WATZ Today's Country

Monday News Summary 12-12-22
Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:15:53 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

FLU CASES ON THE RISE
As the holidays near, the state is starting to see more cases of the flu. Michigan's Chief
Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian says while flu is on the rise, cases of the
RSV surged earlier than normal and are easing now.
She says the surges are earlier than normal, as both influenza and RSV usuallly start
surging in January and February. Bagdasarian says the best way to prevent the
spread of the flu and RSV include washing your hands well, not going to school or work
when you're sick and masking up if you have symptoms.

KIDNAP PLOT CONVICTION AND SENTENCE
The Attorney for the leader in the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer says his
client should not be sentenced to life in prison. This is because prosecutors allegedly
overstated his role in the plot and have created a "false narrative of a terrifying paramilitary leader." Attorney Christopher Gibbons said in Adam Fox's sentencing
memorandum filed Friday that the government had employed "histrionic descriptions"
of Fox to overstate "his actual intentions or his actual capabilities." The filing came
after prosecutors told the court Monday that a life prison sentence would be justified for
Fox, who was convicted in August along with co-defendant Barry Croft Jr. of conspiring
to kidnap Whitmer.

RESTAURANT GRANT FUND APPLICATIONS
Michigan restaurant and hotel owners have until the end of the day today to apply for
funding to help with job training. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association is
encouraging Michigan restaurant and hotel operators to apply for the GoingPRO Talent
Fund, which awards grants to help business owners invest in their workforce by
providing employees with training to sharpen their industry skills and develop as
leaders. The program is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic
Opportunity.

NORTHWOOD ESPORTS TEAM
A group of students from Northwood University in Midland is in Brazil this week to
compete for the Esports world championship. The five players are representing Team
USA. Their coach says the team defeated 499 collegiate esports teams during the
national qualifying tournament last month in Dallas. The world tournament starts
Tuesday. If the team wins, it will be Northwood Esports second world championship.

MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT OVER 400 MILLION
It's not historic, but the Mega Millions jackpot is still growing. Tuesday's jackpot will be
worth 400-million dollars -- with a cash option of over 216-million. The Michigan Lottery
warns the public of prize scams popping up around the holidays. Officials ask players
to be cautious and vigilant when giving away personal information and remind the
public that claiming winnings is completely free.

GAS PRICES
Gas prices across Michigan continue to drop as the holidays near.
According to Triple A, the average price for a gallon of regular gas across the state is
3.24 -- down 20 cents from a week ago and 85 cents from this time last month.
The most expensive places to buy gas in the state are Traverse City, Jackson, and
Grand Rapids. The cheapest are Lansing, Flint... and Metro Detroit.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL
With just two weeks to go until Christmas, Triple-A is expecting this year to be the third
busiest for year-end travel in Michigan. The auto club is forecasting over 3.5 million
Michiganders will journey 50 miles or more away from home between December 23rd
and January 2nd. Thats an increase of over 110,000 people from last year.
The majority of those traveling are expected to drive, with more than 3.2 million
expected to take to the roads. About 199-thousand are projected to fly to their
destinations.
Nationwide, an estimated 112.7 million Americans are forecast to travel during the yearend holidays. Thats an increase of 3.6 million people compared to last year and the
third busiest since AAA began tracking in 2000.

CRUMBLEYS
It's a major development in the criminal case against the parents of Oxford High School
shooter Ethan Crumbley.
The Oakland County Prosecutor says while in the back of a police car, Jennifer
Crumbley allegedly referenced her and her husband James buying the gun used in the
shooting.
Addressing her sons mental state -- Jennifer allegedly told officers she was worried that
Ethan could turn the gun on himself.
The new evidence was brought to light in response to a 6th attempt by defense
attorneys to have the Crumbley's bond reduced.
Jennifer and James remain in jail -- behind bars on a 500 THOUSAND dollar bond after
being charged with involuntary manslaughter.

WINFIELD TWP STABBINGS
Three people were injured after being stabbed Saturday night in Winfield Township,
north of Grand Rapids. State Police say it began after a 28-year-old man was in a
verbal argument at the Amble bar. The suspect later went to the victim's home and
three men were injured, two stabbed. They were taken to the hospital, while a third
man was treated at the scene. The suspect reportedly fled the home in a green Jeep
Commander.

OXFORD SINGER-LIONS GA ME
The Detroit Lions honored Oxford High School on sunday --
Before the Lions played Minnesota the announcer remembered the four high school
students killed last year -- Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Hana St.
Juliana. Ava Swiss -- an Oxford High School graduate AND former Americas Got
Talent contestant -- was welcomed to Ford Field to sing the national anthem. Members
from the mentor program "42 Strong" also attended the game.. as special guests.

DTE HEARING
DTE Energy customers are set to weigh in today... during a public hearing on the
company's 15-year energy plan.
This will be the first hearing to discuss the plan -- which aims to expand energy
efficiency, add more renewable energy sources, and cut down on emissions.
But members of DTE Can Do Better -- a coalition of community groups and
environmental advocates -- say the company needs to do more to help avert the
climate crisis. They will be in attendance at the hearing today.
The coalition says DTE ranks 6th on the Toxic 100 Water Polluters Index and 7th when
it comes to toxic air pollution.

RESTAURANT OWNERS
Area restaurant owners are anxious for a Michigan Court of Appeals hearing on
Tuesday that could determine if a planned minimum wage hike and elmination of the
state's tip credit in February will proceed, a move that many say will make restaurants
unsustainable. Michigan's minimum wage is set to jump from $9-87 to over 13 dollars
in February. The minimum wage for tipped employees would increase from $3-75 to
11-75 effectively eliminating the tip credit in Michigan, making it just one of a handful of
states in the country without one.

DSO RACIAL SLUR
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is working to identify an audience member who
shouted a racial slur during a concert Friday. And when the person is found... officials
say they will be permanently banned from Orchestra Hall.
The orchestra says its deeply disappointed following the incident... adding that racism
and bigotry have no place in the venue.
The incident happened at a performance of "A Charlie Brown Christmas: Cyrus
Chestnut and Friends."

WOMAN KILLED WALKING DOG
A Leelanau County woman has been charged with operating while intoxicated causing
death at the Leland community mourns the death of a woman walking her dog. 43-
year-old Evenly Kellog, of Lake Leelanau, was killed , along with her dog Thursday
evening while walking her dog on South Lake Shore Drive. She worked at Leland
Public Schools. 52-year-old Christen Landry , of Lake Leelanau is now facing a felony
charge in her death.

ELECTION SUIT
The Michigan Supreme Court rejected a last ditch effort to revive the Antrim County
election lawsuit, a case that drew the attention of former President Donald Trump and
many of his supporters for its unfounded allegations of fraud and misconduct. The
order issued Friday upholds decision from the state court of appeals and a lower court
dismissing the lawsuit brought in the days after the 2020 election by lawyer Mathew
Deperno, who recently ran for state attorney general.