Thursday News Summary 12-08-22
Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:57:52 EST


(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)


TRIAL ORDERED FOR 5 MEN ACCUSED IN GOV KIDNAP PLOT
A northern Michigan judge has ordered four Michigan men to stand trial on terrorism
charges connected to a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Brothers Michael
and William Null along with Shawn Fix, and Eric Molitor and Brian Higgins, who is from
Wisconsin, will stand trial in Antrim County. All five face up to 20 years in prison if
convicted of providing material support for terrorist acts. The Null brothers, Fix and
Molitor are also facing weapons charges. The plot was busted two years ago.
Investigators say the suspects were upset with the Governor's handling of the COVID
pandemic.

SENATE LEADER FINAL FAREWELL
It's a tradition as the state legislature wraps up another session. Outgoing lawmakers
making final speeches. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey told
colleagues yesterday that no one has ever dealt with what they dealt with, and that was
COVID. Shirkey said the state is still dealing with the "surprise foreign attack" of an
insidious virus and would be negligent if they ignore the lessons learned. Shirkey said
COVID is just the beginning of forces that will test the very fabric of freedoms and
independence. He says we are in a spiritual battle. Shirkey also said Central Bank
digital currency and uncontrolled application of artificial intelligence are two of most
immediate and dangerous threats. But he says the dangers of the threats may result
in the diminishing of political differences.

POLICE SHOOTING LAWSUIT
A civil lawsuit filed against the Grand Rapids Police Department on behalf of the family
of Patrick Lyoya alleges a violation of civil rights along with excessive force and willful
misconduct. Lyoya was shot and killed during a struggle with officer Christopher
Schurr in April. The 12-page civil lawsuit accuses Schurr of violating of Lyoyas Fourth
Amendment rights. Attorneys Ven Johnson and Ben Crump are seeking unspecified
damages. They say the shooting was part of a bigger problem of officers pulling over
Black drivers. Schurr was fired shortly after the shooting. He will stand trial for second
degree murder. A spokesperson for the city of Grand Rapids says they will review the
lawsuit and respond appropriately in court.

MONEY FOR PARK UPGRADES
Parks improvements will move forward in several communities thanks to state grants
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The state Department of Natural Resources and Governor announced 13 projects will
receive 7.4 million dollars to improve facilities. The projects recommended for funding
are in Alpena, Bay, Cass, Cheboygan, Ionia, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Macomb, Marquette,
Montcalm and Ottawa counties. The largest grant of three million dollars will go to
renovate the Cheyboygan Lock and Dam Public Water Access Site.

AMAZON DRIVER BONUSES
Amazon is planning to thank its delivery drivers with $5 million dollars in holiday
bonuses this year. But they are relying on customers to help make it happen. Those
who wish to spread some gratitude can tell their Alexa device... "Alexa.. thank my
driver.." And a thank you will be sent to the driver who delivered your last package.
The drivers who receive the first million thank you's will get five-dollars each. There is
no cost to the customer. The gesture is in response to the company recently hitting a
milestone of 15 billion packages delivered in the US.

METRO DETROIT MAN RELEASED
A Metro Detroit man on a religious pilgrimage has been released from a Saudi Arabia
prison after spending more than a month behind bars.
63-year-old Mohamad Salem was arrested in November after an argument with
undercover police who separated him from his sons.
He was taken to jail and then sent to a maximum-security prison. Salem is back in the
U-S and is expected back in Michigan today.
Detroit congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Michigan senator Gary Peters joined
members of the state department to fight for Salem's release.

CAR INTO GUN SHOP-DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Police are on the scene of an attempted smash and grab robbery at a gun shop in
Dearborn Heights.
The incident happened around 3:30 this morning at Esko Guns on Telegraph Road.
Two suspects are on the loose and the shop faces thousands of dollars in damage.

AAA DRIVING BEHAVIOR
A new report shows that unsafe driving behaviors are on the rise after years of steady
improvements nationwide.
According to a report from the Triple A Foundation for Traffic Safety -- the rise in risky
behaviors includes speeding, red-light running, drowsy driving, and drunk or drugged
driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says over 42 THOUSAND people
died in crashes last year... an increase of over 10 percent from 2020.

CAMP GRAYLING EXPANSION
A battle continues in Northern Michigan over the future of the nation's largest National
Guard base.
The National Guard says it wants to double the size of Camp Grayling in order to train
for the future of warfare... but some residents are concerned about what an expansion
would do to the environment.
Opposition to the expansion is being led by people who live near the base, 14
townships, and numerous conservation groups.
The DNR is accepting public comments on the proposal until next Wednesday.

ATTORNEY PHYSICAL ABUSE-MUSKEGON COUNTY
A former judicial candidate in Muskegon County, charged with beating his girlfriend,
Jason Kolkema, says he did not intend to hit her ...only to scare her when he swung a
belt. Kolkema pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in a plea
agreement. His girlfriend said he was hitting the chair she was sitting on , not her.
The judge says his plea agreement will be taken under advisement and that there
would be no conviction on his record.

COACH DEATH
Students and staff at City High Middle School in Grand Rapids are in mourning since a
coach died on Wednesday. Bathian Mason died unexpectedly. Middle School athletics
coordinator Brodie Larson says in a release that the kids loved him. Mason was a
coach of volleyball, basketball , and track.

PICTURED ROCKS FEES
Entrance fees to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are going up in January. The hike
in fees is Phase 2 of a three year fee increase. A seven day vehicle pass will go up to
$20-dollars and a seven day motorcycle pass will be $15-dollars.

THIRD GRADE READING
The number of Michigan third graders held back over reading proficiency nearly
doubled last year.
According to a new study from Michigan State University, the number of third graders
who missed state reading standards increased from 4.8 percent in 2020-2021... to 5.8
percent last year.
The state's Read by Grade Three Law requires public school districts to hold back any
students who don't meet the state's reading standards by the end of third grade.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN COURT
Two college football players -- one from Michigan and one from Michigan State -- will
appear in court today for probable cause hearings.
The Wolverines' Mazi (Mah-zee) Smith is charged with carrying a concealed weapon --
a felony offense -- after a traffic stop in October.
Michigan State's Khary Crump faces a charge of felony assault with a dangerous
weapon... after swinging his helmet during a fight in the tunnel following the MichiganMichigan State game.
The bond for each player was set at five THOUSAND dollars.

STOLEN VEHICLE RING
An estimated $300,000 in stolen vehicles have been recovered by the Michigan State
Police, following an investigation spanning several months.
On Tuesday, the MSP, aided by other law enforcement, searched a home in Cass
County's Newburg Township and two properties in Saint Joseph County's Park
Township, where they recovered several altered trailers, five stolen trucks, and three
stolen ATVs.
No arrests were made on the scene, but authorities say charges will be sought against
multiple suspects.
The Michigan State Police asking anyone who knows something about the stolen
vehicle ring to share that information with police.

CHECK THEFT
Two more people have been arrested in connection with checks being stolen from
mailboxes in Ottawa County. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says it received a
report of a suspicious vehicle at a Jenison business a few days ago. The car was gone
when deputies arrived, but they did find a large quantity of opened mail that was left
behind. Deputies saw the suspect vehicle and found two suspects with several
business checks totaling more than 50-thousand dollars. The two men from Indiana
face charges.
The sheriff's office has investigated about 100 mail thefts in the past few months.

LIVONIA LGBTQ PROTECTIONS
The Livonia City Council has rejected a proposal to extend protections for its LGBTQ+
members.
The ordinance would go beyond state and federal protections already in place for the
LGBTQ community... specifically outlining the process for dealing with discrimination
issues at the city level.
The protections would cover real estate transactions, housing, employment, and public
accommodations citywide.
Council members voted the measure down 5 to 2.


   

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