WATZ Today's Country

Monday News Summary 08-29-22
Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:01:09 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

U OF M NURSES
Nurses working for the University of Michigan are voting on whether or not to approve a work stoppage. More than six-thousand nurses have been working without a contract since July 1st. They are seeking higher pay and lighter hours in order to ensure patient safety. The University says they are negotiating in good faith, offering a six-percent wage increase while also working to eliminate mandatory overtime. Both groups say the well-being of patients is the most important issue. The nurses will continue voting through Friday.

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
Michigan Republicans officially set their ticket for candidates for November. At Saturday's nominating convention in Lansing, GOP delegates selected Shane Hernandez as the nominee for Lt. Governor -- gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon's pick for a running mate, along with Attorney General Matthew DePerno and Secretary of State Kristina Karamo. There was some contention during the convention -- hundreds of delegates and guests repeatedly booing Michigan GOP Party Chairman Ron Weiser. Also, a debate over Macomb County delegates delaying the start of the convention.

DRUGS SEIZED
Michigan State Police announcing the Flint Area Narcotics Group (FANG), in cooperation with the ATF, seized 11-pounds of crystal meth while executing a search warrant last week. According to FANG, the home belongs to a large-scale meth dealer for Genesee County. The long-term investigation also resulted in the seizure of two- pounds of cocaine and three hand guns, two of which were stolen. Police not identifying the suspects. The County Prosecutor's Office is still determining charges.

WATER MAIN UPDATE
A setback for workers trying to fix a major water distribution line near Port Huron. The Great Lakes Water Authority says a 16-foot pipe that arrived at the site Friday didn't meet specifications and was sent back to the manufacturer. The pipe was expected back in St. Clair County on Sunday along with the final piece of pipeline that is needed to fix the line that ruptured two weeks ago. A timeline for final repairs is unclear. The water line break caused a brief boil water advisory for nearly a million people in southeastern Michigan. The cause of the break is under investigation.

FAULTY DRUG TESTS
A new report suggests that the technology used by Michigan State Police dating back two decades to determine if someone had been smoking marijuana couldn't tell the difference between the psychoactive substance, THC, and other substances, like CBD. In an interview with Medium.com, MSP Toxicology Unit Supervisor Geoffrey French says they recently became aware of the issue -- and that it potentially could have led to the conviction of people who didn't actually smoke marijuana. However, he says the use of CBD is relatively new, and that the number of those tested most likely didn't have just that substance in their system. More information is expected from State Police this week.

TUITION DRAWING
The Michigan Education Trust is giving away 100 $15-THOUSAND dollar prizes for prepaid tuition -- totaling $1.5 MILLION dollars -- and you only have until midnight Wednesday to enter. After that, there will be a random drawing in September to determine who wins the prizes. They say the money can be used to cover tuition and fees at a university, community college or technical school. Anyone can enter a child from birth to 5 years old for the prize. Organizers say the goal is to provide as many Michigan families as possible with the chance to win prepaid tuition.

APPLE PRODUCTION
Perfect weather conditions this year resulting in an explosion of apple production as cider mill season gets underway. Apple farmers say there was no spring frost this year, so conditions were perfect for pollinating bees. Last year, Michigan produced more than 15-million bushels of apples -- this year, over 29-million bushels are expected. Cider Mill season usually runs through Halloween.

VAN GOGH EXHIBIT
Ticket sales began this week for what is being described as a "once-in-a- generation" exhibition of Van Gogh artistry at the Detroit Institute of Arts. "Van Gogh in America" features more than 70 works from the famed artist AND runs from October 2nd through January of 2023. Ticket sales begin Tuesday. The exhibition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the DIA becoming the first public museum in the U.S. to acquire a Van Gogh painting.

GOP CONVENTION
Michigan Republicans officially set their ticket for candidates for November. At Saturday's nominating convention in Lansing, GOP delegates selected Shane Hernandez as the nominee for Lt. Governor -- gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon's pick for a running mate, along with Attorney General Matthew DePerno and Secretary of State Kristina Karamo. There was some contention during the convention -- hundreds of delegates and guests repeatedly booing Michigan GOP Party Chairman Ron Weiser. Also, a debate over Macomb County delegates delaying the start of the convention.

EMU PROFESSORS
Eastern Michigan University professors are threatening to strike as contract talks continue between the university and the professors union. During a vote Saturday, the membership of EMU's Chapter of the American Association of University Professors voted 97-percent in favor of giving its negotiating team the authority to inform the EMU administration of possible strike action. The current contract -- covering more than 500 tenured and tenured track faculty at EMU -- will expire at midnight on Wednesday. Classes at EMU start today.

ENERGY EMERGENCY
Governor Whitmer declared an energy emergency following an oil refinery fire in Indiana. The BP Oil Refinery shut down production on Wednesday after an electrical fire. The refinery is the sixth biggest in the U.S. and produces 435-thousand barrels-per- day. The Governor's Executive Order declaring an emergency allows truck drivers to work longer hours to transport gas in order for stations to have enough fuel. The order also temporarily suspends certain laws and regulations regarding vapor pressure. The emergency order will remain in place until production resumes or September 15th.

SCHOOL SOCIAL MEDIA
As children head back to school there is a warning about telling too much on social media. Its customary for kids to put pictures of themselves on social media with the name of their new teacher. The school they attend, sometimes the things they like. And of course the child's name. All of that puts them in the danger zone according to cyber security experts at the firm LOOKOUT. They say online scams and data breaches are surging because the bad guys are collecting that kind of information. They use that information to trick you into falling for a scam email that could infect your computer. Or even stealing your personal data, especially since one out of four people have their Facebook profile settings open to the public. That means anybody can view and collect what's in the account. It's a hacker's dream.

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT
Be careful if you plan to go to Lake Michigan today. A beach hazards statement and small craft advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren Counties through this evening. Waves could reach two to five feet and the south sides of piers will be especially dangerous. There's also a slight chance of severe storms this afternoon, which could create dangerous conditions for boaters.

DETROIT ALLEGED SHOOTER ARRESTED
Detroit police have a person in custody in connection to multiple deadly shootings on the city's west side yesterday. The suspect was taken into custody last night/ The deadly violence started early in the morning .. when a 40-year-old woman was found shot multiple times .. While officers investigated the scene, a witness told them about a second scene at 7 Mile and Wyoming where a 28-year-old man was fatally shot. Then, a woman in her 40s was found shot multiple times on Livernois. And another man was found shot in the area of Pennington. Police say the man is believed to be responsible for all the shootings, with one weapon linked to the crimes.

GAS PRICES
For the 10th week in a row, gas prices are on the decline across Michigan. To open the week, Michigan drivers are paying an average of $3.83 for a gallon of regular gas -- down eight cents from a week ago. The most expensive places to buy gas are Traverse City, Ann Arbor, and Metro Detroit -- the least expensive are Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Flint.

DELTA EMERGENCY LANDING
A Delta Airlines flight bound for Seoul from Detroit was forced to land in Seattle yesterday .. due to a "medical emergency." Delta Flight 159, which took off from Metro Airport .. landed without incident. The specific cause of the medical emergency was NOT disclosed. After everything was taken care of -- the plane refueled and continued on its way to Seoul.

MISSING TEEN GIRL-WIXOM
Detectives are again asking the public for help to find a 15 year old girl from Commerce Township, who's been missing for more than a week. Laken Elezabeth Lewis was last seen Thursday, August 18th leaving the Stratford Villa mobile home park off of North Wixom Road. She was supposed to be home by 8PM, but never showed up. Laken is described as 5-foot-7-inches, weighing about 110 pounds and has long dark hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue zip-up jacket. Anyone with information should call the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING-BAY COUNTY
Two people are dead after an officer involved shooting in Bay County's Bangor Township, north of Bay City, on Sunday. Sheriff Deputies responding to shots fired inside of an apartment complex in the area of I-75 and Wilder road entered a residence and discovered a body. They say an armed suspect confronted police and a deputy shot the man , who later died of his injuries at a local hospital. The deputy who shot and killed the suspect is on paid administrative leave while Michigan State Police investigate.

TRUCKER ARRESTED IN KENT COUNTY MURDER
A 64-year-old trucker from Florida, Garry Dean Artman, has been arrested and extradited to Michigan in the murder of Sharon Hammock in 1996 in Kent County. She was 29 at the time and a mother of two , and pregnant with her third child. Police say Artman raped and killed her and dumped her body in Caledonia Township. Artman is also accused of killing a 24-year-old woman in Maryland in 2006.

ROOFER KILLED MACOMB COUNTY
State safety officials say a 46 YEAR OLD roofer died last week while working on a project in Northern Macomb County. MIOSHA (my-oh-sha)) says the victim was carrying a 10-foot piece of metal trim up a ladder when it came into contact with a live electrical line. The roof fell from the ladder approximately 18 FEET to the ground. Officials say this is the 30th incident in the state where a worker died from injuries sustained on the job.

IONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS-1-2 DAY
With anticipated high temperatures in the schools in west Michigan's Ionia, the school district will only have a half day of school today. On the district website, Ionia Public Schools say the expected classroom temperatures will exceed 95 degrees which will create safety concerns.
All schools will be dismissed between 11 and 12 today.

KALKASKA ARREST
A Kalkaska man has been arrested after admitting to killing a man last week, after hitting him in the head with a two-by-four and a cane. Deputies say 51-year-old James Waltrous , of Clearwater Township, says he had killed 66-year-old Garrett Hamminga. Waltrous is in custody and his bond has been set at five million dollars.

PLATTE RIVER DIVERSION

In Leelanau County, U.S. Park rangers at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore are seeking information from the public to aid in an investigation into an illegal diversion of the Platte River. It's believed to have happened in mid August.

BRIDGE WALK
The 64th Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Bridge Walk is a week from today. Those taking part can begin their walk from either side of the bridge, in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. The Mackinac Bridge Authority reminds motorists that the bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic next Monday from 6:30am till noon.