Thursday News Summary 01-12-23
Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:26:02 EST


(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)


COMERICA PARK
Changes are coming to Comerica Park next season, after team officials confirm that
they're making a series of adjustments to the dimensions of the playing field. Center
field will now move in 10 feet, and will now be 412 feet away from home plate.
Additionally, the height of the outfield wall in several areas will be lowered, most
notably above the out-of-town scoreboard, which will be lowered from 13 feet to 7. The
changes to Comerica Park will be in place by Opening Day in April.

STUDENT WITH GUN
A northern Michigan student is in custody after he brought a loaded gun to his school.
Michigan State Police arrested the 13-year old at Pinconning High School Tuesday
afternoon after another student told a worker about the gun. State Police say the staff
took the teen to an office and found a loaded handgun and extra ammunition. No one
was hurt. Charges are pending. Students who have tips about threats and other
criminal activity can use the OK 2 SAY program to confidentially report a tip.

LANSING LAWMAKERS
It didn't take long for new laws focused on abortion and civil rights to be introduced in
Lansing. Shortly after the 102nd session of the state Legislature started, bills were
introduced to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and repeal the state's 1931
abortion ban. While voters approved Proposal three in November, Democrats say the
legislation introduced Wednesday is the final step to repeal the 1931 law. House and
Senate Democrats each introduced legislation to amend Elliott-Larsen to name sexual
orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as being protected from
discrimination under the law.

GOV TO EUROPE
Governor Gretchen Whitmer will travel to Europe next week for a five-day trip. It will
include stops in Norway and Switzerland -- where Whitmer will meet with other leaders
at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos (Daa-Vose). Whitmer is
expected to promote the state's recent investments in the automotive and energy
industries as well as discuss future investment opportunities in Michigan. She will be
joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Michigan
was highlighted by the U.S. Department of Energy last week as one of three states
expected to lead the nation in electric vehicle battery manufacturing by 2030.

SPORTS DOC UPDATE
More criminal charges have been filed against a Farmington Hills doctor who has been
accused of sexually abusing boys involved in hockey programs. A not guilty plea was
entered on behalf of doctor Zvi Levran who was arraigned on two additional charges of
criminal sexual conduct in Farmington Hills District Court. The sex assaults allegedly
took place nearly two years ago at Levran's home. He was involved in youth hockey
programs in Farmington Hills, Redford and Novi. Investigators continue to follow up on
tips that came in following Levran's arrest last November. He's scheduled to be back in
court late next month.

MISSING MOM-SW MI
A missing Mom of eight in southwest Michigan had been dating a man who had a
criminal record....including a murder for hire plot , according to her family. WOOD TV
reports that Stephen Martin, the father of Heather Kelley's children, says she was
dating a man at the time she disappeared December 10th from Portage. Her
abandoned vehicle was found the next day .
A Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman says the 37-year-old man had been released
from prison in July and was transferred to a halfway house. Federal records show he
was listed as an escapee from federal custody two days after Kelley disappeared... and
arrested two days later.

RICHMOND SCHOOL THREAT-MACOMB COUNTY
Another school threat is closing Richmond Community Schools today.
This is the third threat in January alone. The Richmond Middle School principal
receiving a notification from Michigan's OK-2-SAY safety program last night that a
student threatened to go to school with a gun and wasn't afraid to use it. Police have
been notified and continue to investigate the threat.
The superintendent says the district offers free counseling services for pre-K-12th
grade students through CARE of Southeast Michigan at (586) 541-CARE.

VALADE EMBEZZLEMENT-GROSSE POINTE FARMS
A Grosse Pointe Farms lawyer was arraigned Wednesday, charged with multiple felony
counts including Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult.
Fifty-seven-year-old attorney David Southerland pleaded not guilty to stealing millions
from the trust fund of a former client, the recently deceased Carhartt heiress, Gretchen
Valade (vah-LAID).
A judge set bond at $250,000 and ordered Southerland to surrender his passport and
wear a GPS tether.
Valade (vah-LAID), whose contributions helped save the Detroit Jazz Festival, died on
December 30th. She was ninety-seven.
Southerland, who faces decades in prison if convicted, is due back in court January
25th.

RESCUE DOGS RECOVERED
Four rescue dogs stolen early Wednesday morning from Make A Difference Rescue on
Detroits east side have all been found and returned to the shelter. The shelter says
thanks to the kindness of a stranger, one of the dogs was returned yesterday afternoon
after being spotted in an abandoned garage. Around 10:00 last night, the shelter
posted on Facebook that the other three dogs had also been found and returned, but
no other details were released.
The shelter's surveillance cameras captured video of the thieves. Officials say they are
working to raise money to improve security.

TULIP TIME
A couple of new events are being added to Holland's Tulip Time Festival this year.
Tulip Time is
bringing Bicycle Showband Crescendo to the United States for the first time ever. Also,
for the first
time ever, the Tulip Time Run will partner with the Holland Haven Marathon to create
the Double
Dutch Challenge for runners .
Tulip Time is already looking for volunteers for the festival which runs May 6th through
the 14th. They need about 800 volunteers to greet guests, set up and tear down events
and serve as parade marshals.

ELECTION AUDITS
More than 200 audits will begin today of the November 8th election in Michigan.
Precinct-level audits will be conducted by Michigan Bureau of Elections staff and
county clerks to review election administration procedures carried out in each audited
precinct and identify best practices for future elections.
The Bureau and dozens of clerks will take part in a statewide audit, in which randomly
selected batches of ballots will be hand-counted to affirm the accuracy of the states
vote tabulation machines.

MISSING WOMAN -OSHTEMO TWP
A 64-year-old southwest Michigan woman is missing. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's
Office says Kathy Prevatte hasn't been heard from since Tuesday afternoon and it's
believed she walked away from her Oshtemo Township home, west of Kalamazoo.

VAN GOGH PAINTING
The Detroit Institute of Arts has been ordered to not move a Van Gogh painting that a
man claims was stolen from him. A judge ordered the DIA to hold onto the 1888
painting after Brokerate Capital Partners LLC and its proprietor, Gustavo Soter, of
Brazil filed a lawsuit to have the painting turned over to them. Another court hearing
will be held January 19th over the five million dollar painting titled "The Novel Reader"
or "The Reading Lady."
The DIA isn't commenting but said there's no allegation of misconduct by the DIA.

TRAVERSE CITY CRASH INTO BUILDING
In Traverse City, police responded to a vehicle that crashed into Oryana Community
Co-op on Wednesday. The driver claims her accelerator was stuck. The crash
damaged the store's gas main and caused a leak , but no one was injured. The fire
department and DTE stopped the leak and the store remained open.

FRESHWATER RESEARCH-TRAVERSE CITY
The Discovery Center and pier will receive one-point-five million dollars in federal
funding to put toward building a new freshwater research and innovation center in
Traverse City. Several organizations are involved in the project, including Traverse
Connect, Northwestern Michigan College and Michigan Tech.

CANNABIS
Michigan cannabis businesses may be facing a tough year ahead. The state's still
young, legalized recreational marijuana industry went through some growing pains last
year. Prices of products rapidly dropped and as a result, cannabis companies
struggled to survive. More communities have decided to allow recreational marijuana,
while the retail price for an ounce of marijuana flower has fallen below $100 dollars for
the first time since it's been legal in Michigan.


   

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