WATZ Today's Country

Tuesday News Summary 12-27-22
Tue, 27 Dec 2022 12:03:10 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

SENTENCING FOR SUSPECT IN PLOT TO KIDNAP GOVERNOR
One of two men convicted in federal court on charges related to the plot to kidnap
Governor Whitmer will learn his punishment today. Adam Fox is scheduled to be
sentenced at ten o'clock this morning in Grand Rapids. The 39-year old faces up to life
in prison after he and Barry Croft were convicted in a second trial of kidnapping
conspiracy and conspiracy to possess weapons of mass destruction. Prosecutors say
Fox, Croft and several others were upset with the Governor's lockdowns related to the
coronavirus. In a letter to the judge, Fox's mother writes his heart has always been
good and filled with love and forgiveness. She writes Fox is not a violent person or one
who is capable of harming anyone else. Croft will be sentenced tomorrow.

MID-MICHIGAN WOMAN KILLED IN OHIO TURNPIKE PILEUP
A young lady from the Lansing area was among the four killed in a 46-car pileup along
the Ohio Turnpike last Friday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 19-year old Emma
Smith of Webberville was among those killed. Her father posted a message on
Facebook that said it is hard for him to find the words to say that their sweet daughter
left this world on Friday. Also killed was a 37-year old pregnant woman from Toledo
who died along with her unborn baby. Authorities say weather was a factor, but
investigators haven't determined how the pileup started.

MALL CLOSED DUE TO WATER MAIN BREAK
The colder weather has been causing problems for water lines. Several water main
breaks were reported across the state Monday. The Genesee Valley Center near Flint
is closed until further notice due to a break that occurred on Christmas Day. Several
residents in Owosso and Dearborn were without water for a short time after water main
breaks were reported in those cities. Public works officials say breaks usually occur
more often when there is a drastic temperature change like we had last week when
temperatures dipped to single digits.

SUSPECT CAUSES DEADLY CRASH
A man who was driving with a suspended license is behind bars after crashing his van
into an SUV and killing a woman in suburban Detroti. The Wayne County Sheriff's
Department says a corporal tried to stop the suspect for speeding Monday morning, but
the 30-year old wouldn't pull over. Investigators say the suspect ran a red light and
crashed into an SUV killing the 61-year old woman driver from Lincoln Park. .
Investigators say the suspect tried to run away, but was captured. He was wanted on
warrants for shoplifting and resisting arrest. Dearborn police are continuing to
investigate.

MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT
This has never happened with the Mega Millions jackpot. The 565-million dollar jackpot
for tonight's drawing is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever offered in the last week of
any calendar year. The cash option is 293.6 million dollars before taxes. If the jackpot
is won tonight, it would be the sixth largest prize in the history of the game.

GAS PRICES DROP
Some good news for driver across Michigan. Triple-A Michigan says gas prices across
the state have dropped seven cents in the past week and now average 2.99 a gallon.
The least expensive prices are in Saginaw, Flint and Lansing. The most expensive
prices are in Traverse City and Jackson. In Metro Detroit, prices increased by four
cents. Analysts say increasing supply and low gasoline demand are pushing pump
prices lower.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
Some people traveling over the holidays are still running into delays and cancellations
at airports across Michigan. Flight Aware says there are nearly 50 flight delays and
cancellations at airports in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint this morning. The
delays and cancellations have been ongoing since last week when a winter storm
hampered travel across the United States. At Metro Airport near Detroit a big pile of
luggage was spotted waiting to be picked up by travelers. An airport spokeswoman
says the airlines would be contacting owners to alert them to their belongings.

GOVERNOR WHITMER NATIONAL OFFICE
It was talked about earlier in the year and the discussions aren't stopping. Governor
Gretchen Whitmer tells WLNS-TV in Lansing that if President Joe Biden asked her to
run for vice president she would have said yes. The Governor, who will be sworn in for
a second term next Sunday, said she might run for President in the future, but not in
2024 if the president doesn't seek re-election.

UM FANS IN ARIZONA
A large group of University of Michigan football fans were at the Phoenix airport last
night to meet the team as they arrived to prepare for Saturday's College Football
Playoff semi-final game. Michigan plays TCU. Coach Jim Harbaugh said they are
honored to be there and playing the best. Michigan will practice three more times
before the game.

JEOPARDY CHAMPION TO SPEAK TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Record-setting Jeopardy champion, and now host, Ken Jennings is among a group of
speakers who will be taking part in Calvin University's speaker series this month.
Jennings won 74 straight games and two-and-a-half million dollars. The university says
Jennings will speak January 23rd about why its important to be a generalist in the age
of hyper-specialization.

REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS TAKE FIFTH
Two Republican officials from Michigan who signed a certificate falsely claiming Donald
Trump won the state's presidential election avoided answering questions from U.S.
House investigators by invoking protections in the Fifth Amendment more than 100
times. The Detroit News reports Kathy Berden of Snover and Mayra Rodriguez of
Grosse Pointe Farms declined to tell officials with the U.S. House's Select Committee
to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol who asked them to
gather at Michigan GOP headquarters and sign the certificate. Transcripts show
Berden, Michigan's Republican national committeewoman, referenced the Fifth
Amendment 81 times during her March 11th interview. Rodriguez mentioned it 27 times.

MID MICHIGAN DOCTOR MISSING
Authorities near Jackson continue to search for a doctor who's been missing for five
days. Dr. Bolek Payan was last seen leaving Henry Ford Jackson Hospital last
Thursday. His car was found at his home, but he's not had contact with family, friends,
or work. Payan -- who lives five miles north of Jackson -- started his residency at
Henry Ford Allegiance Health in 2020. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is
asked to call The Blackman-Leoni Public Safety Department.

TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOOTS MAN
A man is dead after trying to rob a tow truck driver at gunpoint yesterday on Detroit's
east side.
Police say the driver had a concealed pistol license and shot the man during the
attempted robbery. The suspect died from his injuries. An investigation continues.

POWERBALL JACKPOT GROWS
The Powerball jackpot is growing again. No tickets matched all six numbers in last
night's drawing, which means Wednesday's jackpot grows to 215-million dollars. The
cash option is worth 112.3 million dollars before taxes.