WCSG News
January 22
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have released a measure designed around President Donald Trump’s proposal for breaking a budget impasse, its centerpiece his demand for $5.7 billion to build a southern border wall all but guaranteeing Democratic opposition and no foreseeable end to a partial government shutdown. As the shutdown dragged through its fifth week, another missed paycheck loomed for hundreds of thousands of workers. Voting in Congress was not expected to unfold until later in the week. Even then it seemed doubtful that the 1,300-page measure, dubbed the “End The Shutdown And Secure The Border Act,” had any chance […]
January 22
KOCHVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a police officer has been shot and wounded during a traffic stop in mid-Michigan. Saginaw Township police Chief Don Pussehl says the Saginaw Township officer stopped a motorist about 2 a.m. Tuesday in Saginaw County’s Kochville Township and the driver shot him as he approached the vehicle. Pussehl says the officer radioed for help after the shooting and was described as being in “somewhat stable condition.” Pussehl says police are searching for the motorist, who fled. The officer’s name and a description of the suspect weren’t immediately released. Police asked drivers to avoid […]
January 21
While we’ve been encouraging more students to get into college, we have a long way to go in Michigan. According to a new survey by Wallet Hub.com, Michigan is 30th when it comes to the number of college graduates who are living and working in the state. We are 26th in the nation for people who have attained an advanced degree but 35th in the quality of those degrees. The survey concludes that while the number of college graduates has remained somewhat steady, those students are not earning significantly more, when compared to the rest of the nation. Based on […]
January 21
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wielding control of the House and a new set of investigative powers, Democrats are preparing to bring Education Secretary Betsy DeVos under the sharpest scrutiny she has seen since taking office. DeVos has emerged as a common target for Democrats as they take charge of the House and its committees, which carry the authority to issue subpoenas and call hearings. At least four panels are expected to challenge DeVos on her most polarizing policies, among them her overhaul of campus sexual assault rules and her rollback of for-profit college regulations. “We are going to hold Secretary DeVos […]
January 21
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said its jets struck Iranian military targets in Syria early Monday, an announcement that marked a rare departure from Israel’s yearslong policy of ambiguity regarding activities in neighboring Syria. The military said the targets included munition storage facilities, an intelligence site and a military training camp. The strikes were in response to a surface-to-surface rocket that Iranian forces fired toward Israel on Sunday that was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system over a ski resort in the Golan Heights. That launch followed a rare Israeli daylight air raid near the Damascus International […]
January 18
WASHINGTON (AP) — Perdue is recalling more than 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms) of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with wood. The gluten free Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets were produced on Oct. 25 and were sold at stores nationwide. They have a UPC bar code of 72745-80656 and the establishment number of P-33944 in the US Agriculture Department inspection mark. The USDA says Perdue received three complaints that wood was found in the nuggets. The USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions. However, the product should be thrown away or returned to the place […]
January 18
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan is bracing for a weekend snowstorm that could bring 5 inches (13 centimeters) or more to parts of the state. The storm across portions of the Midwest and beyond was expected to move through western and southwestern Michigan starting Friday evening, with 3-5 inches (7.6-12.7 centimeters) forecast along Interstate 94 by Saturday afternoon and 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 centimeters) along I-96. Snow-covered roads and limited visibility are expected, so officials say motorists should use caution. Frigid temperatures are forecast. The storm moves early Saturday into the southeastern part of the state, including Detroit. The National Weather Service […]
January 18
President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are both flexing their political powers as the negotiations to end the month-long partial government shutdown remain stalled. Trump issued a letter to Pelosi on Thursday, just before she and other lawmakers were set to depart on the previously undisclosed trip to Afghanistan and Brussels. Trump belittled the trip as a “public relations event” and said it would be best if Pelosi remained in Washington to negotiate to reopen the government. Pelosi called on Trump the day before to postpone his Jan. 29 State of the Union address due to the shutdown. […]
January 17
Michigan State University trustees garnered applause after voting to force the immediate resignation of the university’s interim president. John Engler submitted his resignation letter Wednesday, saying he’d resign next week after making controversial comments about some victims of former sports doctor and convicted sexual abuser Larry Nassar. The Board of Trustees voted Thursday to make the resignation immediate. Trustee Kelly Tebay says “a wrong has been righted today. I’m sorry it took so long.” The former Michigan governor was brought in to help the university following the Nassar scandal. Engler had resisted past calls to step down. But the final […]
January 17
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is letting about 70 medical marijuana businesses reopen temporarily through March 31 without it being a risk to their licensure. The state’s medical marijuana licensing board on Wednesday agreed with the recommendation and others proposed by regulators. The move is geared at ensuring patients can still access marijuana at a time a new regulatory system gets off the ground and there are supply shortages. The temporarily operating facilities had been told to close as of Dec. 31. The board also agreed to continue to not discipline licensed dispensaries that source their marijuana product through caregivers, […]
January 17
DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers say a U.S.-born Marine veteran was held for three days for possible deportation after pleading guilty to a disturbance at a western Michigan hospital. The American Civil Liberties Union says Jilmar Ramos-Gomez was held for three days at a detention center in Calhoun County. He was released on Dec. 17 after an attorney explained that he’s a native of the U.S. Ramos-Gomez was born in Grand Rapids. The 27-year-old was given awards for combat service in Afghanistan. The ACLU says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, which was a factor in the Grand Rapids hospital incident. […]
January 17
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan State University plans to announce a new interim president following the forced resignation of John Engler amid backlash over his comments about some of convicted sex abuser Larry Nassar’s victims. The Board of Trustees will meet Thursday. The former Michigan governor, who was brought in almost a year ago to help the school recover from the scandal, announced his resignation Wednesday rather than be fired at the meeting. It’s effective Jan. 23. Engler told The Detroit News last week that Nassar’s victims in the “spotlight” are “still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards […]
January 17
DETROIT (AP) — Despite a government shutdown, Hyundai and Kia are moving ahead with a recall of about 168,000 vehicles to fix a fuel pipe problem that can cause engine fires. The problem stems from improper repairs during previous recalls for engine failures. The affiliated Korean automakers have been dogged by fire and engine failure complaints from across the nation. They’re both under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been trying to figure out whether initial recalls covered enough vehicles. But the agency is mostly closed due to the shutdown. In addition to the recall, […]
January 16
DETROIT (AP) — This year’s North American International Auto Show includes the usual gleaming vehicles, bright lights and flashy displays. But something is missing: BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi and Mazda. Detroit isn’t the only auto show to have automakers pull out. It could be because of a bad date for their new vehicle cycle, a declining bang for their buck or a desire to do a standalone or strictly digital event. Shows are retooling to remain relevant: Moving elsewhere on the calendar or otherwise amping up the customer experience with test drives and other enticements. Detroit is moving its show […]
January 16
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Members in the Michigan Senate are making the reduction of auto insurance rates a top priority. The first bill introduced in the new two-year session could let older drivers use Medicare or other health insurance to cover their medical costs in an accident. Younger drivers could opt out of Michigan’s mandatory unlimited medical coverage and choose less coverage. The legislation, which largely signals an intent to lower car insurance costs and leaves the specifics to be ironed out later, was proposed Tuesday. By making it the first bill, Republicans are signaling the importance of the issue. […]
January 16
DETROIT (AP) — Three members of Congress from Michigan want to make federal funds more readily available to clean up public water supplies contaminated with a group of toxic chemicals. The lawmakers have introduced a bill that would classify the substances known as PFAS as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law. The designation would require the Environmental Protection Agency to report releases of the chemicals into the environment and clean up tainted sites. It also allows the government to sue polluters to recoup cleanup costs. EPA tests have found pollution from PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in public […]
January 16
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a no-confidence vote Wednesday, a day after Parliament rejected her Brexit deal by a historic margin. May is battling to save her job after staking her political reputation on a last-ditch effort to win support for the divorce agreement she negotiated with the European Union over the last two years. Though defeat was widely expected, the scale of the rout — 432-202 — was devastating for May’s leadership. Immediately after the vote, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a no-confidence motion, saying it would give Parliament a chance to give its verdict […]
January 14
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Department of Transportation is seeking public input as it develops a 25-year plan for the state. The “Michigan Mobility 2045 ” plan will seek to establish priorities for transportation. The development phase of the plan runs through April. As part of MDOT’s efforts, telephone town hall meetings will allow the agency to randomly dial as many as 10,000 landline phones per session and offer the public an opportunity to join a conference call, ask questions and express opinions. A survey and other efforts also will take place. MDOT says it wants to get opinions […]
January 9
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University says it’s creating a new fund to help victims of sports doctor Larry Nassar, months after a similar program was suspended over fraud allegations. Trustees responded to critics and voted unanimously Wednesday to help victims with the cost of counseling and mental health services. Trustee Dianne Byrum says a dollar amount and other details will be established later. The previous $10 million fund was announced in 2017. But it was suspended and ultimately shut down by interim President John Engler, who said more than $500,000 was linked to fraud . Campus police […]