WATZ Today's Country

Tuesday News Summary 01-17-23
Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:28:24 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

MOTHER, TWO KIDS FREEZE TO DEATH
A mother and two children who were found dead in a field in suburban Detroit froze to
death. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard says the 35-year old mother was having
a mental health crisis and thought everyone, including police, were trying to get her.
The bodies were found last weekend in Pontiac. The mother's daughter told authorities
that her mother told them to lie down in the field to sleep, and that she was the only one
who woke up. She's in stable condition.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY
Local governments throughout Michigan should start seeing funds as soon as later this
month as a result of the state's participation in two multi-state opioid settlements. State
Attorney General Dana Nessel says the distributions are expected to start on January
31st. Michigan officials are anticipating over $1.45 billion from opioid settlements,
including some that are still in process.

SUPREME COURT CASE
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow (Wednesday) in the case
of a deaf 27-year-old Michigan man who says while attending Sturgis Public Schools in
southwest Michigan, he had NO sign language interpreter. The attorneys for Miguel
Luna Perez say, as a result, their client has been harmed significantly. In a court brief
filed last year, his lawyers say because of years of language deprivation over the 12
years he went to Sturgis schools, he can only find "unskilled" work and his lifetime
earning capacity has been reduced by 40-percent. There's been no comment from the
school district.

BERNSTEIN COMMENTS
He has already apologized... but one group says Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Richard Bernstein needs to do more, following a controversy. Justice Bernstein drew a
lot of attention when he commented on new Justice Kyra Harris-Bolden's decision to
hire a law clerk who once served time. He has since apologized, but the clerk had
already resigned. Now, the group Michigan Liberation -- and others -- want Bernstein
to -quote- "clarify his stance on restorative justice." There will be a town hall this
evening (Tuesday).

DETROIT OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
Detroit Police giving more information about an officer-involved shooting Monday
morning on the city's northwest side. Around 7:30 -- a heavily-armed man in his 30s
went into a gas station... and immediately locking the door. Police say he was carrying
a gun with an extended clip, plus two additional clips. Police say when the man began
to move around the store erratically -- the clerk and a customer outside the store called
911. Officers arrived -- and when the man allegedly aimed his gun at them -- one officer
fired multiple shots... hitting the man. He was taken to the hospital. An investigation
continues.

DAY OF HEALING
We just observed Martin Luther King Junior day and today is the seventh annual
National Day of Racial Healing, hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The day of
racial healing will feature events and conversations nationwide, including two town halls
tonight....one on M-S-N-B-C and one on Telemundo. For more information, go to
dayofracialhealing-dot-org.

DAVE AND BUSTERS
More FUN coming to Lansing Township. Dave & Buster's plans to build a location in an
entertainment center near a hotel. The Lansing Township Board of Trustees approved
the project last year. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.

BLAKES DRINK
Something new from the people who make Blake's Hard Cider... a low calorie, caffeine
free drink that they're calling "Sorta Pop." It is the Michigan-based company's first nonalcoholic beverage. It'll be available later this month in three flavors... Tangerine,
Strawberry-Watermelon-Cucumber, and Lemon Lime. 12-ounce cans will sell for $2.49.

VAN GOGH PAINTING-DIA
A famous painting isn't going anywhere . . . at least not right away.
A federal judge Monday blocked the Detroit Institute of Arts from having to surrender a
Vincent van Gogh painting known as "The Reading Lady."
The art, worth more than $5 (m)illion, went missing from a private collection in Brazil six
years ago, only to turn up on display in the Detroit museum.
Lawyers invoked the "Immunity from Seizure Act," which grants protections to foreign
artwork on display in the U.S.
The DIA isn't saying who loaned out the van Gogh in the first place.
The judge's order specifically prevents the museum from moving, hiding, or damaging
the painting in any way ahead of a court hearing next Thursday.

GRAND RAPIDS-CARS EXCHANGE SHOTS-TODDLER INJURED
A toddler was hurt after people in two cars were firing shots at each other Monday
afternoon in Grand Rapids when one vehicle crashed into a third vehicle . Police say
the first vehicle crashed into a tree while a toddler in the third vehicle was injured and
taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Police say the person in the car that crashed into a tree ran from the scene and no one
has been arrested. They also say they have not found anyone who was shot.

12-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY STARTS FIRE AT KALAMAZOO SCHOOL
In west Michigan --
A 12-year-old boy is in custody after allegedly setting a Kalamazoo area school on fire.
Officials say police responded to reports of a student setting fires in a school Monday
morning . He also allegedly assaulted a school staff member. The student was taken
into custody and firefighters put out the fire. Nobody was hurt.
The boy is being held in the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Detention Center.

MAN DRUNK WITH CHILD IN CAR-GRAND BLANC
Police in Grand Blanc Township reporting a particularly disturbing traffic stop. It
happened over the weekend when officers pulled over a driver and discovered that he
just happened to be a convicted felon, who had a loaded unregistered handgun in the
car. Police say the man, who was drunk, had been driving with his one-year-old son in
the front seat, WITHOUT a car seat. In addition to being charged for driving while
intoxicated, the man was charged with child endangerment.

CANINE KIDNAPPING-SE MI
Police in Novi are looking for a man who allegedly stole a 53-HUNDRED dollar tea-cup
Chihuahua last Tuesday from the "Petland" pet-store in twelve-oaks mall. The man
allegedly telling store employees to give him the mostly black puppy with brown and
white marks so he can socialize with her and
shortly after receiving the nine-week old, he took her and ran from the store. Witnesses
report him leaving the mall parking lot in a blue or back Chrysler Pacifica with Ohio
plates. Officers say the puppy is micro-chipped for identification, and are asking anyone
with info to give them a call. The suspect is described as 6 feet tall, black with long
dreadlocks.

KALAMAZOO OFFICER FRAUD
A Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer has been arrested on fraud charges
in Georgia. 37-year-old Officer Catrice Lockett was reportedly arrested in Georgia
earlier this month for a false report of a crime, insurance claim fraud and conspiracy to
commit a felony. She and her fiance', Brian Lee, allegedly told police that his pickup
truck was taken while they were at a state park.
Lockett has been placed on administrative leave by the Kalamazoo Department of
Public Safety.

CATFISHING MOM-ISABELLA COUNTY
The Isabella County woman accused of catfishing her own daughter and another teen
is heading to trail. Kendra Licari is charged with two counts of stalking a minor, two
counts of using a computer to commit a crime and obstructing justice.
Isabella County prosecutor David Barberi says it began when Licari's daughter
complained to her parents about getting harassing text messages, &social media
messages for months. Licari reported it to police and police say it was Licari who had
catfished and harassed her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend . Barberi reportedly
says it was mostly harassing type messages, demeaning , demoralizing and just mean
texts that appeared to be from other students.

BENTON HARBOR NEIGHBOR MURDER
A 50-year-old Benton Harbor woman, Aisha Williams, has been charged with killing her
65-year-old neighbor. Benton Harbor Police say it happened last week at the River
Terrace Apartments where Williams allegedly assaulted Gerald Harper and knocked
him to the floor in a hallway. He died later at the hospital. Police say the two next door
neighbors had been in a lengthy altercation. They also say Williams has a long history
of violent tendencies.

WESTLAND MAYOR RESIGNS
The Westland City Council is set to appoint a successor to former Mayor Bill Wild. The
council will meet this evening at which time Wild's replacement will be named. The
mayor stepped down on Monday after 16 years on the job. Wild resigned after
accepting a position as president and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers
Association based in West Bloomfield.

SHEEP ON ICE
Firefighters in Brighton make an unusual rescue. On Monday, the department posted
on its Facebook page that crews responded to a sheep on Lake Chemung. One of the
pictures showed the sheep apparently in distress. Firefighters went onto the ice and
made a quick rescue. The sheep was reunited with its owners.

DRIVING IN MI
Michigan is one of the worst states to drive in according to a new report. WalletHub
compared all 50 states to determine which are the most driver-friendly. Michigan ranks
in at number 42. Each state was rated on several different metrics -- including road
quality, traffic fatality rate and rush-hour traffic congestion. Michigan came in at
average or below average in every metric tested.