♪
>> Victor: EVEN THOUGH OVER
71,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED IN THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN, SEE WHY WE’RE NOT
CAUGHT UP WITH OUR GOAL FOR
OPERATION WARP SPEED.
>> Kim: IT’S A DRUG RESPONSIBLE
FOR DEATHS AND DOZENS OF
OVERDOSES IN METRO DETROIT AND
THERE’S BEEN A MAJOR
BREAKTHROUGH IN MACOMB COUNTY TO
GET IT OFF THE STREET. IT’S BEING CALLED A BIG TAKEDOWN
IT’S BEING CALLED A BIG TAKEDOWN
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
>> Jason: THEY’RE SELLING
COCAINE LACED WITH FENTANYL THAT
HAS KILLED THREE PEOPLE IN
WARREN ALONE.
LOSES OF OTHERS HAVE OVERDOSED
FROM THE DRUGS.
>> Nick: THE WARREN POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS CALLING THIS
SEPARATION SNOW, STOPPING
NARCOTIC OVERDOSES IN WARREN.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN A
47-YEAR-OLD WOMAN OVERDOSED AND
DIED.
>> THE FIREFIGHTERS AND WARREN
POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND
SPOKE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS,
PROVIDED KEY INFORMATION THAT WE
ALREADY HAD PIECES OF BUT GAVE
US A LITTLE BIT MORE TO ZERO IN
ON A LOCATION AND INDIVIDUALS.
>> Nick: AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CHARGED.
32-YEAR-OLD CLARK, 34-YEAR-OLD
GASKINS AND JERMAINE TATE LOCKED
UP, STILL LOOKING FOR
34-YEAR-OLD ISAAC BANNERMAN.
THEY’RE ACCUSED OF CONDUCTING A
DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION,
DELIVERING AND MANUFACTURING
FENTANYL AND CONSPIRACY TO
DELIVER FENTANYL, EACH IS A
20-YEAR FELONY.
THEY’RE PART OF A CELL WORKING
IN A HEIRARCHY TO AVOID BEING
CAUGHT.
>> IN DOING SO, THEY LEAVE
EVIDENCE AND TRAILS OF EVIDENCE
THAT CONNECTS THE DOTS THAT WERE
ABLE TO GO FROM THE CUSTOMER TO
THEM.
>> Nick: THE DRUG IS COCAINE
LACED WITH FENTANYL AND CUT DOWN
TO MAKE A LARGER PROFIT.
THEY’VE TIED THE DRUGS TO THE
47-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, TWO OTHER
DEATHS AND MORE THAN 24
OVERDOSES.
>> THE PEOPLE DOING IT, IN MY
OPINION, ARE KILLERS, THEY’RE
KILLERS.
>> Nick: THEY LIKELY PREVENTED
HUNDREDS OF OVERDOSES BY GETTING
THIS DRUG CELL OFF THE STREETS.
AND THEY’RE BEGGING THOSE WHO
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TO ACCEPT
THEIR OLIVE BRANCH.
THEY WANT TO HELP YOU AND HOPE
YOU CAN HELP THEM PUT MORE DRUG
DEALERS AWAY N WARREN, I’M NICK
MONACELLI, LOCAL 4.
>> Jason: AND THIS DIDN’T JUST
COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
THE CITY OF WARREN HAS SEEN A
90% INCREASE FROM 2019 TO 2020.
>>> NOW THE CORONAVIRUS IN OUR
LAST UPDATE FROM 2020 FROM THE
STATE.
>> Kim: MICHIGAN REPORTED 4222
AND 51 NEW DEATHS.
THE NEXT UPDATE IS SATURDAY WHEN
WE GET A THREE-DAY TOTAL
INCLUDING NEW YEAR’S EVE AND NEW
YEAR’S DAY.
>> Jason: COLORADO OFFICIALS
RELEASED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
AN INFECTIOUS STRAIN IN THE U.S.
THE FIRST PERSON INFECTED IS A
COLORADO NATIONAL GUARDSMAN.
THEY BELIEVE A SECOND GUARD
MEMBER MAY BE INFECTED.
>> Kim: AND A SHORT TIME AGO, CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCED ITS FIRST
CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCED ITS FIRST
CONFIRMED CASE OF THE VIRUS.
>> Jason: DECEMBER WAS THE
SECOND DEADLIEST MONTH BEHIND
APRIL.
>> Kim: VETERANS IN ANN ARBOR
AND SENIORS IN OAKLAND COUNTY
GOT THE VACCINE TODAY.
THE HEAD OF THE WHITE HOUSE
VACCINE EFFORT ACKNOWLEDGED
THINGS ARE NOT MOVING AS FAST AS
PLANNED.
VICTOR WILLIAMS IS LIVE WITH
WHERE THINGS STAND IN MICHIGAN.
VICTOR?
>> Victor: THE VACCINE ROLLOUT
IS NOT HAPPENING THE WAY WE
EXPECTED IT TO HERE IN THE STATE
AND THE SPEAKER IS POINTING HER
FINGER AT THE PRESIDENT.
>> WE NEED TO BE SCIENTIFIC AND
DETERMINED TO CRUSH THE VIRUS.
>> Victor: SPEAKING ABOUT THE
SLOW DELIVERY WHEN IT COMES DOWN
TO THE COVID-19 VACCINATION
MAKING ITS WAY AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
>> IT HAS HAPPENED, NEARLY
350,000 AMERICANS, MANY OF THOSE
DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
>> Victor: THE GOAL WAS TO
DELIVER 300 MILLION DOSES
NATIONALLY BY JANUARY 2021, AN
UNREALISTIC AIM, ULTIMATELY SHE
IS PLACING THE GAME ON THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> YOU NEED A BIGGER SPOTLIGHT
ON THE PROBLEM AND ON SOME OF
THE SOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN ALL
PARTICIPATE.
>> Victor: THE FACE OF OPERATION
WARP SPEED SAID VACCINE
ALLOCATIONS ALWAYS START OUT
SLOWLY.
>> THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS
AND HERE’S WHAT I HAVE
CONFIDENCE IN.
EVERY DAY, EVERYBODY GETS
BETTER, AND I BELIEVE THAT
UPTAKE WILL INCREASE
SIGNIFICANTLY AS WE GO FORWARD.
>> Victor: BUT HERE’S MICHIGAN’S
SITUATION: AS OF MONDAY, 71,256
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJECTED WITH
THE VACCINE VERSUS 313, 375
DOSES DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE.
IF EVERY STATE MATCHED THOSE
NUMBERS, THOSE VACCINATED
NATIONALLY WOULD BE 3.5 MILLION.
MICHIGAN’S NUMBERS WILL BE
INCREASING FOR 186 FACILITIES IN
THE STATE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING
THE VACCINE.
AND NOW VETERANS WILL BE ADDED
TO THE LIST OF THOSE ALLOWED TO
RECEIVE IT.
TODAY AT THE V.A. HOSPITAL IN
ANN ARBOR, THE VACCINATIONS WERE
GIVEN OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> THEY CALLED AND ASKED IF I
WOULD LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO
GET THE VACCINE AND I SAID, OF
COURSE.
>> Victor: AND THE GOVERNOR’S
TEAM SENT US THIS STATEMENT.
IT READS: SINCE THE START OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, GOVERNOR
WHITMER HAS CALLED ON THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A
NATIONAL STRATEGY WHEN IT COMES TO
.
>> Jason: NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT
THE WEATHER TODAY.
NO ONE ENJOYED A GLOOMY, RAINY
DAY.
>> Kim: AND CONCERN AS
TEMPERATURES DROP.
>> Paul: WE HAVE COLDER AIR
COMING IN, AND WITH THIS RAIN,
THE TWO ARE INTERSECTING, AND
THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW
THERE, NOTHING CAUSE PROBLEMS,
JUST RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF
THIS STUFF.
IT’S ABOVE FREEZING AND THE
GROUND IS WET, SO IT’S NOT GOING
TO CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.
TEMPERATURES HAVE FALLEN INTO
THE 30s AND IT’S 36 IN ADRIAN,
35 IN PONTIAC, 35 IN HOWELL, 39
IN DETROIT.
AND THOSE STATIONS THAT ARE
STILL REPORTING WIND GUSTS ARE
GUSTING BETWEEN 20-30 MILES PER
HOUR.
SO IT’S A LITTLE BREEZY OUT
THERE IF YOU’RE JUST HEADING OUT
THE DOOR.
AT 6:17, WE HAVE SOME ISSUES
WITH ICE BECAUSE OF THE FALLING
TEMPERATURES.
TOMORROW, THE LAST DAY OF THE
YEAR WILL BE DRY AND FRIDAY IS
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN.
I’LL BE BACK TO EXPLAIN.
>> Kim: LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE
STATE ARE REACTING TO THE DEATH
OF MAYOR PALETKO.
HE DIED LAST NIGHT FROM
CORONAVIRUS COMPLICATIONS.
HE WAS 70 YEARS OLD.
HE HAD JUST GONE INTO THE
HOSPITAL ON MONDAY THINKING HE
HAD PNEUMONIA.
HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT FORD
AND DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND SERVED ON THE
DEARBORN HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL
AND STATE LEGISLATURE BEFORE
BEING APPOINTED MAYOR BACK IN
FOUR.
GOVERNOR WHITMER CALLED HIM A
COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANT, AN
EXTRAORDINARY COLLEAGUE, SIMILAR
SENTIMENTS TODAY FROM THE PEOPLE HE SERVED LONGSIDE.
HE SERVED LONGSIDE.
>> HE COULD HAVE HAD ANY JOB HE
WANTED, INTELLECT-WISE, BUT HE
SERVED THE CITY VERY, VERY
HUMBLY AND DID VERY NICE THING
FOR THE CITY, RAN IT
PROFESSIONALLY, RAN IT WELL AND
GAVE IT HIS ALL.
>> Kim: CITY COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN MAXWELL WAS SWORN IN AS INTERIM
MAXWELL WAS SWORN IN AS INTERIM
MAYOR AND WILL SERVE UNTIL THEY
FIND SOMEONE TO FULFILL THE
TERM.
>>> ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVANT GONE
TOO SOON.
>> Jason: THEY GATHERED TO SAY
GOOD-BYE TO WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF
BENNY NAPOLEON.
♪[SINGING]♪
>> Jason: THE PRIVATE SOCIALLY
DISTANT FUNERAL COMES AFTER TWO
DAYS OF VISITATIONS.
LOCAL LEADERS SENT IN VIDEO
TRIBUTES.
WE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE
THAT KNEW HIM BEST, INCLUDING
HIS DAUGHTER TIFFANY.
>> THERE WILL FOREVER BE THIS
HOLE IN MY HEART THAT CANNOT BE
FILLED BECAUSE YOU CANNOT
REPLACE A BOND LIKE THIS.
THE BOND THAT HE AND I SHARED
WAS A BOND THAT WAS MADE IN
HEAVEN AND IT’S A BOND THAT WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL I GET THERE.
SO I WILL SAY, REST WELL, DADDY.
YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB.
YOU PREPARED ME FOR THIS MOMENT.
>> Jason: HE DIED ON DECEMBER
17, THREE WEEKS AFTER GOING ON A
VENTILATOR WITH COVID-19.
HE WAS 65 YEARS OLD.
>> Kim: GOVERNOR GRETCHEN
WHITMER SIGNS OFF ON AN HISTORIC
MOVE FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES.
THE GOVERNOR SIGNED BILLS TO LET
COLLEGE ATHLETES PROFIT OFF
THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS.
THEY ALSO STOP SCHOOLS FROM
KEEPING STUDENTS FROM PLAYING OR
TAKING AWAY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
PROFITING OFF OF FINANCIAL DEALS
AND GOES INTO EFFECT IN 2022.
>> Jason: AND THE GOVERNOR
SIGNED A BILL FOR MONEY TO GO TO
PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE FLINT
WATER CRISIS.
IT’S THE FLINT SETTLEMENT TRUST
FUND AND THEY CAN BORROW MONEY
TO SETTLE LAWSUITS.
THIS THE STATE AGREED TO THE
DEAL IN AUGUST TO MORE THAN 100
LAWSUITS FILED ON BEHALF OF
THOUSANDS OF FLINT RESIDENTS.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WILL NEVER
BE ENOUGH BUT IT’S A MAJOR STEP
FORWARD TO HELPING FLINT HEAL.
>>> $600 STIMULUS CHECKS ARE
GOING OUT NOW BUT DOESN’T APPEAR
I’LL GET MORE LIKELY ANY TIME
SOON.
>> Kim: DIRECT DEPOSITS BEGAN
LAST NIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE,
AND PAPER CHECKS BEING PUT IN
THE MAIL TODAY.
AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THE
PAYMENTS TO $2,000 HAS HIT A
SNAG ON CAPITOL HILL.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH
McCONNELL IS TYING THE PAYMENTS
TO TWO PROPOSALS THAT DEMOCRATS
WON’T GO FOR, ONE ESTABLISHES A
VOTER FRAUD COMMISSION.
THE OTHER REMOVES PROTECTION FOR
TECH FIRMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK AND
TWITTER.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AREN’T
SEEING EYE TO EYE ON WHETHER THE
INCREASED PAYMENTS ARE EVEN
NECESSARY.
>> MOST PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE
WORKING ACTUALLY ARE WORKING.
AND MOST AMERICANS HAVE NOT --
AT THIS POINT, ARE NOT
EXPERIENCING A REDUCTION IN
THEIR INCOME.
>> THEY’RE IN DENIAL OF THE
HARDSHIP THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.
>> Kim: SOME DEMOCRATS SAY THEY
WILL WAIT FOR A NEW CONGRESS AND
NEW ADMINISTRATION TO PUSH FOR
ANOTHER ROUND OF AID.
>> Jason: IT’S PRETTY HARD TO
FIND A FAN OF 2020, BUT
APPARENTLY MICHIGANDERS DISLIKE
THIS YEAR MORE THAN MOST.
>> Kim: AND HERE’S ROD.
>> Rod: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING UNDER COVID-19.
IT’S WREAKED HAVOC ON THEIR
FINANCES AND THAT’S SAD.
THERE’S A FLIP SIDE, A SILL VEER
LINING TO ALL OF THIS, AND WE’LL
TELL YOU WHAT THAT IS AND HOW