>> Announcer: LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
DETROIT, HOME OF WDIV AND CLICK
ON DETROIT.
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW!
>> Devin: FINALLY WITH HIS
FAMILY.
>> INCREDIBLE!
RIGHT HERE, IT’S ABOUT THIS
RIGHT HERE.
>> Devin: WHAT PRISON GUARDS IN
MYANMAR TOLD DANNY FENSTER TO DO
RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS DRIVEN TO
FREEDOM.
>> Kim: THE LOCAL4CASTERS HAVE
RAIN IN THE FORECAST BUT IT’S
NOT ALL BAD NEWS AS WE HEAD INTO
THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.
>> Devin: NEW NUMBERS FROM CDC
NOW LEADING THE COUNTRY IN NEW
CASES OF COVID-19 PER CAPITA.
>> Kim: TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT’S
HAPPENING, YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK
AT THE NUMBERS.
>> Devin: IT’S THE HIGHEST SINCE
APRIL AND THEN THE 7-DAY MOVING
AVERAGE.
THE DAILY CASES HAS DOUBLED OVER
THE PAST THREE WEEKS, A
STARTLING RISE.
DR. FRANK McGEORGE IS LIVE WITH
AN UPDATE FROM HENRY FORD HEALTH
SYSTEM.
IT’S GETTING BAD AGAIN, NO WAY
AROUND THAT.
>> Dr. McGeorge: ABSOLUTELY.
I WORK IN THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT AT HENRY FORD
HOSPITAL AND EVEN BEFORE THIS
WEEKEND, OUR E.R. AND EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE AREA IN
ERR MAJOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
HAVE BEEN OVERLOADED.
THE PRESS BRIEFING REFLECTED
THAT GROWING CONCERN.
>> IF WE DON’T CURB THE CURRENT
GROWTH OF COVID INPATIENT
HOSPITALIZATIONS, THERE ARE ONLY
SO MANY TEAM MEMBERS AND SO MANY
BEDS IN A COMMUNITY AND THE
MASKS WILL NOT WORK AND WE’LL
HAVE TO CURTAIL OTHER
OPERATIONS.
>> Dr. McGeorge: THAT WAS THE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
>> OUR HOSPITALS HAVE MORE COVID
PATIENTS THAN THEY’VE HAD SINCE
THE SPRING SURGE, AND THAT
SHOULD BE ALARMING TO ALL OF US
BECAUSE IT’S WITH MORE OVERALL
POPULATION VACCINATED THAN
BEFORE.
>> Dr. McGeorge: IT’S NOT TO
SUGGEST THE VACCINES AREN’T
WORKING.
69% ARE UNVACCINATED.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY...
>> THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE
UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.
>> Dr. McGeorge: "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" DATA TRACKER HAS MICHIGAN
WITH THE NATION’S HIGHEST DAILY
CASE AVERAGE PER 100,000 PEOPLE.
AND IN TERMS OF THE NEW CASES,
WE’RE IN THE SAME PLACE WE WERE
ONE YEAR AGO BEFORE THE LAST
WINTER SURGE.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MANY MORE
PEOPLE VACCINATED, BEHAVIORS
HAVE CHANGED.
FEWER PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS,
KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL AND
DISTANCING RULES ARE RELAXED AND
THAT’S GOING TO CUT INTO THE
BENEFITS THE VACCINES ARE
PROVIDING.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE VACCINES
ARE CRITICAL BUT SO IS BEHAVING
SMART.
THE DYNAMIC OF THE SURGE HAS
BEEN DIFFERENT.
THE INCREASE HAS BEEN SLOW BUT
RELENTLILY PERSISTENT UNTIL THE
SHARP INCREASE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF DAYS.
WE’VE YET TO SEE THE TREND IN
NUMBERS IN THE NEXT WEEK TO SEE
IF CASES CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET.
HEADING INTO THE WINTER HOLIDAYS
WITH THESE NUMBERS IS FRANKLY
JUST DANGEROUS!
>> Devin: PFIZER IS ASKING THE
FDA FOR EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE
EXPERIMENTAL ANTI-VIRAL PILL TO
TREAT COVID-19.
A CLINICAL TRIAL SHOWED AN 89%
REDUCTION IN THE RISK OF
HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH IN
HIGH-RISK PATIENTS.
THE NEW PILL HAS TO BE
ADMINISTERED ALONGSIDE AN OLDER
ANTI-VIRAL WITHIN THE FIRST 3
DAYS OF COVID SYMPTOMS TO BE
EFFECTIVE.
>> Kim: WITH CASE NUMBERS
SURGING, THE RESPONSE FROM THE
STATE IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHAT
WE’VE SEEN.
>> Devin: GONE ARE THE MASK
MANDATES, BAR AND RESTAURANT
CLOSURES AND VIRTUAL LEARNING
FOR STUDENTS.
SO WHAT MAKES THIS SO DIFFERENT?
PRIYA SET OUT TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION.
>> Priya: THIS TIME LAST YEAR,
GOVERNOR WHITMER WAS HOLDING
REGULAR PRESS BRIEFINGS
ALONGSIDE THE CHIEF MEDICAL
OFFICER AT THE TIME DR. JONEIGH
KHALDUN AND WE WERE GETTING
UPDATES AND MANDATES AND
LOCKDOWNS.
NOW THE NUMBERS ARE BACK WHERE
THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR
BUT WE HAVEN’T HEARD FROM THE
GOVERNOR!
>> I’M CONCERNED.
I DON’T LIKE THE WAY THE NUMBERS
ARE GOECHLTH WE SHOULD CONSIDER
RESTRICTIONS OR SOME OTHER
MEASURES IN ADDITION TO THE
VACCINES.
>> SINCE I’M VACCINATED, I’M NOT
SUPER WORRIED ABOUT IT.
AT THIS POINT, IT’S THE
UNVACCINATED GETTING SICK AND
UNFORTUNATELY PASSING AWAY.
AT THIS POINT, I’M GOOD WITH
JUST MOVING ON.
>> Priya: THE NUMBER OF DAILY
COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS
AND DEATHS IN MICHIGAN ARE
NEARLY THE SAME AS THIS TIME
LAST YEAR.
GOVERNOR WHITMER’S LAST BRIEFING
WAS MONTHS AGO.
>> WHAT’S GOING ON?
WHAT ARE HER THOUGHTS?
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
WHAT DIRECTION ARE WE MOVING IN.
IT IS A LITTLE CONCERNING.
>> AT THIS POINT, IF SHE WERE TO
COME OUT AND PUT THOSE IN PLACE,
SHE MIGHT NOT REACH A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO AGREE.
>> Priya: WE SPOKE WITH
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GARLIN
GILCHRIST ON TUESDAY.
>> WE HAD RESTRICTIONS AND
LOCKDOWNS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD
BUT THE NUMBERS ARE BACK WHERE
THEY WERE LAST YEAR AT THIS
TIME.
WHY ARE WE NOT SEEING ANY
MITIGATION?
>> WE DIDN’T HAVE SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE VACCINES AND NOW WE
HAVE THREE.
THAT’S THE BIGGEST AND
CONSEQUENTIAL DIFFERENCE.
>> Priya: MORE THAN 70% HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED BUT STILL WE’RE
BACK WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO.
>> WE SHOULD REPORT THE NUMBER
OF CASES PER DAY.
>> Priya: THIS COINCIDES WITH
THE TIME FRAME THEY RECOMMENDED
YOU GET YOUR BOOSTER SHOT.
YOUR BEST BET AT PROTECTING
YOURSELF FROM COVID-19 IS TO GET
VACCINATED.
REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT, I’M
PRIYA MANN, LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: WE HAVE A GOOD
NEWS/BAD NEWS SCENARIO WHEN IT
COMES TO THE FORECAST.
>> Kim: LET’S GET OVER TO PAUL.
WE’RE IN FOR A BIG WARM-UP
TOMORROW, PAUL.
>> Paul: AND WE’LL PUT OFF THE
BAD NEWS FOR 10 MINUTES WHEN I
HAVE THE FULL FORECAST.
LOOK AT THE BIG HOUSE.
THAT CLOUDINESS HAS BEEN MOVING
IN AND TEMPERATURES HAVE SLIPPED
INTO THE UPPER 30s.
39 AT MONROE, LAPEER.
AND ANOTHER 39 AND I WOULD HAVE
A YAHTZEE.
YOU CAN SEE THE OPENING WE HAD
EARLIER THAT ALLOWED SUNSHINE
IN.
AND THE CLOUDS ARE INCREASING
INTO THE OVERNIGHT.
THE CLOUDS WILL THICKEN UP.
THE EVENING HOURS WILL BE DRY
AND THE TEMPERATURES GENERALLY
KIND OF LEVELING OFF HERE IN THE
UPPER 30s AND THEN STARTING TO
RISE.
BY TOMORROW MORNING, COULD BE A
GOOD 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN THE
MIDNIGHT TEMPERATURE.
WE’LL HAVE THE REST OF THE
FORECAST THROUGH THE UPCOMING
WEEKEND IN A FEW MINUTES, GUYS.
>> Kim: TONIGHT, DANNY FENSTER
IS SAFELY BACK ON U.S. SOIL AND
SHARED WHAT THE PAST 48 HOURS
HAVE BEEN LIKE.
>> Devin: HE THOUGHT HE WAS
STARTING AN 11-YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE WHEN EVERYTHING
CHANGED.
ROD MELONI IS HERE WITH MORE ON
WHAT DANNY HAD TO SAY.
IT’S BEEN A REAL WHIRLWIND.
>> Rod: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
YOU SAW THE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY
REUNION THAT HAPPENED HERE, THE
UNEXPECTED FAMILY REUNION THAT
HAPPENED IN NEW YORK.
THERE’S LIKELY TO BE ANOTHER BIG
FAMILY REUNION HERE, FAMILY AND
FRIENDS PUTTING UP THIS DISPLAY
HERE FOR DANNY AND THE FAMILY.
AND IT HAS BEEN QUITE THE RIDE
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
THEY SPENT 6 MONTHS AWAITING
THIS MOMENT, STARTING WITH MOM,
HUGS ALL AROUND.
THEY COULDN’T KNOW IT WOULD COME
AT KENNEDY AIRPORT, AND STOKING
HIS EMOTIONS.
>> IT’S INCREDIBLE.
RIGHT HERE, IT’S ABOUT THIS RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
>> Rod: THE FAMILY, FORMER U.S.
AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON
RETIRED TO A LOCATION INSIDE.
>> I’M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO
SEE BILL AND HIS TEAM OUT ON THE
TARMAC WAITING FOR ME.
IT WAS THE GREATEST FEELING I
CAN EVER REMEMBER HAVING.
>> Rod: HE THANKED HIS BROTHER,
FAMILY, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT
TOOK UP THE "FREE FENSTER"
MOVEMENT.
>> SOME POLICE AIDE THAT COULD
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH
WOULD FLASH A PICTURE ON HIS
PHONE OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY
WEARING T-SHIRTS ON CNN, AN
INCREDIBLE THING TO SEE.
>> Rod: THEY SHACKLED HIM AND
PUT HIM IN A CAR FOR A 4-HOUR
DRIVE.
>> YOU’VE BEEN CHARGED WITH
THESE CRIMES AND FOUND GUILTY.
WE’LL OFFER YOU THIS PARDON AND
YOU’RE GONNA LEAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> Rod: HE SAID HE IS GOING TO
ENJOY HIS FREEDOM, THE VISIT
WITH HIS FAMILY, A LOT, BUT IN A
SHORT ORDER BECAUSE HE HAS OTHER
THINGS HE WANTS TO DO AND TAKE
UP THE FIGHT FOR THE OTHER
JOURNALISTS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN
MYANMAR BEING HELD BY THE
GOVERNMENT THERE.
HE BELIEVES THEIR FREEDOM IS
EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS HIS
AND WANTS TO WORK TOWARD THAT.
>> Devin: HE WAS IN A PRISON
THAT IS QUITE NOTORIOUS, AND HE
TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT
TODAY.
>> Rod: HE ACTUALLY SPOKE
EXPANSIVELY ABOUT IT AND TIMES
HE FELT A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED
AND HOPELESS.
SO WE’LL BE HEARING FROM ALL OF
THOSE ISSUES COMING UP ON LOCAL
4 NEWS AT 6:00.
>> Devin: WE’LL SEE YOU THEN.
>> Kim: JURORS CONTINUE TO
DELIBERATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
IN THE CASE OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE.
>> Devin: 18 MEMBERS OF THE JURY
WERE REDUCED TO 12.
RITTENHOUSE HIMSELF PICKED
JURORS OUT OF A TUMBLER AND
DETERMINED TO BE THE ONES WHO
WOULD SERVE AS THE ALTERNATES. HE IS CHARGED WITH KILLING TWO
HE IS CHARGED WITH KILLING TWO
MEN AND INJURING A THIRD DURING
PROTESTS.
NATIONAL GUARD A STANDING BY.
>>> AN YPSILANTI HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR SUFFERED A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY AND DIED. >> Kim: HE IS AN S.T.E.M.
>> Kim: HE IS AN S.T.E.M.
COLLEGE SENIOR AND TAKEN TO ST.
JOSEPH HOSPITAL AND DIED.
>>> A PLANE CRASH IN NORTHERN
MICHIGAN HAS KILLED TWO PEOPLE
FROM OUR AREA.
>> Devin: MONDAY AFTERNOON IN A
WOODED AREA NEAR BOYNE CITY.
THE TWO MEN WERE FOUND DEAD
INSIDE THE PLANE.
IT DISAPPEARED ON ITS WAY TO
BOYNE CITY AIRPORT.
THE CAUSE IS STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
IT’S THE SECOND DEADLY CRASH UP
NORTH IN THREE DAYS.
FOUR PEOPLE DIED SATURDAY ON
BEAVER ISLAND THOUGH AN
11-YEAR-OLD SURVIVED THE CRASH.
>> Kim: MUCH MORE TO COME.
HERE’S SHAWN LEY.
>> Shawn: THE FBI CALLED IT A
HUNTING HOMICIDE.
THE FATHER GOES DEER HUNTING AND
NEVER COMES BACK TO THE FAMILY.
AND THEY’RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP
WITH THIS COLD CASE.
>> Devin: PRESIDENT BIDEN’S
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SENDING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MICHIGAN
AND WHERE THE MOPE IS EXPECTED
TO GO AND WHY SOME SAY IT WON’T
GET VERY FAR!
>>> CHRISTMAS HAS COME EARLY FOR