WATZ Today's Country

Friday News Summary 09-02-22
Fri, 02 Sep 2022 08:39:46 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

APPEALS FILED OVER BALLOT PROPOSALS
Two groups have filed paperwork asking the Michigan Supreme Court to approve questions to appear on the November 8th ballot. Reproductive Freedom for All and Promote the Vote filed their requests yesterday, one day after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on the propsoals. One question would decide if the right to abortion should be enshrined in the state constitution, while the other would amend the constitution to have nine days of in-person early voting and state-funded absentee ballot drop boxes. Attorneys for the groups are asking the Supreme Court to issue a ruling next week in order to give clerks time to add the questions to the ballots before they are printed.

ELECTION EQUIPMENT MISSING
It's another potential voting equipment scandal developing in Michigan. Investigators from the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post confirm they are investigating the possible theft and attempted re-sale of election equipment that went missing prior to the August primary election. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Derrick Carroll says the investigation is in its initial phases and detectives are conducting interviews. The equipment in question is identified as a voter assist terminal which are used by voters with disabilities who need assistance marking their ballots at polling places. It went missing from the clerk's office in Benzie County's Colfax Township. This latest investigation follows a request by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last month, seeking a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged unauthorized access of voting tabulator machines that were taken from four separate Michigan township offices.

GOV KIDNAP STATE HEARING
A Traverse City Judge says he will decide in a few weeks whether or not five men will stand trial for an alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Testimony in the preliminary exam wrapped up earlier this week in the case, with undercover agents saying the defendants played a game of adult hide and seek and there was talk of shooting Whitmer. Defense attorneys claim any talk was just talk. Judge Michael Stepka also will rule by next week whether the men should be kept on tethers pending his trial decision.

RIBBON CUTTING FOR SEMI CONDUCTOR FACILITY
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined other state and business leaders in Bay City today, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the creation of a new computer chip plant that will bring 150 good-paying jobs in that area. The $300 MILLION dollar plant signifies an investment in the state from officials at SK Siltron, which chose Michigan over other Midwestern states that were vying for the plant. This is the second major investment in Michigan, after bi-partisan legislation passed earlier this year which was designed to bring high-tech manufacturing jobs back to the state. Officials at GM recently invested $7 MILLION dollars into the state, which helped Michigan retain 5,000 jobs.

FORD RECALL
Ford has issued another recall. This time, its nearly 200,000 large SUVs because the heating and cooling fan motors can fail and catch fire. The recall covers Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from the 2015 through 2017 model years. Ford says that it has reports of 25 fires caused by the motors, which are behind the glove box.

BODY IN LAKE
A disturbing find in a lake in Oakland County. Waterford Township police say they recovered the body of a young man floating in Williams Lake after a call from a resident. He has been identified as a man in his 20's. Police do not suspect foul play.

MUSKEGON SHOOTINGS
Several people have been arrested in Muskegon in connection with two people being shot last night. WOOD TV reports one of those shot was a 14-year-old. There's no word on their conditions.

GAS PRICES
If you're hitting the road for the long holiday weekend, you'll find gas prices in Michigan haven't changed much over the past week. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $3.84 a gallon. That's down about a penny from yesterday and unchanged from last week. That's still a big drop from a month ago, when gas cost $4.19 a gallon.

POWER OUTAGES
Four days after those big storms and high winds knocked down trees and power lines in Southeast Michigan, DTE says nearly 55 thousand customers are still in the dark. More than 2,000 lineworkers--including 1,000 from other states continue to work to restore power to everyone impacted by the storm. Consumers Energy says there are still about 13 hundred customers without power this morning statewide.

MSU GAME MOVED
Spartan fans should know that broadcast for the the Michigan State Football game today has been MOVED. You can watch the M-S-U and Western Michigan game on ESPN2 at 7 o'clock tonight. The game was originally set to air on ESPN, but was moved due to the Serena Williams and Ajla Tomljanovic U-S Open match.

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT
There are hazardous swimming conditions on Lake Michigan through tonight. The National Weather Service has issues a Beach Hazards Statement for Mason and Oceana Counties with waves expected to reach two to five feet. High waves can sweep people off piers and strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water.

GRAND RAPIDS OFFICER TRIAL
Grand Rapids Police Officer Gregory Bauer is on trial for carelessly firing his gun during a chase. Bauer has claimed that he tripped on an uneven lawn while running to arrest a man suspected of stealing a car and his gun discharged and the bullet hit a building. No one was hurt. Assistant Prosecutor Felix Tarango says Bauer never tripped. A physiology professor, Roger Enoka testified that he's found many times that tripping causes officers to have an involuntary muscle reflex, which can lead them to fire their gun unintentionally.

MISSING BOATER
There was concern a boater migth have been missing in the Upper Harbor off Marquette. A search began at about 1:15 this morning by the Marquette County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard. Marquette Police say the boater was located and is okay...that their cell phone may have been off.

CHURCH THEFT
Three teens are accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from a church in Allendale Township, west of Grand Rapids, in two burglaries. The three 16-year-olds allegedly stole from Life Stream Church twice over two days. They allegedly took computer equipment, electronics, cash and other items. Deputies executed search warrants at a home in Allendale Township and in Holland Township and found stolen property, which has been returned to the church. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says two boys and one girl face charges.

BROKER THEFT
A Rochester Hills man is facing felony charges for allegedly posing as a broker to cheat prospective real estate buyers out of thousands. State Attorney General Dana Nessel says 62-year-old Denny DiCapo asked seven victims for "good faith deposits" so they could buy businesses, such as a gas station, service center and pawn shop. Nessel says that instead DiCapo took the money and ran. DiCapo could face upt o 20 years in prison on charges of conducting a criminal enterprise.