>> Announcer: LIVE FROM
DOWNTOWN DETROIT, HOME OF
WDIV AND CLICK ON DETROIT,
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT NOON STARTS
NOW.
>> PLAYED MUSIC WITH B.B.
KING NOW HE’S FACING LEGAL
TROUBLES.
WHAT A FORMER OF UNIVERSITY
MICHIGAN PROFESSOR IS BEING
ACCUSED OF.
>>> BUT FIRST BRANDON IS
TRACKING THE POTENTIAL FOR
MEASURABLE SNOW THIS WEEKEND
YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT COMING
HERE ON THIS WEATHER MODEL.
WE HAVE THE TIMELINE FOR YOU
NOW AT NOON.
WEATHER OF COURSE TOPPING
OUR SHOW HERE AT THIS HOUR.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, I’M
EVROD CASSIMY.
OF COURSE BEFORE WE TALK
SNOW WE WANT TO TURN OUR
ATTENTION TO TODAY’S
FORECAST AS WE TAKE A LIVE
LOOK OUTSIDE FOR YOU THIS
AFTERNOON ON OUR SKYCAM.
WE ARE EXPECTING WELL WE’RE
GOING TO PREPARE FOR
EVERYTHING, BRANDON?
>> WE DON’T WANT TO MISGUIDE
ANYBODY THOUGH AS NICE AS
THAT PICTURE IS, EVROD
MENTIONED NOT TODAYINGS FOR
THE BIG SNOW COMING BUT IT
IS COMING YOU ARE GOING TO
BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT IT
COMING UP OVER THE NEXT
DAYS.
MIDDLE 20s RIGHT NOW.
25 ANN ARBOR, 25 METRO, 25
PONTIAC, IT’S 26 CITY
AIRPORT, PORT HURON AT 27,
AND THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST
BARELY ABOVE WHERE WE WERE
AT NOON YESTERDAY TO FIVE TO
10 DEGREES ON THE WARMER
SIDE COMPARED TO SUNDAY.
AND THAT SUN MAKES A LOT OF
DIFFERENCE.
THE LACK OF WIND CELEBRATED.
A DECENT DAY TO GET OUT
THERE EVEN THOUGH WE’RE JUST
SHY OF AVERAGE ABOUT 30
DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON.
AND YOU CAN SEE JUST A
LITTLE WHISPY CLOUD COVER
COMING OUR WAY.
NOTHING IN THE WAY OF WET
WEATHER THAT WE’RE SEEING
JUST YET.
BUT WE LOOK DOWN TO THE
SOUTH AND YOU CAN SEE A
PRETTY HEALTHY BATCH OF RAIN
OUT TO THE WEST NORTHWEST
SNOW AND THESE TWO SYSTEMS
WILL BE COMBINING.
SO, THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE HAS US IN THIS
WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL
DAY WEDNESDAY, ALL DAY
THURSDAY.
IT WILL BE UPGRADED TO A
WINTER STORM WARNING SOON.
AND TOMORROW HOW ABOUT 40 OR
WARMER BEFORE THE STORM
COMES IN.
SO WE COULD VERY WELL START
TUESDAY NIGHT WITH RAIN
BECOMING ALL SNOW WEDNESDAY
AND BLOWING SNOW THURSDAY.
SO WE’LL BRING YOU DETAILS
ON SNOW TOTALS.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN
HOLD YOUR PHONE RIGHT UP TO
THAT SQUARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
YOUR SCREEN THAT QR CODE IS
A LINK RIGHT TO OUR LOCAL
FORECASTERS APP YOUR BEST
WEAPON AND TOOL FOR ANY
STORM.
WE’VE GOT A BIG ONE COMING
THIS WEEK.
>>> ALL RIGHT, BRANDON,
THANK YOU.
WE WANT TO GET TO BREAKING
NEWS NOW JUST INTO THE LOCAL
4 NEWSROOM.
MODERNA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT
THE F.D.A. HAS GIVEN FULL
APPROVAL TO ITS COVID-19
VACCINE FOR PEOPLE 18 AND
UP.
AFTER REVIEWING MORE DATA ON
SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS.
THE MODERNA VACCINE HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY JUST EMERGENCY USE.
AGAIN THE MODERNA VACCINE
NOW FULLY APPROVED BY THE
F.D.A.
>>> OUR OTHER TOP STORY THIS
AFTERNOON, HE WAS A
PROMINENT ROCK ’N’ ROLL
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN ONCE VOTED
TEACHER OF THE YEAR BY
STUDENTS EVEN RUBBED ELBOWS
WITH MUSIC ELBOWS WITH MUSIC
LEGENDS LIKE B.B. KING AND
BOB DYLAN.
LOCAL 4’S PRIYA MANN JOINING
US NOW LIVE THIS AFTERNOON
WITH SOME OF WHAT THE
ALLEGED VICTIMS ARE SAYING
AND WHO WE’RE SPECIFICALLY
TALKING ABOUT.
>> Reporter: YEAH, EVROD,
GOOD MORNING.
WE HEARD FROM TWO U OF M
GRADS THEY HAVE STUNNING
ALLEGATIONS.
ONE SAYS SHE WAS SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED IN THE PROFESSOR’S
OFFICE DURING SCHOOL HOURS
THE OTHER SAYS SHE WAS THE
FIRST TO COME FORWARD BUT
HER COMPLAINT WAS IGNORED.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
PROFESSOR BRUCE CONFORTH.
HE WAS AN EXTREMELY POPULAR
PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN
CULTURE AT U OF M WITH A
CELEBRITY-LIKE PERSONA THAT
FORMER STUDENTS SAY ENABLED
HIM TO GROOM UNSUSPECTED
VICTIMS HE’S ACCUSED OF
SEXUALLY HARASSING WOMEN AND
IN SOME CASES WOMEN SAY THE
ABUSE ESCALATED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.
NOW EIGHT FORMER STUD CONFORTH R
PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS EVEN
THOUGH SCHOOL OFFICIALS KNEW
OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST
HIM.
TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT THEY
HAD TO SAY.
>> HE BROKE DOWN DOWN THREW
THROUGH ENCRYPTED ALIASES
THAT I REPORT ANYTHINGDY
WITH OUTSIDE FRIENDS
SCORNING ME FOR IT THEN
REQUIRING THAT I SERVICE
BRUCE SEXUALLY AS A WAY TO
REDEEM MYSELF.
I GREW SCARED AND FEARFUL TO
TAKE MISSTEPS.
I CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY TO
LEARN AND GROW AND INSTEAD
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
PROFESSORS USED HIS
KNOWLEDGE AUTHENTICATED AND
TO STUNT MY GROWTH, VIOLATE
MY BODY AND ATTEMPT TO RUIN
MY LIFE OUT OF JEALOUSY.
>> BUT THE UNIVERSITY SWEPT
THIS UNDER THE RUG.
THEY TURNED A BLIND EYE IN
DOING SO ENABLED AND
REWARDED HIS DEPLORABLE
BEHAVIOR ESSENTIALLY GIVING
HIM PERMISSION TO KEEP GOING
AND HE DID AND HIS ACTIONS
ESCALATED.
>> Reporter: THAT YOUNG
WOMAN CATHERINE SAYS SHE WAS
FIRST TO COME FORWARD WITH A
COMPLAINT.
ANOTHER STUDENT ISABELLE
SAYS SHE WENT TO POLICE WITH
HER CONCERNS BUT THE
WASHTENAW COUNTY PROSECUTOR
DECLINED TO MOVE THE CASE
FORWARD.
CONFORTH’S EMPLOYMENT ENDED
IN 2017.
THE UNIVERSITY IS RESPONDING
TAKE A LISTEN TO THEIR
STATEMENT.
THEY SAY MR. CONFORTH GHITED
TO ALLEGATIONS OF SCPUK
MISCONDUCT THAT WERE MADE
OUTLINED HIS PERM REMOVAL
FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
NO CONTACT WITH STUDENTS AND
OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
THE UNIVERSITY TOOK THE
NECESSARY ACTIONS OUTLINED
IN A SEPARATION AGREEMENT TO
PERMANENTLY REMOVE
MR. CONFORTH FROM THE
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND
RESTRICT HIM FROM ANY
FURTHER CONTACT WITH
STUDENTS.
OF COURSE, WE’LL HEAR MUCH
MORE FROM THESE WOMEN HAVE
TO SAY AND THE UNIVERSITY’S
RESPONSE COMING UP AT 5:00
TONIGHT.
REPORTING LIVE I’M PRIYA
MANN, LOCAL 4.
>> ALL RIGHT, PRIYA, THANK
YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
THERE LET’S TURN TO OXFORD
NOW WHERE THE HIGH SCHOOL IS
CHANGING SAFETY PROTOCOLS
OVER A SECURITY BREACH.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THAT
A SUSPENDED STUDENT CAME
INTO THE BUILDING LAST WEEK
INTENDING TO ATTEND CLASS.
NOW THEY SAY THE STUDENT WAS
INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WITH
A DEER HEAD ON CAMPUS BACK
IN NOVEMBER.
STUDENTS WILL NOW HAVE TO
SHOW THEIR SCHOOL I.D. TO
GET INTO THE BUILDING AND
THEN THEY ALSO HAVE TO THEIR
CLEAR BACKPACKS SCANNED.
THE SUSPENDED STUDENT WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL AND WILL BE LEARNING
IN A VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
>>> NOW TO THE CORONAVIRUS
WHERE WE DO EXPECT OUR
LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN SOMETIME
THIS AFTERNOON.
IN THE MEANTIME, STUDENTS IN
THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY DISTRICT RETURN TO
IN-PERSON LEARNING TODAY.
THIS IS VIDEO OF STUDENTS
HEADING BACK TO CLASS BURTON
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY ON
DETROIT’S WESTSIDE.
THINGS ARE A LITTLE
DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.
COVID-19 TESTING IS REQUIRED
AT ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS FOR
ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.
>>> A VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCACY
GROUP IS LAUNCHING A NEW
BALLOT INITIATIVE IT’S
CALLED PROMOTE THE VOTE 2022
AND THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES
FUNDING FOR BALLOT DROP
BOXES AND POSTAGE FOR
ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND BALLOT
TRACKING.
IT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO
REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
FOR ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS AND
GIVE MILITARY AND OVERSEAS
VOTERS MORE TIME TO RETURN
THEIR BALLOTS.
IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE NINE
DAYS OF EARLY IN-PERSON
VOTING.
>> OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE REALLY
TO CONTINUE BUILDING A
VOTING SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE IN MICHIGAN.
VOTER FREEDOM EMPOWER ARE
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF
OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.
AND VOTERS IN THIS STATE
ALREADY PROVED THEIR
IDENTITY WHEN THEY
REGISTERED TO VOTE PURSUANT
TO FEDERAL LAW.
>> THE SAME GROUP WAS BEHIND
PROPOSAL 3 BACK IN 2018.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
THAT WAS APPROVED.
IT INCLUDED AUTOMATIC VOTER
REGISTRATION AND STRAIGHT
TICKET VOTING.
FOR THIS NEW INITIATIVE TO
QUALIFY FOR THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT THE GROUP NEEDS ABOUT
425,000 SIGNATURES BY
MID-JULY.
>>> MICHIGAN’S SENATE
DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING TO
REPLACE A STATUE OF FORMER
U.S. SENATOR IN THE NATION’S
CAPITAL WITH ONE OF
DETROIT’S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.
ADAM FILED A RESOLUTION TO
PUT A STATUE OF COLEMAN A.
YOUNG IN STATUARY HALL IN
THE U.S. CAPITOL REPLACE
LEWIS CASS.
DEMOCRATS SAY CASS WAS
CRITICAL IN MAKING MICHIGAN
A STATE BUT WAS A SLAVE
OWNER WHO REMOVED NATIVE
AMERICANS FROM TRIBAL LAND.
YOUNG BETTER REPRESENTS
MICHIGAN.
>> WHO SHOULD WE BE THINKING
ABOUT RAISING UP?
TO CHANGE THE DISCUSSION
FROM WHAT WE’RE TAKING DOWN
TO WHO ARE WE LIFTING UP WE
SAID HIT TO BE SOMEONE THAT
WAS NATIONALLY RPT.
SOMEONE WHO MADE A
MONUMENTAL IMPACT IN THIS
NATION AND WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT A MICHIGANDER LIKE
THAT IT’S COLEMAN YOUNG.
>> TWO STATES TO STATUARY
HALL IT’S UP TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO APROVIDE THE.
THE STATES OTHER STATUE AT
THE CAPITOL IS FORMER
PRESIDENT GERALD FORD.
>>> WELL, WELL, WELL, THE
SUPER BOWL MATCHUP IS
OFFICIALLY SET AND FORMER
DETROIT LION MATT STAFFORD
AND THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
WILL BE FACING OFF AGAINST
THE CINCINNATI BENGALS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE
STAFFORD’S FIRST SUPER BOWL
AFTER THE RAMS DEFEATED THE
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS IN NFC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME JUST LAST
NIGHT.
MEANWHILE WE ARE JUST 12
DAYS AWAY FROM THE SUPER
BOWL.
IT’S ON LOCAL 4 THIS YEAR SO
MARK YOUR CALENDAR MAKE SURE
YOU MAKE A DATE WITH US FOR
FEBRUARY 13th TO WATCH.
>> Announcer: NEW AT NOON --
>> STILL TO COME THE U.S.
AND ITS WESTERN ALLIES ARE
PLANNING THAT THEY BELIEVE