WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 08-19-22
Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:54:38 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

ABORTION RULING TODAY
A decision is expected around 10:30 this morning from an Oakland County judge, in the fight over reproductive rights in Michigan. Judge Jacob Cunningham says he will rule on whether to extend a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of Michigan's 1931 law banning abortion. The suit was brought by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Attorneys representing two county prosecutors -- arguing against the governor's request -- say the 1931 law banning abortion should be binding, following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent overturning of Roe v. Wade.

ABORTION PROPOSAL CHALLENGE
A challenge has been filed in hopes of keeping an abortion rights proposal off the November ballot. A coalition of anti-abortion groups called Citizens Supporting Michigan Women and Children say there are 60 errors written in the proposed constitutional amendment, including in three key passages where all the spaces between words have been removed making the amendment impossible to understand. The state Board of Canvassers will make a final determination on the proposal during a meeting August 31st.

PLOT TO KIDNAP GOV TRIAL
Federal prosecutors have rested their case against two men on trial for a second time in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Jurors in Grand Rapids heard seven days of testimony before prosecutors finished presenting their case Thursday morning. The defense for Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., who are on trial on conspiracy charges, will present their case today (FRI). A jury in April couldn't reach a unanimous verdict but acquitted two other men. One of the last government witnesses was an FBI agent who was working undercover and said he got inside the group when talk turned to obtaining an explosive to destroy a bridge near the Governor's vacation home in Elk Rapids. The defense argues that the government entrapped Fox and Croft. After hearing the defense's case today, closing arguments will take place.

SPORTS BETTING IN MICHIGAN
Millions of dollars are being bet on sports in Michigan each month, but the lack of games affected internet gaming totals in July. The Michigan Gaming Control Board says total internet sports betting totaled just over 206 million dollars last month, which is down from 270-million in June. Gambling analysts say a drop in betting can be attributed to a sparse sports calendar and is normal for the time of year. They expect wagers to nearly double in the next few months due to more games being played.

SEX STING
Shopping for sex has led to criminal charges for two men, including one who was on the sex offender list. The Huron County Sheriff's Department says 66-year old Dennis Bales from Port Huron and 70-year old Dale Ignash from the Thumb region were shopping on internet sex and prostitution sites in hopes of having sex with underage children. Turns out the suspects were talking with undercover detectives. They have been charged with sex crimes and using a computer in the commission of a crime. Authorities say Bales has past sex related convictions and was on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. The Sheriff's Department says more crackdowns are planned in the future.

WATER PIPELINE REPAIRS
Crews have stabilized a ten-foot wide water pipeline near Port Huron as they prepare to remove a portion of the pipe that broke last weekend. The Great Lakes Water Authority says concrete pads were poured under the existing pipe Wednesday. The damaged pipe is expected to be removed this weekend. A boil water advisory remains in effect for seven communities in St. Clair, Lapeer, Macomb and Oakland counties. Authority workers yesterday helped distribute six-thousand gallons of water to Imlay City residents. Final repairs and testing aren't expected to be completed until next month.

PATRICK LYOYA MURDER CASE-GRAND RAPIDS
The defense team for former Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr wants his training records and departmental training materials and policies between June of 2015 and April of 2022. Schurr is charged with second degree murder for shooting Patrick Lyoya in April. A hearing is reportedly scheduled for this morning on a motion by Schurr's attorneys to adjourn an August 30th preliminary hearing. The motion says a key issue will be whether Officer Schurr was justified in using lethal force after Lyoya actively resisted and assaulted him based on his police training. Schurr believes he acted within the department's policies.

PORT HURON FLOAT DOWN
Thousands of people are expected to hop on rafts and other flotation devices for the Port Huron Float Down this Sunday, but the U.S. and Canadian Coasts Guards advise against it. They expect anywhere from one to six thousand people to make the 7and a 1//2 mile trek from Port Huron to Marysville. Both the U.S. And Canadian Coast Guards say The fast moving current, lack of lifejackets, alcohol , potentially challenging weather conditions, water temperature, and limited rescue resources can result in serious injuries or fatalities.

ARMED ROBBER DENIED BOND-KALAMAZOO
A 42-year-old man, suspected of shooting at a Kalamazoo police officer and of attempted armed robbery, has been denied bond. Juan Alvardo-Lopez has been charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to rob and several other charges after attempting to rob a supermarket last Saturday night. He fired at a clerk and customer, but no one was hit. He crashed his vehicle and ran and allegedly fired shots at a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer. The officer was not shot but says in court documents that he was hit by shrapnel and had minor injuries.

TWO TEENS SHOT-DETROIT
A shooting on Detroit's east side has left two teens in the hospital. Police say a group of girls got into an argument last night when a car pulled up and someone inside the vehicle started shooting. Police say a 16-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder and transported to the hospital, where she was listed in stable condition. Police say a 17-year-old boy was shot as well, and is also hospitalized in stable condition.

LINE FIVE LAWSUIT
A federal judge will stay in charge of a lawsuit that seeks to close a Great Lakes oil pipeline. U.S. District Judge Janet Neff retained jurisdiction Thursday in the case involving Enbridge Energy's Line 5, which stretches across the waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a case to close the line in 2019 and wanted it heard in state court. Neff sided with the Canadian company, which contends regulation of the pipeline is a federal matter. Neff also is considering a separate Enbridge suit challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's order to decommission Line 5. Whitmer and Nessel say the pipeline is an environmental hazard, while Enbridge says it's safe.

BARAGA CORRECTIONAL GUARDS ATTACKED
Four staff members were attacked by prisoners at the Baraga Correctional Facility in the U-P on Thursday. The Michigan Department of Corrections says prison officers were monitoring activities in the prison yard when five prisoners began attacking the correctional staff monitors. They say the prisoners were punching the staff in the head and neck. Other staff members were called to quell the attack with the use of tasers and chemical agents. Two of the staff were seriously injured, but all four have been treated and released from the hospital. Those who led the attack were moved to other maximum-security facilities.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY
The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect in seven local communities in as crews work to repair a ten-foot water pipeline near Port Huron. Those impacted communities include the city of Rochester, Shelby Township, Washington Township, Almont and Imlay City.

HOPE COLLEGE
Hope College is gearing up to welcome what is anticipated to be its largest-ever incoming class for the fall semester. There are 950 first-time students currently registered as the colleges 161st academic year approaches.Hope is anticipating overall enrollment to reach over 3,200 students for the 2022-23 school year, up 67 students from last year but under the 2014 record of 3,433 enrollees. Fall semester classes will begin on Tuesday, August 30th AMBULANCE ROLLOVER Detroit Fire Department confirming to that there was a rollover crash involving an ambulance Thursday evening. The fire department says the ambulance was from Hart Ambulance EMS. According to fire officials- -the ambulance was hit by a civilian who ran into the vehicle . The driver of the ambulance was uninjured and taken to the hospital for evaluation. SPARROW

THERAPY DOGS
Sparrow Hospital in Lansing has some new employees with fur.....therapy dogs. Sparrow Hospital has reportedly expanded its therapy dog program using the dogs to comfort patients. The dogs helped a lot of people during the pandemic.