WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 08-05-22
Fri, 05 Aug 2022 07:29:21 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

ROBERT HALF REPORT
The job market will remain strong through the end of 2022. That's according to new research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. In a survey of more than 1,500 managers at companies in the U.S., 46% revealed plans to add staff during the second half of the year. Another 46% expect to fill vacated positions and only 8% foresee hiring freezes. 88-percent of managers say it's hard to find qualified talent and many candidates' salary expectations exceed what the company is willing to offer.

FALSE POLICE REPORT
The Monroe County Sheriffs office is investigating a 41-year old for allegedly filing a false police report. The suspect allegedly told authorities that two black males robbed him at gunpoint. Monroe County Sheriffs office says that the suspect even provided descriptions of the robbers and their vehicle. Authorities are also saying that the suspect allegedly confessed to falsifying the police report. The suspect was arrested. They are being held in the Monroe County Jail.

ID THEFT
A 34-year-old woman was arrested in Northern Michigan for allegedly charging more than 12-THOUSAND dollars onto her deceased mothers credit card. In April, Michigan State Police in Kalkaska received a report that Sarah-Lea Marie Helsel allegedly committed identity theft and used a credit card illegally. The Kalkaska County Prosecutors Office served a search warrant and then an arrest warrant in July -- Helsel turned herself in. She was arraigned Wednesday and bond was set.

HURON RIVER CHEMICAL UPDATE
Another round of testing near the site of a chemical spill in the Huron River near Wixom detects NO presence of hexavalent chromium, but health officials are still telling people to stay out of the water. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said today the results were from eleven samples. Testing is continuing at more than two dozen other sites. The chemical, which can cause serious health issues, was released into the sewer system from Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom over the weekend and routed to the Wixom wastewater treatment facility. Health leaders are still advising people to avoid the Huron River along with Kent Lake, Mill Pond and Norton Creek.

MIGGY RETIREMENT?
Could Miguel Cabrera be headed for an early retirement? Ahead of the game on Thursday night, Cabrera told reporters that he might retire after the season due to chronic knee pain. Cabrera says he's taking it day by day and he has to talk to the Tigers GM and his agent. Cabrera had originally said he hoped to finish out his eight year contract, which runs through next season. The team has been limiting Cabrera's playing time this season due to his injuries.

TWO GIRLS MISSING-ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Two little girls are missing from the home of their foster parents in southwest Michigan's Centreville in St. Joseph County. Michigan State Police say 11-yeaer-old Jerrica Hope Tucker and six-year-old Alexandra Jay Prewitt went missing from the yard of their foster home Thursday afternoon. Police believe their biological mother, Samantha Hope Prewitt took them. She had lost rights to the girls and had recently threatened to take them as they played outside. She's believed to be driving a dark blue 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan with Michigan license plate EPE-5-9-1-6.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARSON-KALAMAZOO
A man who made a video describing abortion as genocide has been arrested for a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in southwestern Michigan and will appear in court today. Joshua Brereton of Paw Paw is charged with committing arson at an organization that receives government money. Fire was set Sunday with fuel and a fireplace starter log at Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo. Investigators say damage was mostly limited to the exterior of the building. Agents got a tip about Brereton and looked at surveillance video from the building. They also looked at videos he posted online.

BREONNA TAYLOR-GRAND RAPIDS NATIVE
The U.S. Department of Justice charged four police officers Thursday for the death of Breonna Taylor, a native of Grand Rapids. She was shot by Louisville police officers in March of 2020 while they were executing a no-knock search warrant. Taylor's cousin in Grand Rapids, Tawanna Gordon, said they were beginning to lose that hope but they never gave up. She says they knew that her rights had been violated. She says let's make sure they see it through like they intended to see through her justice and they're still not done. The family is pushing for Breonna's Law to be passed throughout the nation to eliminate no-knock warrants.

TREE ON CAR FATAL-LAPEER COUNTY
The severe storms this week are to blame for at least ONE death. The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department says 36-year old Katelyn Furneaux died after the truck she was in was hit by a falling tree at the intersection of Imlay City and Wilder Road. Furneaux's husband and son, who were also in the truck weren't physically hurt. Investigators say there was a thunderstorm warning in effect when the tree came crashing down on the truck. An investigation is ongoing.

SHOOTOUT SUSPECT -BASKETBALL CAMP
A suspect in a Warren gas station shoot-out, facing multiple charges, has been granted permission by a Macomb County Judge to travel out of state to attend two college basketball camps. The attorney for twenty-one year old Eric Boatwright says his client will visit Cleveland State University and Ohio University to secure a basketball scholarship, but he is ordered by the judge to wear a tether. Boatwright, allegedly involved in a July 21st incident outside of a Mobil gas station in which investigators recovered thirty shell-casings. Another man involved is also facing weapons charges. Both will be in court on September 8th.

UP-WANTED MAN
A felony warrant has been issued for Lloyd Martin Javi for assault with intent to murder. He's wanted in connection with an assault in Breitung Township, near Iron Mountain in the U-P on Tuesday. He's reportedly driving a stolen, silver 2010 Toyota Corolla.

THORNAPPLE-KELLOGG BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE
The school bus driver shortage is hitting one Michigan school district southeast of Grand Rapids. Thornapple Kellogg Schools say they are canceling some bus routes and creating a walking zone for students because of a driver shortage. The district says some drivers retired over summer break, or left for family or other reasons. It says it will continue to work to fully staff the transportation department in the interim.

EASTPOINTE SUSPECT CAUGHT
An escaped prisoner from Eastpointe is back in custody -- arrested last night during a traffic stop outside of Brighton. Devonta Deshawn Moore was caught with the help of Livingston County Sheriff deputies and Michigan State Police. The 18 year old was wanted for domestic assault and fleeing and alluding. He escaped Monday while being taken to a prisoner transport van. Moore will be arraigned on the new charges today.

FORMER UNDERSHERIFF PROBATION
A former undersheriff in the U-P's Houghton County, Kevin Coppo, has been sentenced to a year and a half on probation for drunk driving. Coppo pled guilty to operating under the influence and failing to report an accident. He hit a parked car in a hotel parking lot in Traverse City in March. The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office said his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

FLINT WATER
A judge handling a trial over liability for lead contamination in Flint's water has sealed the transcript of a hearing with lawyers. The conference was held this week while jurors were on an 11-day break from deliberations. A docket entry indicates the hearing over "trial related matters" was held by video conference Wednesday. Lawyers representing four children are suing two engineering firms that performed work for Flint when the Flint River was used for drinking water. Court spokesman David Ashenfelter says he doesn't have information about why the judge sealed the transcript or what the parties discussed. Jurors will return to federal court in Ann Arbor on August 9th.