WATZ Today's Country

Tuesday News Summary 03-07-23
Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:12:16 EST

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

MSU VICTIM UPDATE
One of the Michigan State students wounded in the mass shooting three weeks ago is
continuing to improve and her appetite is returning. An update posted by the sister of
Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez (Wah-pee-uh-Perez) says the junior business student is
challenging herself to take more walks and go longer distances. Perez is now taking
walks in the hospital hallway. An update posted on her Go Fund Me page, says Perez
will need two more surgeries. One other student remains hospitalized while three
others have been released.

LOWERING MI COSTS SIGNING
After successful passage last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is set to sign the
'Lowering MI Costs' plan into law today (Tuesday). In an event scheduled for 9am in
Lansing, the law will roll back the retirement tax and increase the Working Families Tax
Credit, which would be a benefit for nearly half of all kids in Michigan. Later in the day,
Governor Whitmer will travel to Battle Creek to promote her college plan to lower the
age eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program from 25 to 21 years old.

SHOOTING NEAR SCHOOL *** CHECK FOR UPDATE ***
Roseville Police continue to investigate a shooting from Monday that occurred near a
local elementary school, leaving one person hospitalized. The incident occurred right
before dismissal outside of Steenland Elementary, but no students or staff were
involved. The school was put on temporary lockdown as a precaution. Police say the
shooting suspect is in custody, while the victim is being treated at an area hospital,
condition is unknown. No details have been released as to what may have led to the
incident.

SICK SCHOOL
A school in Washtenaw County was closed Monday because too many students were
sick. A message sent to parents at Pleasant Ridge Elementary in Saline says 31-
percent of the school was affected by gastrointestinal illness, similar to norovirus, last
Friday. The building has just over 400 students and the sickness hit all classrooms.
District workers spent the weekend cleaning the classrooms and entire building.

FORMER TEACHER CHARGED
A former Macomb Township teacher has been charged with having a sexual
relationship with a 15-year-old girl. 71-year-old Rex Phelps is a retired teacher from
Macomb Dakota High School. He's accused of initiating the relationship with the teen
who he gave lessons to about airplanes, even while in flight. He faces three total
charges. His bond has been set at 50-THOUSAND dollars.

GAYLORD MAN FLEE'S ON SNOWMOBILE
A Gaylord trooper spotted an expired snowmobile tag and attempted to stop the
snowmobiler, but instead the man fled. The trooper captured footage on his dashcam,
and after showing the image to a few people, someone recognized the snowmobile at a
nearby store. That's when troopers found it parked outside. State Police reviewed
surveillance footage and confirmed his name from a credit card purchase. Instead of
just a ticket, 45-year-old Jeremy Burgett now faces a felony charge for trying to run
from police.

CRUMBLEYS APPEAL
The legal battle over criminal charges filed against the parents of Oxford High School
shooter Ethan Crumbley moves to the Michigan Court of Appeals today.
Attorneys for James and Jennifer Crumbley will argue that the involuntary
manslaughter charges filed against the parents a few days after four students were
killed and seven others, including a teacher, were wounded should be dismissed.
Prosecutors say the parents didn't get help for their son and bought him a gun shortly
before the shooting. The defense says the Crumbleys were not the cause of the
deaths of Tate Myre (mirror), Justin Schilling, Hannah (hon-uh) St. Juliana and Madison
Baldwyn. A decision is not expected today.

ANTI SEMITIC FLYERS -W MI
We've seen a rise in antisemitism for many Jewish people in recent years. The latest
targets have been a couple of neighborhoods in west Michigan's Caledonia and
Wyoming areas where antisemitic flyers were found.
Anti Defamation League Michigan says this type of propaganda is being found all over
the state and country. The Kent County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

ROAD REPORT TO BE RELEASED
A report will be released today to examine Michigan's road funding crisis. Public Sector
Consultants have spent the past year compiling data that looks at the current shortfall
Michigan faces as well as several policy solutions to help bridge the funding gap. They
say the report highlights Michigans need for an equitable, long-term, sustainable
funding plan that will finally dedicate the resources to improve our roads and bridges.

MAYOR DUGGAN-STATE OF CITY
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will give his tenth State of the City speech tonight. The
mayor will be speaking at the Michigan Central Station in southwest Detroit that is
being converted by Ford from a blighted building into a tech and innovation center. We
are told the mayor will talk about how the Corktown area will serve as a catalyst for the
future of mobility. In addition, the Mayor is expected to outline a ten-step plan to
improve neighborhoods and remove blight. He'll also be talking about reducing crime
and creating more affordable housing.

NEW JOBS IN FRANKENMUTH
More jobs are coming to Frankenmuth with the expansion of the Bavarian Inn Lodge.
Governor Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corpopration Monday
to announce funding approval for the project that will bring an indoor waterpark at the
lodge. The project is expected to generate a capital investment of $80 million and
create 71 jobs.

GUN POLL
A new poll shows there is wide support for gun reform legislation under consideration
by state lawmakers. The survey of 600 voters by the Glengariff Group shows more
than 75-percent of those polled support red flag and safe storage laws which could be
approved by legislative committees this month. In addition, 75-percent favor a twoweek waiting period for buying a gun, 60-percent support the idea of putting a capacity
limit on magazines and 55-percent agree with banning semi-automatic assault
weapons. The survey was conducted last week, or two weeks after the mass shooting
at Michigan State University left three students dead and five others wounded.

MARINA FIRE-MUSKEGON
There's more than one million dollars in damages to boats stored at Safe Harbor Great
Lakes Marina in Muskegon after a fire broke out in one of the buildings Monday
morning. There's major damage to a few boats since the fire broke out in a boat in the
middle of the building, but Muskegon Deputy Fire Chief Jay Paulson says all 150 boats
in the building sustained some damage . No one was injured. The cause of the fire is
being investigated.

MCAULEY PICKET-MUSKEGON
A picket is planned next week at the Sanctuary at McAuley skilled nursing facility in
Muskegon in the midst of contract talks with Trinity Health. WOOD TV reports Service
Employees International Union, which represents the workers, says there's a staffing
crisis at the nursing home. It says wages and benefits must improve to recruit and
retain workers. Trinity says in a statement that it has provided 14 proposals over 10
negotiating sessions, but says unfortunately, the union walked away from their best and
final offer.

MANCINO'S EMBEZZLE-TRAVERSE CITY
In Traverse City, the general manager of two Mancinos' restaurants has been charged
with embezzling over 130-thousand dollars from the company since 2019. State Police
were contacted in January by the owner to investigate. The suspect, 54-year-old
James Lake, of Traverse City, who has been with the company for 30 years, is now
accused of manipulating the rewards program from his office computer.

SAULT STE MARIE HUMAN TRAFFIC
A 30-year-old Sault Ste. Marie man is accused of using narcotics to coerce women into
sex. Cody Mathieu McCoy is charged with human trafficking , sex assault and
possession of narcotics. W-L-U-C reports the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team
believes he's been taking advantage of young women struggling with addiction.

PURSES WITH A PURPOSE-N MI
From now thru April, Michigan State Police are collecting purses and raising awareness
of sexual assault survivors through its annual "Purses with a purpose" fundraiser in
northern Michigan. It coincides with April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Troopers are accepting new purses or tote bags filled with comfort items to benefit the
Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan. Items can be dropped of at the state
police post in Gaylord, Cheboygan Prosecutor's Office or the Boyne City Boat Yard.

INTERLOCHEN
Interlochen Center for the Arts has released its first round of concert announcements
for this summer's festival schedule. Classic rock fixture "Styx" will take the stage at
Kresge Auditorium, July 12th, while the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs July
22nd. Tickets for both shows go on sale this Friday.