Wednesday News Summary 03-01-23
Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:07:02 EST


(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)


CAMP GRAYLING EXPANSION
The acting director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says talks are
ongoing about a major expansion of Camp Grayling in northern Michigan. Shannon
Lott told members of an Appropriations Subcommittee that she is working with the
Governor's office on a statement, but the statute doesn't allow the state to lease land
like it did in 1941. Lott says she's been talking with state military leaders about other
ways to conduct training exercises while protecting the natural resources in the area.
The Michigan National Guard wants more land for training activities like drone
operation, cyber and electronic warfare, and operation of space and communications
systems. Many local governments and conservation groups have voiced opposition to
the move.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IN MICHIGAN
Former Vice President Mike Pence will deliver a speech in Michigan this afternoon.
Pence is scheduled to speak at Hillsdale College as part of the Drummond Lecture
series which focuses on faith, learning and related issues of the day. The speech is
scheduled at four o'clock this afternoon. When asked about a potential run for
President, Pence said earlier this year that he'll continue to travel across the country
and listen to the American people. He was in New York City last week meeting with
potential donors. Before serving as vice president, Pence was governor of Indiana.

ROAD DEATHS
Deaths and injuries have fallen on Michigan roadways since this time last year.
According to numbers provided by Michigan State Police -- there have been 132
deaths and 529 serious injuries on the roads so far this year. Compared to this time last
year -- there are 14 fewer deaths and 18 fewer serious injuries.

MET ENROLLMENT
A series of seminars are scheduled across the state to provide more information about
the Michigan Education Savings Program. Executives with MET and the Savings
Program will be meeting to outline college savings options. The information and
enrollment sessions will start this evening in Ann Arbor. Future meetings will be held in
Grand Rapids and Troy. Michigan Education Trust leaders are offering a 150-dollar
matching grant as well as waiving the 25-dollar enrollment fee for those who open a
new account at one of the sessions.

AMC POPCORN WALMART
Just in time for Oscar weekend -- the AMC movie theater chain will be introducing a
line of popcorn at Walmart stores. Called Perfectly Popcorn, it will be available in three
flavors ... Lightly Salted, Classic Butter and Extra Butter in both microwave and readyto-eat versions. The move is the latest by AMC CEO Adam Aron to diversify the
company. However, the company's announcement earlier this month to implement
tiered ticket pricing at theaters based on seat location did NOT go over well.

SPENDING PLAN
State Senators have finalized a tax cutting plan and sent it to the Governor's office.
The Lowering MI (my) Costs Plan phases out the retirement tax over four years and
increases the Earned Income Tax Credit that will affect more than 700-thousand
Michigan workers. Also yesterday the Senate approved a new 1.3 billion dollars
spending bill that allocates more than 600-million dollars to prepare land in Marshall for
the new Ford battery plant.

GUN REFORM LEGISLATION HEARING
A package of gun safety laws will be discussed during a State House committee
hearing this afternoon. The legislation would require background checks for all
firearms sold in Michigan, require guns be stored in gun safes or with trigger locks and
establish a red-flag provision to allow police to ask a court to temporarily take away
weapons from individuals deemed a threat to themselves and others.

MSU BUILDING RESTRICTIONS
Just over two weeks after the mass shooting at Michigan State University,
administrators are expected to release more information today about tighten access to
buildings starting next month. The plan calls for all buildings to be accessible only with
key cards between 6pm and 7:30 a.m. Monday thru Fridays and at all times on the
weekend. A spokeswoman says the public will still be able to use the buildings, but will
have to coordinate with someone to get inside.

FLINT LEAD WATER LINES
The city of Flint has five months to replace any remaining lead or steel water lines. A
federal judge issued an order giving the city until August 1st to make the changes. It's
part of an agreement between Flint and the Natural Resources Defense Council which
represents residents involved in a lawsuit that was filed seven years ago as a result of
the water crisis. The Council says while more than ten-thousand pipes have been
replaced, at least one-thousand others still haven't been inspected. The city says the
work has been slowed by the COVID pandemic and shortage of pipe and other
materials.

PILOT DIES IN CRASH
A pilot from west Michigan has been identified as one of five people who died in a
crash involving a medical transport plane in Nevada. Family members say 46-year old
Scott Walton was flying the plane in a snowstorm when it apparently broke apart and
crashed last Friday. The Associated Press says Walton picked up flying as a hobby
while working in marketing, but about 10 years ago decided to pursue his passion for
aviation as a full-time career.

MSU ENDING COVID VACCINE MANDATE
Michigan State University has lifted it's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for students,
professors and all workers. Administrators say as the virus and understanding of it
continues to evolve, there is widespread protectin due to the number of people who are
vaccinated. And new vaccine boosters and treatment options are widely available.
MSU says there may be limited situations where students and employees must be
vaccinated due to the requirements of the hospitals and health care facilities where
they work and study. The first cases of COVID were reported in Michigan nearly three
years ago.

GM JOB CUTS
General Motors is cutting 500 jobs, but they aren't calling them layoffs. The Detroitbased automaker says the cuts are part of a shift to become more performance
oriented and accountable as it works to reduce costs by two-billion dollars costs over
the next two years. GM has previously said that it plans to limit hiring to essential
positions only.

FUNDS TO DEMOLISH HOSPITAL
The city of Marquette is receiving eight million dollars from the state to demolish the
former hospital and clear the site for future development. The Michigan Economic
Development Corporation's Strategic Fund Board signed off on the Community
Development Block Grant yesterday. The hospital is near the Northern Michigan
University campus. Future plans include a mixed-use development that would include
housing, stores and office space.

POWER OUTAGES
Consumers Energy crews are still working around the clock to restore power to more
than 30-thousand homes and businesses affected by two ice storms over the last
week. Many customers in Hillsdale County have been without electricity for a week.
Other outages--from a storm earlier this week-- are northeast of Grand Rapids. Near
Detroit, DTE Energy is reporting about 18-thousand outages.

MARIJUANA TAX PAYMENTS
Hundreds of Michigan cities, townships and counties will be getting money as a result
marijuana sales taxes. The Cannabis Regulatory Agency says the communities each
will receive over 51-thousand dollars for every licensed marijuana business within its
jurisdiction. The school aid and state transportation funds will also receive 69-million
dollars from the tax payments.


   

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