WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 12-30-22
Fri, 30 Dec 2022 12:09:23 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

INFANT ABUSE (NOTE: CONTENT OF STORY)
A 26 year old Macomb County women is accused of filming and distributing sexual
content of an infant girl. Amber Dunbar of Warren has allegedly admitted to sending 3
sexually explicit videos to a man out of state on August 10th. Investigators say one of
the videos showed the woman performing a sex act on the girl, and the two others
showed her calling the girl explicit names and kissing her. The FBI confirms the case is
at the Macomb County office.

GRAND RAPIDS BURGLARIES
It is being called a rash of burglaries and attempted burglaries at businesses in Grand
Rapids. Police say four of the businesses were gas/retail stations... one was a liquor
store... and the other was a cannabis retail business. Police say three suspects were
caught on surveillance video... with at least one of the vehicles involved being a stolen
white 2012 Toyota 4Runner. The vehicle was later found abandoned. The suspects
used a large rock to break the front door or windows to the businesses. Once inside,
their main target was E-cigarettes, vaping cartridges, and other tobacco products.

WHITMER SIGNS BILLS
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs her final bills of the year... and her final bills of her
first term. The Governor's office says one of the new laws will provide additional bonds
and money associated with Huntington Place in downtown Detroit for future
development, possibly a hotel. Whitmer says she signed over one-thousand bipartisan
bills.

MSP DRUNK DRIVING
It's time to celebrate the new year the right way. Michigan State Police taking the time
today to remind drivers to make plans to drive sober throughout the holiday weekend.
M-S-P says if you get arrested for impaired driving over the long weekend.. you'll spend
MORE time in jail since the courts will be closed.
There were over 9-thousand alcohol-involved crashes and nearly 3-thousand druginvolved crashes in Michigan in 2021... approximately 44 point 7 percent of those
involved drugs and alcohol, according to Michigan State Police.

INDOOR CASINO SMOKING
Indoor smoking areas are returning to MGM Grand Casino, and Hollywood Casino at
Greektown. According to the Detroit Free Press, starting on Wednesday, MGM Grand
Detroit will allow indoor smoking in designated areas, and smoking is now permitted on
the second floor at Hollywood Casino at Greektown. A temporary ban was put in place
during the COVID-19 pandemic, because smokers had to remove their masks. The
change was put in place following MGM guest surveys showing interests in smoking
while gaming.

DUCK OIL SLICK
It looks like a giant oil slick in the straits of Mackinac. But it turns out, its ducks.
Thousands and thousands of them. The floating group, or raft, of Redhead ducks is
now estimated at more than 25 thousand. That's up from the previous estimate of
7,000 ducks spotted near the Mackinac Bridge just days ago, according to the Straits
Area Audubon Society. That's a record total for the annual Christmas Bird Count
Census. Observors say some of the longer duck rafts stretch for a half mile or more.
You can check out a picture of the ducks on our website at wwj-newsradio-dot-com.

KALAMAZOO POLICE CHIEF RETIRING
Allegations by three city employees lead to the retirement of Kalamazoo's police chief.
Discrimination, sexual harassment, and verbal abuse are the allegations made by three
women against Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley. In a statement, Coakley, who has
been chief since 2020, says he disagrees with the findings and the methods of an
investigation into those allegations. He has been on unpaid administrative leave since
mid-August and will retire Sunday with a severance package of more than 155-
thousand dollars.

DETROIT POLICE CHIEF HAS COVID
Detroit's chief of police has COVID. Officials with the Detroit Police Department
releasing a statement Thursday night reporting Chief James White is experiencing mild
symptoms and will isolate but remains in command and control of the Detroit Police
Department and its personnel. The statement also says Chief White is fully vaccinated
and twice boosted. Protocol calls for day-to-day operations to be overseen by
designated members of the Department's Senior Management Team. Currently,
Assistant Chief David LeValley is assuming the role, until Chief White returns.

MICHIGAN JAIL REFORM
A year end report from the Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council says shows
thousands of drivers had their licenses returned as part of changes made earlier in the
year. The council says the Secretary of State's office made changes to nearly 350-
thousand driving records which included giving licenses back to 150-thousand drivers.
The Council also says a lack of consistent record-keeping and data inconsistencies
because of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult to see the impact of a
package of jail reforms that were passed two years ago. The Detroit News says data
also showed a dramatic decrease in jail-only sentences in 2020 and 2021, and an
increase in 2022, which is consistent with overall sentencing trends. Probation-only
sentences, however, are at their lowest point in four years.

MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT
An extremely large Mega Millions jackpot is up for grabs for the final drawing of the
year. An estimated 640-MILLION dollars will go to whoever matches all six numbers
drawn late tonight. The cash only option is slightly over 328-million dollars before
taxes. It's the largest prize EVER offered in the final week of any year.

16 FOOT SNOWMAN
A west Michigan family had some fun with all of the snow that fell last weekend. The
Kinde family built a snowman that stands 16 feet tall. The family says its a tradition that
has went on for the past 15 years. They had to use ladders to get the top in place.
The family says it just want to bring a smile to anyone who may see it.

TEENS ARRESTED IN WEST MICHIGAN
Two teenagers from Monroe are in trouble for shooting a gun out of their car while
driving in west Michigan. The Mason County Sheriff's Department arrested 18-year
old Tiona Lara and a 15-year old boy Wednesday near Ludington after getting a call
from a veteran who reported seeing a flash and hearing gunfire. When deputies
stopped the car, they found a handgun. At this time there are no reports of anyone
being shot or any damage. The teens are facing five charges including shooting a gun
from a moving vehicle and furnishing false information to law enforcement.

MOBILE HOME EXPLOSION
An investigation is underway after a mobile home explosion in Marquette. One person
was treated for minor injuries after firefighters were called yesterday afternoon. The
trailer where the explosion occurred was destroyed. Several other trailers nearby were
damaged, including a vacant one that caught on fire. Those who couldn't return to
their homes were put up in a hotel.

HEARING AID ADVISORY
Officials urging people to use caution with over-the-counter hearing aids. A Biden
administration executive order gave more people access to hearing aids and lower
prices, but Michigan officials are concerned those who need hearing help won't get
fitted with the correct hearing aids. Audiologists say when you buy an over-the-counter
hearing aid, you could get an over- or under- amplified device. Using over-amplified
hearing aids when you don't need one could damage your ears and make hearing
worse. People are urged not to self-diagnose and to use hearing aids correctly.

WINTER SPORTS COMPLEX OPENING TODAY
A new winter sports complex opens today in the Upper Peninsula. The State
Department of Natural Resources says the
Porkies Winter Sports Complex, located just inside the entrance to Porcupine
Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula will open its slopes
today. The DNR says there's something for everyone and people will find views of
Lake Superior, a natural terrain park, woodsy trails cut between each run and a triple
chairlift. There are also groomed winter trails open to cross-country skiing,
snowshoeing and fat-tire biking.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS IN MICHIGAN
Final preparations are underway for New Year's Eve parties across Michigan. Grocery
and party stores are expected to see plenty of customers stocking up on food, beer and
liquor. Among the events taking place across the state is the Ball Drop in downtown
Ludington. Organizers call it West Michigan's largest New Year's Eve Ball Drop. There
will be fireworks right after the ball drops at midnight. There's also a Ball Drop planned
in Marquette. There's an Anchor Drop in Sault Ste. Marie and a Turtle Drop on
Mackinac Island. Kalamazoo and Midland also have New Year's Eve events planned.
Casinos across the state will also be open when we ring in the new year.