>> Announcer: LIVE FROM
DOWNTOWN DETROIT, HOME OF
WDIV AND CLICK ON DETROIT,
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT NOON STARTS NOW.
>>> A COOLER START TO THE
WEEKEND ACROSS METRO
DETROIT.
THE LOCAL FORECASTERS
TRACKING HOW LONG THE MILDER
TEMPS WILL LAST.
PLUS, STATE POLICE
INVESTIGATE ANOTHER FREEWAY
SHOOTING IN METRO DETROIT.
>>> FORMER MACOMB COUNTY
PROSECUTOR ERIC SMITH FACES
A JUDGE TODAY. WE’LL TAKE YOU INSIDE THE
WE’LL TAKE YOU INSIDE THE
COURTROOM.
>>> BUT WE BEGIN THIS NOON
WITH BREAKING NEWS.
THE C.D.C. HAS JUST UPDATED
ITS GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS AND
SAYS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED DO
WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED DO
NOT NEED TO WEAR MASKS WHILE
INSIDE.
THE AGENCY SAYS THAT
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
BENEFIT FROM IN-PERSON
LEARNING AND RETURNING TO SCHOOLS IN THE FALL IS A
SCHOOLS IN THE FALL IS A
PRIORITY.
THEY’RE PROMOTING
VACCINATION FOR THOSE AGES
12 AND OLDER CAN HELP
SCHOOLS RETURN TO IN-PERSON
LEARNING AS WELL AS
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
AND SPORTS. HOWEVER THE C.D.C. STILL
HOWEVER THE C.D.C. STILL
RECOMMENDS THOSE WHO ARE
UNVACCINATED TO CONTINUE TO
WEAR MASKS INDOORS.
OUR OTHER TOP STORY THIS
FRIDAY AT NOON, FORMER
MACOMB COUNTY PROSECUTOR ERIC SMITH IS COURT TODAY
ERIC SMITH IS COURT TODAY
FOR A HEARING IN AN
EMBEZZLING CASE.
SMITH FACES THE STATE CHARGE
FOR EMBEZZLING $600,000.
LAST YEAR SMITH PLEADED GUILTY TO FEDERAL
GUILTY TO FEDERAL
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
CHARGES.
PRIYA MANN HAS BEEN
FOLLOWING TODAY’S HEARING
ALL MORNING LONG AND JOINS
US WITH THE VERY LATEST.
PRIYA?
>> Reporter: HEY, GOOD MORNING, KAREN.
MORNING, KAREN.
THIS IS OUR FIRST GLIMPSE
INTO THE CASE AGAINST ERIC
SMITH.
A PRELIMINARY HEARING
EXPECTED TO LAST TWO DAYS
AND INCLUDE MORE THAN A
DOZEN WITNESSES.
TAKE A LOOK AT NEW VIDEO JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM.
JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM.
THIS IS VIDEO OF ERIC SMITH
HE’S ON THE LEFT WEARING A
MASK WALKING INTO COURT IN
CLINTON TOWNSHIP FOR A
PRELIMINARY HEARING.
THE DISGRACED FORM MARE COMB COUNTY PROSECUTOR IS CHARGED
COUNTY PROSECUTOR IS CHARGED
WITH 10 FELONIES INCLUDING
RACKETEERING AND FIVE COUNTS
OF EMBEZZLEMENT.
THE 54-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY
SPENT THE MONEY FROM 2012
THROUGH 2018.
HE’S ACCUSED OF USING THE FOUND THROW HOLIDAY PARTIES,
FOUND THROW HOLIDAY PARTIES,
GETTING A SECURITY SYSTEM
FOR HIS HOME AND GETTING
DONATIONS TO VARIOUS
NONPROFITS INCLUDING HIS
KIDS SCHOOL.
IT’S ALLEGED SMITH SPENT UP TO $600,000 FROM FOUR SECRET
TO $600,000 FROM FOUR SECRET
ACCOUNTS.
IT’S EXPECTED SMITH’S FORMER
CHIEF OF STAFF AS WELL AS
OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS WILL
BE CALLED TO TESTIFY.
TAKE A LISTEN AS THE
ASSISTANT CORPORATE COUNSEL TOOK THE STAND THIS MORNING.
TOOK THE STAND THIS MORNING.
>> IN YOUR OPINION WITH THE
STATUTES APPLY THERE’S $50,000 IN THIS ACCOUNT I
$50,000 IN THIS ACCOUNT I
WANT IT TRANSFERRED INTO MY
GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT TO BE USED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS
USED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS
FOR ONE TIME -- SO THAT THAT
WOULD BE ILLEGAL?
>> THAT WOULD BE IMPROPER.
>> Reporter: THERE HAS BEEN
A LOT OF TALK THIS MORNING ABOUT FORFEITURE OF FUNDS
ABOUT FORFEITURE OF FUNDS
WHO WAS PRESENT FOR SOME OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS HOW THE
MONEY WAS SPENT.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
THIS PRELIMINARY HEARING ALL
DAY LONG.
ERIC SMITH IS FACING DECADES BEHIND BARS.
BEHIND BARS.
REPORTING LIVE, PRIYA MANN,
LOCAL 4.
>> APPRECIATE IT PRIYA.
>>> I-75 IN DETROIT IS BACK
OPEN RIGHT NOW AFTER POLICE
CLOSE THE FREEWAY NEAR I-96
FOR A SHOOTING INVESTIGATION.
NEW DASH CAM VIDEO SHOWS AN
S.U.V. SPIN OUT ON THE
FREEWAY AFTER LOSING A TIRE
NEAR DEARBORN.
THIS HAPPENED IN THE
SOUTHBOUND LANES AROUND 2:00 THIS MORNING.
THIS MORNING.
AT A TIME POLICE SAY A
TROOPER HEARD GUNFIRE COMING
FROM BEHIND HIS VEHICLE AND
THEN TWO S.U.V.s SPED PAST.
THEY THOUGHT IT WAS INITIALLY CLOSED AT CLARK
INITIALLY CLOSED AT CLARK
AVENUE THEN AT I-96 AMID THE
INVESTIGATION.
POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING
THIS HOUR FOR THAT SECOND
S.U.V.
>>> TIME NOW FOR A CHECK OF
THE WEATHER A PLEASANT START AFTER A WEEK OF STORMS AND
AFTER A WEEK OF STORMS AND
HUMID TEMPERATURES.
LET’S SENDS IT OVER TO
METEOROLOGIST PAUL GROSS
WITH A FIRST LOOK AT YOUR
FORECAST.
>> HI KAREN.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY
OUTSIDE. LOOK AT THIS TEMPERATURES
LOOK AT THIS TEMPERATURES
ARE NEAR 70 DEGREES AND
THOSE DEW POINTS ARE IN THE
50s.
WE TELL YOU ALL THE TIME
WHEN THE DEW POINT IS IN THE
50s IN THE SUMMER THAT IS
VERY COMFORTABLE AIR.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THE DRY AIR COMING IN FROM THE NORTH IS
COMING IN FROM THE NORTH IS
MAKING INROADS AND
SCATTERING OUT THIS CLOUD
COVER.
LET’S ZOOM IN FIRST OF ALL
I’LL SHOW YOU THE NORTHERN
HALF OF THE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE THE CLEARING
THAT’S TAKING PLACE.
BY THE WAY THESE LINES OF PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES THOSE
PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES THOSE
ARE ACTUALLY CALLED CLOUD
STREAKS THOSE LINES OF
CLOUDS RIGHT THERE.
DOWN TO THE SOUTH WE STILL
HAVE SOME CLOUDS TO THE FAR
SOUTH THAT ARE STILL BEING
WORKED ON.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW WE’RE BREAKING IT ALL UP.
BREAKING IT ALL UP.
SO A VERY NICE AFTERNOON FOR
WHATEVER HAVE YOU PLANNED
OUTDOORS WITH TEMPERATURES
REACHING THE MID TO UPPER
70s FOR A HIGH.
THEN WE HAVE THE WEEKEND TO
TALK ABOUT KAREN AND HALF OF IT IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD
IT IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD
AND HALF OF IT IS NOT
LOOKING SO GOOD.
SO WE’LL BREAK DOWN THE
TIMING ON ALL OF THAT IN A
FEW MINUTES.
WE’LL SEE YOU THEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, PAUL, D.T.E.
IS REPORTING ABOUT 52,000
CUSTOMERS STILL WITHOUT
POWER.
D.T.E. HAS CREWS IN THE
FIELD WORKING TO GET THE
POWER RESTORED.
THEY HOPE TO HAVE THE POWER
BACK ON FOR MANY OF THE
HOMEOWNERS IMPACTED SOMETIME TODAY.
MOST OF THOSE OUTAGES ARE IN
OAKLAND COUNTY.
>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TAKING
ACTION TODAY TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR YOU TO GET A
BETTER JOB AS UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS RISE. TRACIE POTTS IS LIVE WITH
TRACIE POTTS IS LIVE WITH
THE VERY LATEST ON THAT PLUS,
WINDING DOWN THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN AND NEWS FROM
THE C.D.C. ON WHETHER YOU NEED A BOOSTER SHOT OF THIS
NEED A BOOSTER SHOT OF THIS
COVID VACCINE.
>> Reporter: LET’S START
WITH THE ECONOMY AND JOBS.
THAT’S WHAT THE PRESIDENT █IS
TALKING ABOUT TODAY AS HE SIGNS AN ORDER TO RESTRICT
SIGNS AN ORDER TO RESTRICT
AGREEMENTS THAT PREVENT
PEOPLE HE SAYS FROM GETTING
BETTER PAYING JOBS.
>> President Biden: -- PRORT
PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ASKING THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER ASKING THE
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO
RESTRICT NONCOMPETE
AGREEMENTS THAT PREVENT
WORKERS FROM TAKING A BETTER
JOB WITH THE COMPETITION.
THE WHITE HOUSE ESTIMATES MILLIONS OF BLUE COLLAR
MILLIONS OF BLUE COLLAR
WORKERS ARE AFFECTED.
THIS AS NEW UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS RISE SUGGESTING JOB
GROWTH MAY BE STALLING.
THE PRESIDENT TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE ECONOMY
ATTENTION TO THE ECONOMY
TODAY AFTER ANNOUNCING SOME
TROOPS WILL STAY IN AGAIN
THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST --
STAY IN AFGHANISTAN THROUGH
THE END OF AUGUST. MOST ARE GONE.
MOST ARE GONE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE HAD
NO CHOICE PROMISED THAT THE
TALIBAN THE U.S. WOULD PULL
OUT.
>> ONCE THAT AGREEMENT WITH
THE TALIBAN HAD BEEN MADE STAYING WITH THE BARE
STAYING WITH THE BARE
MINIMUM FORCE WAS NO LONGER
POSSIBLE.
SO LET ME ASK THOSE WHO
WANTED US TO STAY, HOW MANY
MORE, HOW MANY THOUSANDS MORE AMERICANS DAUGHTERS AND
MORE AMERICANS DAUGHTERS AND
SONS ARE YOU WILLING TO
RISK?
>> IT’S A MISTAKE ACROSS THE
BOARD AND I VERY MUCH FEAR
WE’RE GOING TO FEEL THE
CONSEQUENCES IN THE NOT TOO
DISTANT FUTURE. >> Reporter: ALSO THE F.D.A.
>> Reporter: ALSO THE F.D.A.
AND C.D.C. ANNOUNCED FOR NOW
THERE’S NO NEED FOR A
BOOSTER SHOT.
ADDING THAT PEOPLE WHO GET
THE COVID VACCINE ARE PROTECTED FROM SEVERE
PROTECTED FROM SEVERE
DISEASE AND DEATH.
>> PLEASE GET VACCINATED IT
WILL PROTECT YOU AGAINST THE
SURGING OF THE DELTA
VARIANT. >> Reporter: NEARLY 160
>> Reporter: NEARLY 160
MILLION AMERICANS ARE FULLY
VACCINATED.
AND ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF
ADULTS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE
SHOT.
I’M TRACIE POTTS. >>> HERE AT HOME WE EXPECT
>>> HERE AT HOME WE EXPECT
UPDATED CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS DATA WILL ONLY BE
RELEASED ON TUESDAYS AND
FRIDAYS.
MEANTIME THE STATE’S VACCINATION RATE IS AT 62%.
VACCINATION RATE IS AT 62%.
>>> JOE LOUIS FREEWAY IS ONE
STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING A
REALITY.
THE PATHWAY THAT WILL
CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS IN
DEARBORN, HAMTRAMCK,
HIGHLAND PARK AND DETROIT IS RECEIVING $4 MILLION IN
RECEIVING $4 MILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDING.
CONGRESSWOMAN BRENDA
LAWRENCE SAYS THIS MONEY
WILL MAKE THE PROJECT SAFER
AND EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND
MORE ECOFRIENDLY. >> WE’RE GOING TO CREATE AN
>> WE’RE GOING TO CREATE AN
AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN RIDE
THEIR BIKES AND WALK, THAT’S
A PROGRESSIVE CITY, THAT’S A
CITY THAT EMBRACES WHAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN CLIMATE
NEED TO INVEST IN CLIMATE
RESILIENCE, INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> WORK ON THE PROJECT HAS
ALREADY STARTED ON DETROIT’S
WESTSIDE.
THE GOAL IS FOR THE GREEN
WAY TO OPEN NEXT YEAR. >>> IT’S GOING TO BE ANOTHER
>>> IT’S GOING TO BE ANOTHER
TOUGH WEEKEND TO GET AROUND
METRO DETROIT.
KIM DIJULIO HAS A LOOK AT
THE BIG FREEWAY CLOSURE.
>> Reporter: GOOD EVENING,
EVERYONE WE DO HAVE SOME
CONSTRUCTION TO GET AROUND FOR THE WEEKEND.
FOR THE WEEKEND.
SOUTHBOUND I-75 WILL CLOSE
BETWEEN SQUARE LAKE TO 8
MILE.
NORTHBOUND LANES WILL CLOSE
BETWEEN 8 MILE AND 14 MILE. SO THAT CLOSURE STARTS AT
SO THAT CLOSURE STARTS AT
O’CLOCK P.M. REOPENING
MONDAY MORNING AT 5:00 A.M.
TO GET AROUND THAT YOU CAN
USE WOODWARD, ALSO WE HAVE A
CLOSURE ON THE SOUTHBOUND
LANES OF SOUTHFIELD FREEWAY
RIGHT AT MICHIGAN AVENUE THAT CLOSURE STARTS TOMORROW
THAT CLOSURE STARTS TOMORROW
MORNING AT 6:00 A.M.
WRAPPING UP SUNDAY AT 5:00
IN THE AFTERNOON.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
EVERYONE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
KIM. >>> STILL TO COME THIS NOON,
>>> STILL TO COME THIS NOON,
AN URGENT WARNING TODAY FROM
MICROSOFT.
FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD
UPDATE YOUR P.C. AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
>>> PLUS, A HELP ME HANK
RECALL ALERT FROM GENERAL MOTORS.
WHY THE AUTOMAKER IS
RECALLING OVER 400,000
PICKUP TRUCKS.
>>> BUT FIRST, HEAVY RAIN
AND FLOODING CAUSING
PROBLEMS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST.
>>> MAYBE YOU’RE NOT SURE
ABOUT GETTING A COVID-19
VACCINE OR YOU’RE LEANING
TOWARDS SKIPPING IT.
LISTEN, I KNOW THE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN FAIR FOR
ALWAYS BEEN FAIR FOR
EVERYONE SO IT’S
UNDERSTANDABLE THAT SOME
PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL.
BUT BEFORE YOU SAY NO, DO
YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
LOOK UP INFORMATION FROM
REPUTABLE SOURCES AND TAKE
TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE
VACCINE BEFORE YOU MAKE UP
YOUR MIND.
OUR COMMUNITY WAS HIT HARD
BY THE VIRUS AND WE NEED TO HIT BACK WITH FACTS.