WATZ Today's Country

Monday News Summary 01-16-23
Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:27:51 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

MLK DAY
It's a day to honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students
across the state will be taking part in celebrations and activities. At Western Michigan
University, the theme of a Teach In is The Fierce Urgency of Now. There will be a
community conversation and discussion with acclaimed speaker, podcaster and
journalist Jemele Hill this evening. At Central Michigan, students will take part in a
community brunch. At Eastern Michigan University there will be sessions and
information on understanding Dr. King's legacy.
Due to the federal holiday many government offices and schools will be closed.

WEST MICHIGAN ECONOMIC REPORT
We could be headed for a recession. The director of supply management research at
Grand Valleys Seidman College of Business, Brian Long, says he expects the National
Bureau of Economic Research and other economists to declare a mild recession over
the next few months based on a survey of west Michigan purchasing managers. The
Current Business Trends survey showed its purchasing index reaching a 30-month low
as reports on new orders and production slid. Long says one bright spot is the
employment index remains positive.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN HOSTAGE SITUATION
A northern Michigan man accused of holding two women hostage is behind bars. State
Police said the two victims visited the man at the shed he lived in south of Traverse
City. The 50-year-old suspect allegedly accused the women of stealing his meth,
pointed a stolen handgun at them and wouldn't let them leave. One woman got away
after her son came over and confronted the man. State Police and Manistee County
deputies were called to the scene. They found the suspect and second victim near the
shed and arrested the man.

MSU PROF DISCOVERS PLANET
A new planet has been discovered by a professor from Michigan State University. Joey
Rodriguez assisted NASA in confirming the existence of TOI-700 -- a new planet about
100 light years away from Earth. Scientists believe that it could be capable of
supporting life since the distance from it's star should be enough for the temperature to
regulate liquid water. It's the third planet discovered by Rodriguez.

FREE SNOWMOBILING WEEKEND
Michigan will be offering its first free Snowmobiling weekend on February 11th and
12th. The Department of Natural Resources says people will be allowed to operate
their snowmobiles without a registration or trail permit during those two days.
Lawmakers required the DNR to offer the weekend saying it will help experienced
riders share the sport with their friends and family.

COVID TESTS
If you have COVID test kits in the house with an expiration date that has already
passed dont throw them out, they may still be good. The Food and Drug Administration
has extended the expiration dates on many of the kits because studies have found they
actually have a longer life than earlier thought. As manufacturers complete long-term
studies they find many of the tests can be used beyond the printed date on the
package. And so the FDA has officially extended expiration dates on more than a
dozen brands of test kits.

KALAMAZOO GAS LEAK
Shots fired at homes in Kalamazoo led to a gas leak. The Kalamazoo Department of
Public Safety says a gas supply line was hit by at least one of the shots, causing a
significant gas leak. Neighbors were evacuated. No one was hurt. Consumer's Energy
responded to the leak. Anyone with information is asked to call the department of public
safety or Silent Observer.

TEEN CRASH-W MI
A teen has been injured after crashing her vehicle into a building last night in Crockery
Township, northwest of Grand Rapids. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says the 18-
year-old from Spring Lake had a medical emergency and she left the roadway and
crashed into a building. She was taken to an area hospital. The sheriff's office the
building and the vehicle both had significant damage.

GRAND RAPIDS SHOOTING
Grand Rapids Police are investigating after one person was shot on Sunday. Police
say one person has been arrested. There's no word on a motive for the shooting.

NEW PLANET
A Michigan State professor assisting NASA last week to confirm the existence of a new
planet roughly 100-light-years away that could be capable of supporting life.
The planet is named T-O-I-700-E. Its the the third planet discovered in the T-O-I-700
solar system by Joey Rodriguez, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of
Physics and Astronomy -- as well as a team of researchers working with one of NASA's
space-based telescopes.

ANN ARBOR POLICE RESPONSE TO NON-CRIMINAL CALLS
Ann Arbor Police could soon have a new team to respond to non-criminal and nonviolent calls.
The city is holding one final public forum on Thursday to collect community input about
its proposed unarmed crisis response team.
The program would assign social workers or other human service professionals to noncriminal and non-violent calls... taking the place of armed officers.
The city passed a resolution in 2021 to investigate the planning of an unarmed crisis
response team. Thursday's public forum is the last of three meetings held this month.
93 percent of residents responding to a recent city survey said they would support the
program.

WHITMER DECLARES MLK DAY
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared today as Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day
in Michigan. Whitmer and Lieutenent Governor Garlin Gilchrist call on Michiganders to
reflect on the life of Dr. King and commit themselves to continuing his work to advance
social justice, equality, and freedom for all.
Whitmer says quote-Our state thrives when all Michiganders have a seat at the table
and the opportunity to succeed." She says by following Dr. King's example, we can
continue to build on his legacy. She encourages every Michigander to reflect on the life
of Dr. King and how we can all work together to build a more equitable, just, and
prosperous Michigan for all.

GRAND VALLEY FOOTBALL COACH
The head football coach of Grand Valley State University for the past 13 seasons is
heading to another university. Matt Mitchell is leaving Grand Valley to be an assistant
coach at Wisconsin. Grand Valley was undefeated in the 2022 regular season, winning
the GLIAC championship.

FATAL U-P CRASH
In the U-P, a 55-year-old Escanaba man was killed in a crash on US-2 in Bayview
Sunday afternoon. W-L-U-C reports the Delta County Sheriff's Office says it appears a
pickup driven by an 81-year-old man had a tire blow out, causing him to cross the
median into oncoming traffic and hit another pickup, driven by 55-year-old Michael
Englund, who was killed. Police continue to investigate the crash.

FIVE CHARGED IN ULTA ROBBERY
Five women have been charged in connection with a robbery at an Ulta store in
Livingston County last week. It happened around 8:00 Thursday night at the Ulta in
Green Oak Township, south of Brighton. Authorities say an officer fired shots after one
of the suspects allegedly drove her car right at police while trying to escape.
Two of the suspects are convicted felons. The other three also have had run-ins with
police.

EL DEBARGE ARRESTED
Michigan native and grammy-award winning musician El-Debarge arrested Sunday in
Burbank, California on suspicion of drug and weapons charges. Police officials say the
Rhythm of the Night singer is now facing four separate charges after police allegedly
discovered an expandable metal baton, pepper spray and suspected narcotics in his
truck during an encounter at a gas station. Officials say they stopped the 61-YEAR old
due to expired license plate tags, and during the stop discovering he does not have a
valid driver's license.
DeBarge who's been arrested in the past for cocaine possession is now out on bond
and will back in court in March.