WATZ Today's Country

Thursday News Summary 01-05-23
Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:18:45 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

ALPENA LOTTERY WIN
An Alpena County man has won four-million dollars playing the Michigan Lotterys
Diamond 7s instant game. The 41-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous,
bought his winning ticket in Gaylord. He says when he saw that he won... he couldn't
believe it. He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $2.5
million -- and plans to buy a lake house and pay bills.

STABENOW WON'T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
Michigan U-S Senator Debbie Stabenow says she won't run for re-election when her
fourth term ends in 2025. Stabenow tells the Detroit News that her decision came after
the November election results and seeing the energy from young voters. She feels
confident that she can pass the torch to a Democratic successor. The 72-year-old
Stabenow also says she wants to spend more time with her 96-year-old mother and
five grandchildren.

MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT
There's a new chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. Justice Elizabeth Clement
was unanimously chosen by her colleagues. Clement was appointed to the court by
former Governor Rick Snyder, and has been considered a swing vote in some cases.

BEST/WORST JOBS
If you're in the market for a new job, you may want to head west. A new report from
Wallet Hub says the best place to find a job is San Francisco, followed by Columbia,
Maryland; Orlando, Florida; San Jose, California, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Detroit
finished near the bottom of the list of 180 cities at number 174. The survey looked at 32
key metrics to determine the strongest job markets in the U.S., including job
opportunities, employment growth, and starting salaries.
San Jose has the highest starting salary, at just over 72 hundred dollars per month.
The lowest was Forth Smith, Arkansas, which came in at just under two thousand
dollars monthly.

AUTO SALES
The computer chip shortage putting a dent into 2022 car sales numbers. Total sales
are expected to come in around 14 million, far from the pre pandemic 17 million sales
rates. Still, some car makers bounced back. GM sales were up 2.5 percent. That was
enough to push GM past Toyota to regain its crown as the nations top selling car
company. Fords F-series pickup truck was again the top selling vehicle overall.

MUSIC PRODUCER KILLED
Members of the rap community are mourning after a prominent music producer and
engineer from Lansing was killed on New Years Eve. Curshawn Terrell -- also known
as Kaz -- was shot and killed at his recording studio on East Michigan Avenue in
Lansing. Another man was wounded . Terrell was just 40 years old. Terrell's first
significant break came in 2009... when he was signed by DJ Khaled as an in-house
producer. He spent three years in the role. An investigation into his death continues. A
suspect has been arrested.

MI HOUSE SPEAKER
Just like in Washington D.C., there could be a battle brewing over who becomes house
speaker in Lansing. W-L-N-S reports that Democratic Representative Joe Tate , of
Detroit, is expected to be elected the new Speaker, but says Detroit Democrat ,
Representative Karen Whitsett, could vote against Tate. The democrats have 56
votes, but Tate needs every one to be elected the first African American speaker in
history in Michigan. House republicans are reportedly trying to convince Whitsett to
defect.

MI DON'T SAY GAY
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a multi-state coalition challenging
Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.
Nessel says the legislation is a threat to LGBTQ students, who are vulnerable to
discrimination.
Florida's "Parental Rights in Education Act," as it's properly known, outlaws classroom
instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through eighth
grade.
Nessel calls the law unconstitutional, joining attorneys general from sixteen other
states, and the District of Columbia, in opposing it.

JUSTICE HIRES EX CON
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, who just took office on January
1st, is sparking controversy by her decision to hire a clerk who spent 14 years behind
bars for armed robbery and shooting at a police officer. Forty-eight-year-old Pete
Martel pled guilty to robbing a convenience store in Genesse County and assault with
intent to do great bodily harm in 1994.
Fellow Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein is against Bolden's decision to hire
Martel, telling the Detroit News that certain offenses should prevent people from
working for the state's highest court. Bolden was appointed to the Michigan Supreme
Court last year by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

WOMAN SENT TO TRIAL IN MURDER OF SON-W MI
A west Michigan woman, Shanda Vander Ark , will stand trial for murder and child
abuse in the death of her 15-year-old son, Timothy Ferguson. WOOD TV reports
Muskegon County Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes says the facts of this case are
appalling. She says the pictures of the boy, show a young man with his ribs showing
almost as if there's no skin on them anymore. The judge says Vander Ark would say
he's faking it , the more he suffered. Ferguson died last July in their home in Norton
Shores. He weighed 69 pounds when he should have weighed 130 pounds.

SHOOTING AT POLICE-WARREN
A 29-year-old Detroit man could find himself behind bars for life following an incident in
Warren on Monday. Willie Lee Allen was arraigned on several charges yesterday
(Wed), including eight felonies, after police say he pointed a gun and shot at an officer
during a police chase. According to Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer, officers
attempted to stop a 2020 Chevy Malibu , but the suspect fled, crashing into another
vehicle. Police say Allen and a female in the car ran from the scene. Allen was
arrested a short time later. The female, who has not yet been identified, is facing
carjacking charges.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOOTINGS
In the wake of the shooting deaths of two men at a New Year's celebration in southwest
Michigan, 62-year-old Christopher Toppenburg, of Lawrence has been charged in the
shooting deaths. Fireworks were being set off, when the Van Buren County Sheriff's
Office says Toppenburg fired a gun believing the range was clear and shot and killed
two of his friends, David Reed and Jason McCreary. He has been charged with
second degree murder.

CAMP GRAYLING
Opposition is growing to the proposed expansion at Camp Grayling. Now, you can add
the Michigan Department of Environment , Great Lakes and Energy to the list.
"EAGLE" has sent a letter to the Michigan Army National Guard, raising concerns
about current P-FAS clean up efforts in the region, saying those investigations need to
be completed before any proposal goes through.

OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD
State Attorney General Dana Nessel is conducting an extensive review into the actions
of the Ottawa County Commission. This comes after the board fired the county
administrator and installed John Gibbs in his place. Some residents are questioning
the moves. Resident and Grand Valley State Professor Amy Masko tells WOOD TV
they changed the tagline from Ottawa County "Where you belong". She says they sent
a very strong message that not everyone belongs here.
Resident Steven Tameling says a lot of things have frustrated people through COVID
and they are looking for people who are going to make a significant change.

TRAVERSE CITY LOTTERY CLUB
In Traverse City, a 78 member lottery club will be claiming a one million dollar
powerball prize. The "Heroes to Zeroes" Club is made up of nurses, doctors and other
healthcare workers from the Traverse City Area. The group will hold a news
conference later today.

WORLD OF WINTER FESTIVAL-GRAND RAPIDS
Inflatable gnomes, a drag show, and scavenger hunts. Those are just some of things
that will be featured at Grand Rapids' World of Winter Festival this Friday through
March 5th.Downtown Grand Rapids Inc spokesman Bill Kirk says it all kicks off Friday
evening with food trucks , fire pits, and art displays.