ALITY ALERTS. YEAH, OVER 85
MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW UNDER SOME SORT OF AIR QUALITY ALERT, INCLUDING HERE IN METRO DETROIT.
>> THAT ALERT HAS BEEN EXTENDED
THROUGH TOMORROW AS WE STILL
HAVE UNHEALTHY AIR. AND I’VE
BEEN WATCHING THE AQI THAT’S THE
AIR QUALITY INDEX, AND IT HAS
IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, ESPECIALLY TO
OUR NORTH UP INTO THE THUMB.
NOW, JUST UNHEALTHY FOR
SENSITIVE GROUPS. THOSE WITH
ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.
BUT THE REST OF METRO DETROIT
STILL EITHER UNHEALTHY OR VERY
UNHEALTHY THAT AQI IS. AT 198,
WE GET AN UPDATE HERE IN FOUR
MINUTES. SO I’LL HAVE A NEW ONE
FOR YOU IN THE MAIN FORECAST.
BUT WE’RE STILL AT THAT
UNHEALTHY, VERY UNHEALTHY LEVEL,
WHICH MEANS THAT OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT
OUT ARE JUST NOT THEY’RE JUST
NOT GOOD RIGHT NOW. WHEN IS IT
GOING TO END? THAT’S THE BIG
QUESTION. EVERYONE WANTS TO
KNOW. WELL, TONIGHT HERE AT
11:00, THE SMOKE FORECAST HAS
THE THICKEST, HEAVIEST SMOKE
HEADED TO THE EAST COAST. NEW
YORK, BOSTON AND D.C. AND HERE
IN METRO DETROIT. BY 8 A.M.
TOMORROW, YOU CAN SEE WE’RE
STILL HAVE THAT SMOKE AND HAZE.
IT’S A LITTLE LIGHTER TOMORROW,
BUT STILL IN THE UNHEALTHY RANGE
FOR EVERYONE. BUT BY FRIDAY AT 8
A.M, WE REALLY START TO SHOW
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. NOTICE
BACK TO THE WEST IS NICE AND
CLEAR. AND SO BY FRIDAY
AFTERNOON, WE SHOULD SEE THAT
SMOKE CLEAR OUT OF HERE. DOESN’T
MEAN IT WON’T RETURN, THOUGH.
AND I’LL EXPLAIN THAT COMING UP
IN THE FORECAST.
>> ALL RIGHT, KIM, COMMUNITY
LEADERS IN YPSILANTI COMING
TOGETHER TO TRY TO PREVENT
FUTURE GUN VIOLENCE AFTER A
TRAGEDY OF TWO DAYS AGO.
>> THEY GATHERED TONIGHT AFTER
FOUR TEENS WERE SHOT AND TWO
YOUNG LIVES WERE LOST.
JACQUELINE FRANCIS WAS AT
TONIGHT’S VIGIL HELD FOR THE
VICTIMS. SHE JOINS US NOW WITH
THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION
. JACQUELINE
>> KIMBERLY AND DEVIN, AS FAR AS
WE KNOW, NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN
MADE YET IN THIS CASE. IT COMES
AS THOSE COMMUNITY LEADERS
GATHERED TONIGHT TO SPEAK OUT
AGAINST THE VIOLENCE THAT TOOK
THOSE TWO YOUNG LIVES HERE,
SAYS, WELL, THIS IS VERY HARD,
VERY TRAGIC TO DEAL WITH.
>> WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO SEE OUR
YOUNG TEENS, YOU KNOW, FALLING
PREY TO GUN VIOLENCE, CLINICAL
THERAPIST JUDITH THURMAN SAYS
THIS IS THE FOURTH TEENAGE
PATIENT SHE’S LOST TO GUN
VIOLENCE.
>> THE LATEST WAS JUST 16 YEARS
OLD.
>> HE WAS AN AWESOME KID, HAD A
LOT OF DREAMS AND GOALS IN MIND
FOR THE MOST PART, HE WAS REALLY
A GOOD KID AND HE WILL BE
FOREVER MISSED.
>> THE 16 YEAR OLD WAS ONE OF
FOUR PEOPLE SHOT MONDAY EVENING
WHILE SITTING IN A CAR IN
YPSILANTI. POLICE SAY HE AND A
20 YEAR OLD MAN DIED WHILE THE
OTHER TWO GUNSHOT VICTIMS, AGES
14 AND 19, ARE EXPECTED TO
SURVIVE. THREE OF THE VICTIMS
ARE BROTHERS.
>> AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, AS A
CHIEF OF POLICE, AS A FATHER
MYSELF, MY HEART BREAKS FOR THE
PARENTS AND FOR THE PEOPLE
IMPACTED. AND I WANT TO BE HERE
TO SHARE AND SUPPORT THEM FOR
WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH.
>> THE WASHTENAW COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS LEADING THE
INVESTIGATION. AN BUT THAT’S NOT
STOPPING CITY LEADERS FROM
OFFERING THEIR SUPPORT, MANY OF
THEM IN ATTENDANCE AT A
GATHERING ON WEDNESDAY.
>> YES, I’VE BEEN IN GREAT
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR CHIEF OF
POLICE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING
REALLY COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR
COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SO
THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT’S
HAPPENING AND WHERE THINGS ARE
HEADED. THOUGH WE CAN’T TALK
ABOUT IT. WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE
DILIGENTLY WORKING THROUGH THIS
.
>> WE HEARD A LOT OF TALK
TONIGHT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING RESOURCES FOR YOUTH IN
THE COMMUNITY. REPORTING LIVE,
JACQUELINE FRANCIS, LOCAL 4
OKAY, JACQUELINE, THANK YOU.
>> NEW AT 11, A JURY FINDS A DOG
OWNER NOT GUILTY IN THE DEADLY
MAULING OF A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL
BACK IN 2019. EMMA HERNANDEZ WAS
RIDING HER BIKE WHEN THE DOGS
ESCAPED FROM A BACKYARD,
ATTACKING AND KILLING HER. THE
OWNER WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND
DEGREE MURDER, INVOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER AND HAVING A
DANGEROUS ANIMAL CAUSING DEATH.
THE JURY RETURNED A NOT GUILTY
VERDICT ON ALL THREE COUNTS.
>> THE CITY OF DETROIT IS
LOOKING TO THE SUN TO POWER ALL
OF ITS MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. IS
REALLY FUNNY TO TALK ABOUT,
GIVEN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW
WITH THE AIR. BUT WHAT DOES THAT
LOOK LIKE 250 ACRES OF SOLAR
PANELS. MARA MACDONALD LIVE ON
DETROIT’S WEST SIDE WITH MORE ON
HOW THIS WOULD WORK. MARA
>> WELL, DEVIN, THAT’S THE
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.
AND BEFORE HE PUTS UP ANOTHER
SOLAR FIELD LIKE THIS ONE, THE
CITY TOMORROW MORNING IS PUTTING
OUT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT
ARE GOING TO ASK TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, HOW MUCH WOULD ALL
OF THIS COST? AND NUMBER TWO,
AND MORE INTERESTINGLY, WHAT
ABOUT THE PLACEMENT? LET ME SHOW
YOU BEFORE ANYTHING THAT LOOKS
LIKE THIS POPS UP. LET’S MAKE
ONE THING CLEAR.
>> I WANT TO LEAVE THE DECISION
TO THE COMMUNITY. I WANT EACH
COMMUNITY TO DECIDE FOR ITSELF,
IS THIS RIGHT FOR US? AND IF
IT’S NOT, WE’RE NOT GOING TO
PURSUE IT. IT’S GOING TO HAVE TO
BE SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY ASKS
FOR. SO HERE ARE THE TWO
OPTIONS.
>> THE MAYOR IS ASKING FOR
PROPOSALS TO, ONE, BUILD A 250
ACRE SOLAR PANEL FARM OUTSIDE
THE CITY LIMITS LIKE IS BEING
DONE IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES AND
TWO, WHICH IS INTRIGUING.
>> COULD WE BUILD ON STRETCHES
OF BLIGHTED LAND IN THE CITY OF
DETROIT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
NEIGHBORHOODS HERE FOR WOULD
LIKE TO CONSIDER?
>> DETROIT ALREADY BUILT A THREE
ACRE SOLAR FARM ON 96 IN
GREENFIELD IN 2016. WHAT’S
PUSHING THIS IDEA TO CONSIDER
SOLAR NOW? THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO PICK UP
UP TO 50% OF THE COST, WHICH
MAKES THIS EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY
POTENTIALLY ECONOMICALLY
COMPETITIVE. IF NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A SOLAR
FIELD, THERE WOULD BE COMMUNITY
BENEFITS, INCLUDING MONEY FOR
PARKS, HOME REPAIRS AND EVEN
SOLAR POWER FOR NEIGHBORING
HOMES. BACK HERE LIVE. BUT
BEFORE WE ALL GET AHEAD OF OUR
SKIS HERE, THE MAYOR SAYS THAT
IT’S GOING TO TAKE A GOOD THREE
MONTHS TO HEAR BACK FROM ANY OF
THESE SOLAR DEVELOPERS. AND THEN
THERE’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A
WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION. DEVIN
KIMBERLY, BACK TO YOU. I
IMAGINE, MARA, THAT WHAT THE
CITY SPENDS EACH YEAR KEEPING
THE POWER ON IN THIS MUNICIPAL
PROPERTIES IS A TIDY SUM.
>> YEAH, MAYOR SAYS THAT THAT’S
PROBABLY AROUND $9 MILLION A
YEAR, GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE
BUCKS.
>> SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF
WHERE THIS SHOULD START AS FAR
AS WHAT THE TOTAL COST FOR LIKE
A 250 ACRE SOLAR PANEL FARM
WOULD BE QUITE A BIT.
>> ALL RIGHT, MARA.
>> WELL, NEW AT 11, THE GREAT
LAKES WATER AUTHORITY WILL BE
ISSUING CREDITS TO COMMUNITIES
ABSORBING PORTIONS OF HIGHLAND
PARK’S WATER DEBT TODAY, THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVING A
PLAN TO USE HIGHLAND PARK’S
RECENT $1 MILLION PAYMENT TO
ISSUE CREDITS TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES. THE REIMBURSEMENTS
WILL COME IN THE FIRST QUARTER
OF THE YEAR, 2024. THE TWO
PARTIES ARE STILL WORKING TO
SETTLE A NEARLY $24 MILLION
WATER DEBT. THIS JUST INTO OUR
NEWSROOM.
>> IT WILL BE MUSIC TO THE EARS
OF TROY RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG I
75. THEY’VE BEEN FIGHTING TO
REDUCE FREEWAY NOISE ALONG THAT
STRETCH OF FREEWAY BETWEEN 13
MILE AND ADAMS ROAD. BUT MDOT
WAS SHORT OF THE MONEY NEEDED TO
BUILD NOISE WALLS ALONG THE
FREEWAY. WELL, STATE SENATOR
MICHAEL WEBER SAYS THE STATE’S
NEW FISCAL BUDGET INCLUDES $10
MILLION TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT,
MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS APPROVING A
RECORD $82 MILLION BUDGET
BOOSTING FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS IN
MICHIGAN.
>> IT’LL BRING GENERATION CHANGE
AND A RECORD LEVEL OF FUNDING
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
UNIVERSITIES WHILE USING THE
STATE’S FINANCIAL SURPLUS TO
SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON SPECIAL PROJECTS.
IT’S THE FIRST BUDGET FOR
DEMOCRATS SINCE THEY GAINED FULL
CONTROL OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
THE NEW BUDGET GOES INTO EFFECT
OCTOBER 1ST.
>> I SAID MILLION, BILLION, OF
COURSE, 81 OR $82 BILLION BUDGET
OPERATION PACKED, WHICH STANDS
FOR PREVENTING ACTS OF COMMUNITY
TRAGEDY JUST WRAPPED UP IN
WARREN AND THEY’RE CALLING IT
THE MOST EXTENSIVE OPERATION IN
THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT
CAMPAIGN. ALSO KNOWN AS A
WARRANT SWEEP TOOK PLACE OVER
FOUR WEEKS STARTING IN LATE MAY
. WARRANT OFFICERS ARRESTED 442
PEOPLE ON OUTSTANDING WARRANTS,
LEADING TO 718 CHARGES AS THEY
RECOVERED 68 WEAPONS, 24 MORE
STOLEN VEHICLES AND ISSUED 2000
TRAFFIC TICKETS.
>> A NEW PROGRAM IS LOOKING TO
HELP KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND GET
THEM INTO GOOD PAYING JOBS. JOB
COURT IS A ONE YEAR PROGRAM
WHERE ELIGIBLE OFFENDERS CAN GO
TO WORK INSTEAD OF JAIL, WHILE
THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM
MUST BE CHARGED WITH QUALIFYING
LOW LEVEL, NO ASSAULTIVE
OFFENSES OF OFFENSES AND BE
RECOMMENDED BY THE PROSECUTOR.
THEY’LL THEN BE MATCHED WITH
LOCAL EMPLOYERS.
>> IN EACH CASE, A DEFENDANT IS
PRESENT WHO IS WILLING TO TAKE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS
DEMONSTRATES A STRONG LIKELIHOOD
FOR REHABILITATION AND IS TASKED
WITH MEETING COURT ORDERED
REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY MUST
FULFILL AND IN EXCHANGE, THE
CHARGES WILL BE DROPPED AND THE
DEFENDANTS ARE VERY LIKELY TO
AVOID ANY INCARCERATION AT ALL.
SIMILAR PILOT PROGRAMS ARE GOING
ON IN MARQUETTE AND GENESEE
COUNTIES.
>> ABOUT 200 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED
TO TAKE PART IN WAYNE COUNTY’S
PROGRAM.
>> WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY IS SET
TO HIRE ITS FIRST FEMALE
PRESIDENT. THE DETROIT NEWS
REPORTING KIMBERLY ANDREWS SSP
WILL BE THE SCHOOL’S CHOICE.
SHE’S CURRENTLY THE PROVOST AND
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN
ANTONIO. SB WILL REPLACE THE
CURRENT WSU PRESIDENT, M ROY