Wednesday News Summary 12-21-22Wed, 21 Dec 2022 12:07:32 EST
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
SNOW AND SHOPPING
Just in time for holiday travel and shopping , we're expecting a winter storm in Michigan
beginning Thursday night. Forecasters are calling for blizzard like conditions with
winds of 50 miles per hour and several inches of snow. It'll put a damper on holiday
deliveries, according to the Michigan Retailers' Association's Andrea Bitely. She
recommends doing that last minute shopping today and tomorrow before the storm.
EV TAX CREDIT
Good news for people who want to buy an electric vehicle. They could get a biggerthan-expected tax credit at the start of the year because of a delay by the Treasury
Department in drawing up rules for the tax breaks. The department says it won't finish
the rules that govern where battery minerals and parts have to be sourced until
sometime in March. As a result, it appears that buyers of EVs assembled in North
America with batteries made in the U.S., Canada or Mexico will be eligible for a full
$7,500 tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.
CELLMATE MURDER
A prisoner, who was convicted on attempted murder charges, now faces murder
charges after allegedly stabbing a cellmate to death at the Macomb Correctional
Facility. The Prosecutor's office says Michael Ketchum was arraigned Monday on
murder, attempted murder and prisoner in possession of a weapon charges.
Investigators say Ketchum allegedly tied up, strangled and stabbed his cellmate to
death in October. He is also accused of attacking another inmate and stabbing him
eight times in the head and neck. That inmate is recovering. Ketchum has been moved
to another prison.
CANCER SURVEY
A new survey shows the vast majority of adults are unaware of the signs or symptoms
of pancreatic cancer... one of the deadliest diseases with no standard early detection
test and limited treatment options. 83 percent of adults aren't aware of the signs or
symptoms... with the survey also finding that older adults are the LEAST likely to
identify pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network says that's troubling
because 90 percent of patients diagnosed with the disease are 55 or older. The most
common signs of pancreatic cancer are abdominal or back pain, weight loss, loss of
appetite, and digestive problems.
PHOENIX SUNS
One of Metro Detroit's wealthiest businessmen has finally landed a sports team. ESPN
is reporting that United Wholesale Mortgage CEO and former Michigan State
Basketball walk-on Mat Ishbia is close to buying the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's
Phoenix Mercury for a deal in the neighborhood of 4 BILLION dollars. Earlier this year,
Ishbia reportedly made a bid to buy the NFL's Denver Broncos. He was also rumored to
have interest in buying the Washington Commanders. Current Suns and Mercury
owner Robert Sarver is being forced to sell the organizations... after a series of reports
detailing the toxic workplace culture he's fostered for years... including racist and sexist
actions.
WINTER STORM
Many airlines are starting to issue travel waivers ahead of the winter storm...which is
expected to hit Michigan Thursday night into Saturday. Many airlines are allowing
limited, NO CHARGE itinerary changes.
United Airlines is offering FOUR separate winter weather waivers: One in the Midwest,
one for Texas, one for the East Coast and another for the Central and Northwest
United States. Delta has THREE travel advisories .. for the Midwest and Central
Plains, Atlantic and Northeast region and Northwest Mountain region. American
Airlines, Southwest and Spirit .. are also giving travelers the option of changing their
flights.
BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS
The Board of State Canvassers is set validate the election results of the two proposals
today.
The Board allowed for a recount of Proposal 2 and 3 votes in early December.. but the
unofficial recount was allegedly not significant enough to stop the proposal adoption.
The partial recount will be considered by the Board. There were 116 additional yes
votes on Proposal 3.. and seven extra no votes. Proposal 2 received an additional 14
yes votes and 20 no votes. Proposal two allows for nine days of early voting and
proposal three will enshrine abortion rights in Michigan's constitution.
COVID MI
The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up in the past week in Michigan by nearly
ten percent. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there were
more than 14-thousand,300 cases over the past week with 149 deaths. The state has
reported more than two thousand cases a day for the past week.
INVESTMENT FUND
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced that a
Michigan Department of Treasury program for small emerging investment fund
managers has reached its halfway point. To date, the Michigan Small Emerging
Manager Program has made 36 investments totaling more than $139 million.
Whitmer says the fund ensures that small private-market investment managers in our
state have the support they need to grow their businesses and make profitable returns
to reinvest in our communities.
U-M STUDY ON VILLAINS
In movies and tv-we actually love a good villain. A new University of Michigan study
shows that no matter how egotistical, power hungry or greedy the person is, many of us
are still attracted to their dark sidein part because we suspect some may have a
redeeming quality. Both adults and children more often reported that villains were
inwardly good and that heroes were inwardly bad.
TEACHER SEX CRIMES-PORT HURON
A Marysville man is in custody following an incident Monday at Port Huron High School.
The Marysville Police Department is announcing that 27 year old Carrick Brennan was
arrested on felony charges for attempted criminal sexual conduct. It is alleged that
Brennan, a teacher at Port Huron High School, approached a 16 year old female
student who then reported the incident to the school resource officer. The Port Huron
Police Department's multi-jurisdictional major crimes unit took over the investigation
and arrested him.
CALVIN STUDENTS STUCK IN PERU
Students from a west Michigan university are reportedly stuck abroad before the
holiday. Twelve students and one faculty member from Calvin University in Grand
Rapids are stranded in Peru because of civil unrest. The group was part of a study
abroad program --they were supposed to head home yesterday. But their return was
delayed because of flight cancellations and damage at the main airport. The university
says it IS in communication with families.. plus the U-S embassy and Peruvian
government. The group is NOW scheduled to leave Thursday.. but the incoming snow
storm could also cause some issues.
ST. IGNACE CITY MANAGER
St. Ignace is looking for a new city manager...Darcy Long resigned at the end of
Monday night's meeting. His last day will be this Friday. Long had been St. Ignace
manager for a little under two and a half years. He was previously let go in Gladstone
before he took the job in St. Ignace. An interim city manager will be appointed.
MI RETAILERS -NOVEMBER RETAIL INDEX SURVEY
With 50 the breaking point of positive and negative sales, 52 percent of retailers report
a positive November. The Michigan Retailers Association reports that November sales
remained relatively flat when compared to October of this year. The November Retail
Index Survey came in at 52-point-six a slight increase over October's 48-point-nine.
Forty-two percent (42%) of Michigan retailers reported a sales increase over October.
Forty-one percent (41%) noted a decrease, and 17% reported no change.
GRAND TRAVERSE DRIVER ARREST
Grand Traverse authorities have released the identity of the driver arrested for a fatal
hit and run at Interlochen Corners, December 15th. 32-year-old Larry Bonk, of
Buckley, was recently arraigned, charged with failure to stop at a personal injury
accident. It was the fourth fatal pedestrian accident this month in the Grand Traverse
area.
MORE FOOD ASSISTANCE
Eligible Michigan families will receive at least $95 dollars more in food assistance this
month. To continue to help with the high cost of groceries, those who have a bridge car
can expect a little extra help in December. State officials say this move will help more
than one-point-three million Michiganders in more than 700-hundred thousand
households.
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