Friday News Summary 03-17-23
Wed, 10 May 2023 21:26:52 EDT


ANIMAL CRUELTY
Disgusting and horrifying. That's how Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is
describing two animal abuse cases. One involved a veteran who needed a service dog.
Swanson says the Flint man ended up leaving the German Shepard in a vacant
apartment to starve to death. The second case involved a Pontiac man and a Flint-area
woman who took and posted video of people crushing the skulls of pets like hamsters,
gerbils and iguanas. Swanson is asking pet store owners to be alert for people who are
buying animals in bulk. He says the crush videos are sold online. All three suspects
have been charged with killing and torturing animals.

GUN LAWS
The Michigan Senate has approved legislation to reform gun laws. Among the bills
approved on Thursday were those dealing with universal background checks, extreme
risk protection orders, and safe storage. Supporters of the package of bills say victims
of shootings and others have called for changes and the legislation will help reduce
violence. Opponents argued current laws should be prosecuted and schools have been
given millions of dollars to make security upgrades.

ELLIOTT LARSEN
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights
Act into law. Passed by both the House and Senate, it will now include protections for
the LGBT+ community. The expansion received bipartisan support in Lansing, while
some Republicans expressed concerns over religious rights.

MICHIGAN JOBS
More jobs coming to Michigan. That announcement coming from Governor Gretchen
Whitmer, who says three business expansion projects will create a total of 150 new
jobs, and generate a total investment of over 30 million dollars into communities
across the state. The projects--which received a boost from the Michigan Strategic
Fund-- are in Auburn Hills, Kalamazoo, and Owosso. One of the business expansions
is at ABB Robotics in Auburn Hills, creating 72 new jobs. Meantime, FlavorSum will
double the size of its Kalamazoo facility, creating 51 jobs. And Sonoco Protective
Solutions is expanding in Owosso, creating 27 jobs

MICHIGAN WOMEN FORWARD
Michigan Women Forward announced a MILLION dollar partnership with a Michigan
bank to help women and entrepreneurs of color start their businesses. Those qualified
will have the chance to enter a 10-MILLION dollar micro-loan program in partnership
with Huntington National Bank. Organizers say the program provides opportunities for
those who are economically disadvantaged because of a lack of access to capital and
credit. Michigan Women Forward says they target small businesses hoping they can
provide them with the opportunities to grow efficiently and effectively.

WASHTENAW COUNTY USFL
Washtenaw County welcomed hundreds of temporary residents this week -- the USFL's
Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars have officially arrived ahead of the new
season. For the entire season -- both teams will be staying at hotels in Ann Arbor... and
practicing in Ypsilanti at Eastern Michigan University's football facility. The Panthers
and Stars will start training camp on Monday. Both teams will play their home games in
downtown Detroit at Ford Field.

TOLEDO ZOO BEARS
Something new at the Toledo Zoo -- a close-up meeting with some of the biggest bears
in the world.
The exhibit has been extended to give the zoo's three bears more room to roam -- and
zoo visitors more opportunities to observe, interact, and learn about the bears up close.
Featuring a pool, the Kodiak Ridge also includes a cave for the bears to nap in,
complete with a viewing window for the visitors. Cody, Montana, and Dodge are the
three bears who get to call the exhibit their new home.

FIVE YEAR OLD ATTACKED ON SCHOOL BUS-GRAND RAPIDS
In west Michigan's Grand Rapids, a Northview Public Schools bus driver has been
placed on administrative leave after a five year-old was allegedly attacked by an older
student on the bus. WOOD TV reports the father of the kindergarten student, Jermon
Burrell, says his son was crying and had a bruise on his head when he got off the bus
on March 9th. He says his son was brutally assaulted and suffocated by a 6th grader
while other students stood by and recorded it . He says the bus driver didn't do enough
to stop it.
Schools superintendent Scott Korpa says they are investigating in cooperation with the
Kent County Sheriff's department. He says disciplinary decisions involving all
individuals involved will be made at the conclusion of the investigation.

CHILD MARRIAGE BILLS
Bills have been reintroduced in the state legislature to end child marriage in Michigan.
Currently, those under 16 need a parent and a judge's approval to get married with no
minimum age with that approval. The new bills would ban marriage for a child under
the age of 18.
In a news conference, Courtney Kosnik says she was stuck in an abusive marriage for
23 years that started when she was 16. She says her childhood was abruptly cut short
and her dreams and aspirations were swept aside in favor of a life she would not have
chosen for herself.

TEEN KILLED IN DETROIT
Detroit police are working to find suspects in a shooting Thursday on the city's east side
that left a teen dead and another wounded.
- -Police Chief James White said the youth were standing outside a home around 5
p.m. when two people approached with a gun and opened fire - -hitting both teens.
One, identified as a 13-year-old, was pronounced dead. The other, who is either 17 or
18, was rushed to a hospital..

TEACHER MURDER-YPSILANTI
A murder investigation IS underway in Washtenaw County after a 48-year-old teacher
was found dead inside her apartment. Sheriff's deputies were called to the Schooner
Cove Apartments in Ypsilanti by family members who said they hadn't heard from
Alyson Doulos in quite some time, nor had she been to work. Doulos was a 10th grade
English teacher and National Honor Society advisor for Jackson High School.
The Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone who may have any
information to give them a call.

DRINKS TO GO
Grabbing a cocktail in a styrofoam cup on your way home from work might be a
permanent option here in Michigan.
A Senate committee unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would make the state's
pandemic-era cocktails-to-go rules a permanent law. It was due to expire in 2026.

MUSKEGON HISTORIC HOUSE
The city of Muskegon may work to save a historic home built by lumber Barron Charles
Nelson in 1869 from being torn down. The home is owned by Muskegon Public
Schools and it planned to tear it down . The city reportedly plans to take ownership,
and have the house towed to a city-owned lot in the city's Houston Historic District and
then put it up for sale.

U-P WINTER STORM WARNING
Some areas of the Upper Peninsula have a winter storm warning until 8 Saturday
night. They are expecting heavy snow....nine to 19 inches of snow in Baraga County.
The heaviest amounts are expected in the Huron Mountains and the northern snow
belts. Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw, Ontanagon and Southern Houghton are also
facing a winter storm warning. The National Weather Service says gusty winds could
bring down tree branches.

SNOWMOBILE DEATHS
The number of snowmobile deaths is on the rise in Michigan. 18 people have died in
snowmobile crashes during the 2022023 winter season so far, six more than last year.
The DNR's John Pepin says 80-percent or more of the fatalities are based on riders
driving too fast. He says a common scenario is someone going too fast around a
corner, misses and goes off the trail and hits a tree.

UAW UPDATE
The challenger in the race for UAW President says his victory is now "all but assured"
While official results have not yet been released, a statement from challenger Shawn
Fain says he now leads by 505 votes with fewer than 600 challenged ballots left to be
decided.
No word when the UAW's court appointed monitor will have an official statement on the
count. No comment yet from incumbent UAW President Ray Curry.

JUVENILE SEX ASSAULT-WAYNE COUNTY
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan State Police
are now investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy inside Wayne
Countys Juvenile Detention Facility. Additional staffing will be brought in to manage
the center, which has an overcrowding problem. The facility only has a total of 80
beds, but is currently housing over 150 juveniles. It's been under scrutiny for months,
with one judge calling it a crisis situation.

NO MEAT
Two Catholic traditions butt heads on this Saint Patrick's Day.
Enjoying corned beef is synonymous with the holiday, but what to do when Saint Pat's
falls on a Friday -- as it does this year -- a day during Lent when the faithful avoid
eating meat?
The Archdiocese of Detroit says dispensations or other allowances can be made by
local parish priests, who may have parishioners avoid meat on a different day or take
on an additional act of penance.
The Archdiocese says all parish priests are vested with the power to make such
allowances to both groups and individuals.


   

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