WATZ Today's Country

Thursday News Summary 02-02-23
Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:16:48 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

LICENSE PLATE READERS
Michigan State Police have a new tool to curb freeway shootings and catch drivers
involved in road rage incidents. License plate readers are being installed on Metro
Detroit freeways with the goal of making it easier for investigators to find cars involved
in violent crimes. Lieutenant Mike Shaw says the project has been in the works for six
months, and the goal is to use them statewide in the future.

STUDENTS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
A former school employee who worked with visually impaired students has been
charged in connection with the sexual assaults of four girls at three different Metro
Detroit schools. The Wayne County prosecutor's office says 43-year-old James Baird
of Plymouth was arraigned today on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct that
occurred between 2018 and 2020 at schools in Garden City and Westland. The
prosecutor's office says a 10-year-old girl was assaulted multiple times while being
given vision tests in a Garden City school. Three other girls -- ages 11, 13 and 15 --
were blindfolded and assaulted on separate occasions at schools in Westland and
Garden City.

PISTONS STUCK IN DALLAS
Stormy weather - which included icy conditions - kept the Pistons from flying out of
Dallas on Wednesday and forced the NBA to postpone Wednesday night's game at
Little Caesars' Arena between the Pistons and the Washington Wizards. Those icy
conditions could keep the team from returning to Detroit until today, which could be an
issue, since the Pistons are scheduled to play a back-to-back series of home games -
beginning on Friday - against the Charlotte Hornets and the Phoenix Suns.

YPSILANTI HS BASKETBALL BRAWL
Police in Ypsilanti are trying to figure out what led up to a brawl at a high school
basketball game Tuesday night. The fight broke out during the junior varsity game
between the Adrian and Ypsilanti boys basketball teams. During the third quarter of
the game, a fan -- who officials say was not affiliated with either school -- ran onto the
floor and attacked an Ypsilanti player... starting a brawl on the court. The rest of the
game -- along with the varsity game -- were both postponed. An investigation continues.

WIC FORMULA
Michigan's WIC program - the nutrition program for women, infants and children,
announced it will transition back to Similac brand formulas starting March 1st. For the
past year, WIC recipients were able to choose from a variety of formula brands, even
though the state had an exclusive contract with just one company - Abbott. However,
due to a safety recall and shortages, the state waived the restrictions and allowed
parents to purchase other brands. The Michigan Department of Health and Human
Services says the decision is based on Abbotts recent production levels and its ability
to supply sufficient stock.

BASKETBALL PLAYER COLLAPSES-DETROIT
A Detroit Northwestern High School basketball player is on life support after going into
cardiac arrest during a game last night
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wrote in an email to parents that senior Cartier (Car-tee-ay)
Woods was administered CPR on the court and rushed to Henry Ford Hospital.
Vitti added that the next 24 hours are critical to Woods' survival. His family is asking for
prayers and well wishes.

SCHOOL FIGHT-METRO DETROIT
Two kids were tasered -- and six total are in police custody -- following a fight at
Southfield High School on Wednesday.
It happened just after 1 o'clock this afternoon in the cafeteria at Southfield A&T. School
officials says a physical altercation broke out between students -- prompting both
school security and Southfield Police officers to respond. Officers used their tasers on
two students -- and six were taken
into custody.

FLIGHT DIVERTED-DETROIT
A Delta Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit...diverted to a Canadian Air Force
Base in Goose Bay Canada yesterday.
Flight 133 made the emergency landing in Newfoundland.. a diversion spot for
transatlantic flights... around 5:30 local time. It took off again just a short time later..
arriving in Detroit about two hours late.
No word yet on what caused the diversion.

GROUNDHOG DAY
Will we have six more weeks of winter? Woody the Woodchuck will make her 24th
annual prediction at the Howell Nature Center as will Punxatawny Phil in Pennsylvania
later this morning at 8:30. If they see their shadows, it'll mean six more weeks of winter.

POWERBALL
There's still a chance to become an INSTANT multi-millionaire. No tickets matched all
six numbers in last (Wed) night's Powerball drawing. The winning numbers were 31,
43, 58, 59, 66 ... and the Powerball was 9. The Power Play was 2.
Saturday night's jackpot is worth an estimated $700 million with a cash option of 375.7
million.

ARCTIC AIR ADVISORY
With the state already experiencing several days of frigid temperatures, AAA has
issued a statewide Arctic Air Advisory.
The auto club says extremely cold temperatures can wreak havoc on vehicles, so
they're offering tips to help motorists keep their vehicles road-ready. They say drivers
should ensure their batteries are fully charged and in good condition ... ensure their
tanks are at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up, and park in a garage, if possible.
If you don't have a garage, Triple-A says put a tarp over the hood or park in a windprotected area.

SEX ASSAULT LAWSUIT IN U.P.
A lawsuit has been filed against a management company, Kilian Management
Services, that owns and operates McDonald's franchises in Michigan's U-P after a 16-
year-old girl claims she was sexually assaulted by her manager at a McDonald's in Iron
Mountain. W-L-U-C reports the girl's lawyers say the manager assaulted and sexually
harassed the teen for two hours before police came. The manager was arrested and
convicted of criminal charges.

DOG RESCUE UPDATE
At least eight puppies died in a Norton Shores home where 78 dogs were seized living
in deplorable conditions. Home owner Lisa Cober has been charged with animal
cruelty, according to court records. She reportedly told investigators that she had at
least 22 puppies and that eight had died and two more had to be put to sleep because
they had distemper.
Some of the dogs seized were sick or injured and have been taken to an animal shelter
to be checked out.

JANUARY 6TH
Two Wayne County men have become the latest of nearly two dozen Michigan
residents accused of participating in the January 6th insurrection at the U-S Capitol.
The two men, cousins 27-year-old Kyle Mlynarek of Redford Township and 53-year-old
Ronald Balhorn of Garden City, were arrested by federal agents yesterday (Wed).
According to prosecutors, Mlynarek and Balhorn joined a mob of rioters that stormed
the Capitol in an attempt by then-President Donald Trump to remain in power.
Investigators say the two were also seen pushing against a group of officers.
Although the duo was just arrested yesterday, tips about the two were sent to
investigators within 24 hours of the insurrection.

AIR POLLUTION AGREEMENT
Graphic Packaging in Kalamazoo has finalized the consent order to resolve several
violations at the facility. It will require the company to pay 109-thousand dollars and
abide by a compliance plan with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great,
Lakes , Energy and Air Quality Division.
EGLE alleges that the Company
has emitted odors from its facility that have created an unreasonable interference with
the
comfortable enjoyment of life and property in the surrounding area and began
construction for two
new boilers before obtaining a Permit to Install.