Wednesday News Summary 08-10-22Wed, 10 Aug 2022 07:18:56 EDT
(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)
OTTAWA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT
Unemployment rates for June 2022 were recently released recently by the state. Ottawa Countys unemployment rate for June measured 3.6%; the fourth lowest in Michigan. Rates ranged from 3.2% in Livingston County to 9.0% in Roscommon County. Sixty-nine of Michigans counties saw an increase in their unemployment rate from May to June. Over the course of the year, jobless rates have fallen for all eightythree Michigan counties.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATION
Mott Community College President, Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea (Walker-Griff-ee-uh), has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Community College Association. Walker-Griffea has served on the MCCA Board for six years, most recently as Vice Chair. In this role she will serve alongside the president of the MCCA. Her election as Board Chair was made during the organizations summer conference in Traverse City. The organization also welcomed two new member institutions, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College and the Bay Mills Community College. They are the first tribal college members of MCCA.
EV CREDITS
While an electric vehicle tax credit of up to $75-hundred dollars is now moving toward final approval in Congress, auto industry officials warn that the vast majority of EV purchases won't qualify for a credit that large. That's mainly because of the bill's requirement that an electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with minerals mined or recycled on the continent. And those rules become more stringent over time - to the point where, in a few years, it's possible that no EVs would qualify for the tax credit.
FORD F-150 COSTS RISE
The popular electric Ford F 150 is going to cost a lot more in the future. Ford officials say the cost of the popular pick up will rise between $6-thousand and $85-hundred. Ford officials are blaming a rise in material costs, among other things. Those who awaiting a truck on back order won't be affected. The price increase will bring the price of the truck to between $47-thousand and $97-thousand, depending on the model.
CHALKING TIRES
A federal judge has outlawed the practice of chalking tires to determine whether a motorist has stayed over a parking meter's time limit. The ruling comes in a class action lawsuit filed against the city of Saginaw. A motorist claimed that chalking tires without a warrant or suspicion of wrong-doing violates the Fourth amendment. The judge agreed. He ruled that the drivers are entitled to one dollar of compensation for every chalking. However, the city is NOT required to refund the cost of their tickets.
INFLATION REPORT
The governments Consumer price index comes out at 8:30 this morning .. and the big question will be: has inflation peaked- and is the worst over? In June our 12 month inflation rate rose to 9.1 per cent- many economists believe when the number comes out today for July we will see inflation dropping back below 9 per cent. If theyre wrong ..well likely hear speculation that the Federal Reserve will step up its interest rate hikes hoping to curb spending believing that will bring prices down.
LET MI KIDS LEARN
Let MI Kids Learn has announced their initiative campaign will file more than 500- thousand signatures for the education scholarship proposal with the Bureau of Elections this afternoon. They say after school shutdowns and COVID learning loss, families are desperate for change and Michigan families will soon have more educational choices for their children than anywhere in America, and thats good news for the future of the state. The group says they are confident the Bureau can quickly canvass the petitions for the initiative and get these vital reforms in front of the State Legislature this year.
MT. PLEASANT RESOURCE OFFICER
Mount Pleasant City Commissioners Monday night approved adding an additional resource officer to Mount Pleasant Public Schools, but not without some back and forth. Although Mount Pleasants Mayor, Amy Perschbacher, and Vice Mayor, Olivia Cyman opposed the proposal, the commission voted to approve adding a resource officer at Mount Pleasant Middle School. The Mayor and Vice Mayor were the only no votes citing a lack of data clearly expressing the need, even though the position is paid for through the school and grants.
WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
The Western Michigan Fair in Ludington kicks off this week. The fair has taken place every year in Ludington since 1936. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, they still put on an animal exhibit. Fair board members have put a lot of time and effort into the preparation of the fair, but are excited to finally open up to the public.
PASTOR GUILTY
A Kalamazoo pastor accused of paying teen boys for sex pleaded guilty Tuesday. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly offering to sell transportation services for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. As part of the plea deal, Strickland will spend one year in jail and he will not have to register as a sex offender or be placed on probation after hes released. The 10 other felony charges Strickland faced will be dismissed at his sentencing in October, prosecutors said. Authorities accused he and his wife of using their positions within the Second Baptist Church in Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Public Schools to meet and coerce teen boys into having sex.
MONKEYPOX AID
Representative Laurie Pohutsky and Senator Jeremy Moss have sent a letter, along with several of their House and Senate colleagues, to the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary asking for federal assistance to fight monkeypox in Michigan. To date, the state has 70 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease, and that number is expected to climb. The letter asks the Secretary to provide federal resources to allocate more vaccines, expand diagnostic testing, and coordinate with state and local officials to ensure that areas with the greatest need are getting the appropriate assistance.
MISSING WOMAN CASE
Michigan State Police are now taking over the investigation into the disappearance last year of a woman from Lenawee County. Dee Warner was last seen in April of 2021 at her home in tiny Tipton, where she ran a trucking company. Troopers and the FBI have used ground penetrating radar and conducted digs, but there has been no sign of 52-year-old Warner, who has five children. The Lenawee County Sheriffs Office asked the State Police to take over the case, but say there was no big tip that brought on the request.
HURON TOWNSHIP MURDER
A Flat Rock man has been arraigned on murder charges for the shooting death of a teen over the weekend. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says 20-year-old Jaylin Colon shot 17-year-old Gavino Torres several times at home in Huron Township. Colon ran away, but then later turned himself in to police. Torres died of his injuries. Colon was given $100-thousand bond and is due back in court on August 17th.
COLLEGE STRESS
College students and stress. A new study looks at who's most affected. Students who are nonbinary, female or in their second year of college are most affected by academic stress according to a study from Rutgers. Researchers say colleges should consider offering additional resources and support to these groups to improve stress levels and psychological well-being.
BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT
A word of caution if you planned to go to a beach along Lake Michigan today. The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement for today through late tonight for high wave action, strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions in Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties. North facing beaches such as Stearns Park, Muskegon State Park, Holland State Park, Mears State Park and North Beach of South Haven will be especially dangerous. There have been a few drownings in Lake Michigan this week.
MSU WOMEN'S SWIM AND DIVE
Michigan State University is not compliant with Title IX, but a U.S. district court judge denied a preliminary injunction to immediately reinstate the women's swimming and diving team. The judge ordered Michigan State to submit a Title IX compliance plan to the court within 60 days. The ruling came in a lawsuit by the former MSU women's swimming and diving team....that was eliminated nearly two years ago. The suit claims Michigan State provides fewer opportunities in athletics for women than men.
BODY FOUND ANCHOR BAY
Macomb County Sheriff's deputies say the weather and alcohol are to blame for a drowning in Anchor Bay as divers find the body of a 37-year-old man. Divers recovered the body of 37-year-old Essa Koja of Macomb Township shortly after 2pm. Koja had been out boating Sunday night with 17 friends when he went for a swim. The boat wasn't anchored tightly and began drifting away. Koja began calling for help. Sgt Renee Yax at the Sheriff's Department says several people jumped in to try to save Koja, but they couldn't stop him from going under the waves. No one was wearing a life jacket.
GOVERNOR KIDNAP TRIAL
Federal prosecutors are set to begin building their case against 2 men described as leaders of a 2020 scheme to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. It's the government's second chance to get convictions, after a jury couldn't deliver a unanimous verdict last Spring. Opening statements are planned for today in federal court in Grand Rapids. Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. are charged with agreeing to kidnap Whitmer as part of a plot to shock the country into chaos in the final days of the 2020 presidential election. The government says they were displeased over COVID-19 restrictions. The jury was selected yesterday . Some people were dismissed for health reasons or for political beliefs they couldn't set aside.
COVID-MI
Cases of COVID have dropped by about 20-percent over the past week, but deaths are on the rise. That's according to the latest numbers from the State Health Department. There were just over 16-thousand new cases, and 137 deaths - nearly a 30-percent increase.
OXFORD PARENTS
Parents took turns last night addressing the Oxford School Board, as there are new revelations in the November deadly shooting at the high school. A new lawsuit states that an armed security guard saw one of the students killed -- Tate Myre -- bleeding on the floor, but mistakenly thought the scene was a drill. School board president Tom Donnelly then sent a controversial email to parents, calling the allegations counterproductive and designed to divide. He was the top target of criticism at last night's hours-long meeting.
CHARLEVOIX MANHUNT
Charlevoix County law enforcement agencies are looking for a man considered armed and dangerous. They are looking for 44-year-old Adam Johnson, of Charlevoix, over a personal protection order violation. He's described as white with red hair and a beard. He was last seen driving a blue and tan Ford F-250. Anyone who sees him should call 9-1-1.
HILLSDALE MAN ELECTROCUTED
A 28 year old man is dead after coming into contact with a downed power line in Hillsdale County. Michigan State Police from the Jackson post responded to the scene and found the victim. A second person - a 25 year old woman - was also found injured. She was airlifted to the hospital - her condition NOT released as the investigation continues.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENROLLMENT
Enrollment is down about 26-percent in the Grand Rapids Public Schools and they're working to turn things around. WOOD TV reports the superintendent says slowing birthrates and other factors have affected enrollment. They are working on a long-term plan to update programs and possibly repurpose some buildings. The school district plans to hold some town hall meetings this Fall to get ideas from the public.
MACKINAC ISLAND E-BIKES
You can't have an e-bike on parts of Mackinac Island after one caught on fire last week at a residence. Some firefighters were injured. W-L-U-C reports Mackinac Island Police Chief Doug Topolski said that the fire could have been catastrophic . He says it could have damaged many businesses and historic buildings had it gone unnoticed. He and the fire chief have banned e-bikes from fire and police buildings while the Grand Hotel has banned them from hotel buildings and employee housing. They've also been banned from school buildings.
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