The four council members at last night's meeting were split on the proposal. Mayor
Monique Owens was not at the meeting to cast the fifth vote. During the first reading of
the proposal, the council approved it 3 to 2.
KALKASKA COUNTY FATAL CRASH
The Kalkaska County Sheriff's Department says slushy roads and faulty equipment
were factors in a two car crash in Excelsior Township Tuesday morning. It happened
on County Road 612 . 38-year-old William Lanning's car crossed the center line and
was hit by a van. Lanning was killed and the driver of the van was treated and
released from the hospital.
PETOSKEY CHIEF
In Emmet County, another community will be looking for a new police chief. Petoskey
Public Safety director Matt Breed has announced he's retiring in February. He has
been in that role since 2016. Other communities looking for a new police chief
include :Charlevoix, Cheboygan and St. Ignace.
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