>>> GAS PRICES HIT AN JULY
TIME HIGH OF $4.25 PER
GALLON TODAY AND STATE
LEADERS HAVE A PLAN TO LOWER
THEM RIGHT AWAY.
THE COST OF SUSPENDING THE
STATE’S GAS TAX.
PAULA?
>> THE SIGN SAYS THE DOLLAR
TREE BUT IT’S ACTUALLY
SOMETHING ELSE.
>> THEY HAVE GONE UP A
QUARTER ON EVERYTHING.
>> HOW THE NEW PRICE HIKE IS
AFFECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE
ALREADY DEALING WITH LOTS OF
PRICE HIKES.
>>> PLUS, PROSECUTORS SAY
THEY WANTED TO SPARK A
SECOND CIVIL WAR SHOCKING
ALLEGATIONS FROM OPENING
STATEMENTS AS FOUR MEN GO ON
TRIAL IN THE PLOT TO KIDNAP
GOVERNOR WHITMER.
PAUL?
>> HEY, KAREN, TURNED OUT TO
BE A REALLY NICE DAY TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE BRIGHT SUNSHINE
SHINING DOWN ON MT. CLEMENS
RIGHT NOW BUT A COLD FRONT
IS COMING INTO THE AREA
RIGHT NOW.
IT’S GOING TO COOL US DOWN
THEN WE HAVE SNOW TO TALK
ABOUT.
ALL OF THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD.
>> Announcer: LIVE FROM
DOWNTOWN DETROIT, LOCAL 4
NEWS FIRST AT 4:00 STARTS
NOW.
>>> FIRST AT 4:00, WITH GAS
PRICES CONTINUING TO HIT
RECORD HIGHS STATE
REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING A
PLAN TO FREEZE THE GAS TAX.
MICHIGAN’S GAS TAX IS 27
CENTS PER GALLON AND
REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE WANT TO
SUSPEND IT FOR SIX MONTHS.
NOW THAT MONEY TYPICALLY
PAYS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE
FIXES.
BUT MICHIGAN DOES CURRENTLY
HAVE A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR
BUDGET SURPLUS.
THE LEGISLATURE IS EXPECTED
TO PASS THIS IN THE COMING
DAYS BUT IT’S NOT CLEAR IF
GOVERNOR WHITMER SUPPORTS
IT.
YESTERDAY, SHE ASKED
CONGRESS TO SUSPEND THE
FEDERAL GAS TAX THAT’S 18
CENTS A GALLON.
TODAY WE ASKED IF SHE THINKS
THAT WILL HAPPEN.
>> WELL, I’M HOPEFUL.
I’M GRATEFUL THAT SENATOR
STABENOW, CONGRESSMAN KILDEE,
CONGRESSWOMAN SLOTKIN HAVE
REALLY BEEN WORKING THIS.
THIS WOULD BE ARE LEE NOT
JUST FOR MICHIGANDERS BUT
FOR ALL AMERICANS THAT ARE
GRAPPLING WITH THE HIGH COST
OF FUEL.
BUT I ALSO THINK IT’S A
LESSON IN WHY WE CAN’T RELY
ON FOREIGN NATIONS FOR OUR
-- TO MEET OUR ENERGY NEEDS.
>> COMING UP AT 5:00, OUR
VICTOR WILLIAMS WILL TAKE A
LOOK AT HOW THIS STATE TAX
PROPOSAL COULD IMPACT YOU
WITH A BREAKDOWN FOR THE
SAVINGS.
>>> THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS
TRYING TO CUT ALL TIES WITH
RUSSIA.
TODAY THE STATE INVESTMENT
BOARD TOLD MICHIGAN’S
RETIREMENT INVESTMENT
SYSTEMS TO DUMP ANY ASSETS
INVESTED IN RUSSIAN
COMPANIES AND SECURITIES.
IT COMES AS THE FIGHTING
ESCALATES WITH RUSSIA
TARGETING A HOSPITAL FOR
MOTHERS TODAY.
JASON COLTHORP IN THE
NEWSROOM WITH THE NEW
DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WAR.
JASON?
>> KAREN, RUSSIAN AIR STRIKE
DESTROYED A MATERNITY
HOSPITAL IN A PORT CITY AND
UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT SAYS
CHILDREN WERE INSIDE.
VIDEO SHOWS THE AFTERMATH OF
THE AIR STRIKES CHARRED
VEHICLES, FIRE COMING FROM
THE BUILDING AND PEOPLE
BEING HELPED OUT OF THERE.
UKRAINE SAYS 17 PEOPLE WERE
HURT, INCLUDING STAFF AND
MOTHERS IN THE MATERNITY
WARD.
BUT AT THIS POINT THERE HAS
BEEN NO REPORTS TO CHILDREN.
TODAY SECRETARY OF STATE
THRONE BLINKEN QUESTIONED
THE PROPOSAL IT WOULD
REQUIRE POLAND TO GIVE THEM
TO THE U.S. THEN THE U.S.
WOULD TRANSFER THEM TO
UKRAINE.
BLINKEN SAYS THAT RAISES A
SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE
ENTIRE NATO ALLIANCE.
>> SO WE HAVE TO WORK
THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF
THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD.
IT’S NOT SIMPLY CLEAR TO US
THAT THERE’S A SUBSTANTIVE
RATIONALE FOR DOING IT IN
THE WAY IT WAS PUT FORWARD
YESTERDAY.
WHAT WE’RE DOING RIGHT NOW
IS CONTINUING TO CONSULT
VERY CLOSELY WITH POLAND,
WITH OTHER NATO ALLIES ON
THIS AND THE LOGISTICAL
CHALLENGES THAT IT PRESENTS.
>> Reporter: VICE PRESIDENT
KAMALA HARRIS IS ON HER WAY
TO POLAND NOW.
SHE’LL MEET WITH POLAND’S
PRESIDENT AND CANADIAN PRIME
MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU TO
TALK ABOUT THAT FIGHTER JET
OFFER AND OTHER WAYS TO HELP
UKRAINE DEFEND ITSELF.
RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE IS
PUSHING THROUGH MORE THAN
$13 BILLION IN AID FOR
UKRAINE AND ITS EUROPEAN
ALLIES.
SOME OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO
EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
WHO CONTINUE TO TAKE IN THE
TWO MILLION REFUGEES THAT
WE’VE ALREADY SEEN FROM
UKRAINE.
LOTS TO FOLLOW THIS.
KAREN FOR NOW BACK TO YOU.
>> WE’LL SEE YOU AT 5:00,
THANKS JASON.
>>> OPENING STATEMENTS BEGAN
TODAY IN THE PLOT TO KIDNAP
GOVERNOR WHITMER WITH
PROSECUTORS SAYING THE FOUR
MEN ON TRIAL WANTED TO
HOG-TIE THE GOVERNOR THEN
SPARK ANOTHER CIVIL WAR.
LOCAL 4 DEFENDER SHAWN LEY
FOLLOWING THESE BIG
DEVELOPMENTS IN COURT.
>> Reporter: GOOD AFTERNOON,
WITH THE JURY SEATED LATE
YESTERDAY TODAY WAS FIRST
FULL DAY OF THE TRIAL
AGAINST FOUR MEMBERS OF THE
WOLVERINE WATCHMEN MILITIA
GROUP.
NOW THEY’RE FACING POSSIBLE
LIFE IN PRISON FOR ALLEGEDLY
PLOTTING AND TRAINING TO
LAUNCH A DEADLY VIOLENT
ATTACK TO KIDNAP GOVERNOR
WHITMER.
HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
ADAM FOX OF WEST MICHIGAN,
BARRY CROFT OF MARYLAND,
DANIEL HARRIS OF WATERFORD
AND BRANDON CONCERTA OF
CANTON ARE FACING FEDERAL
CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO
KIDNAP THE GOVERNOR OVER HER
COVID MANDATES AND STATE
SHUTDOWNS.
CONSPIRACY MEANS THE FEDS
HAVE TO PROVE THE MEN ALL
AGREED TO PLAN TO LAUNCH THE
ATTACK.
OPENING STATEMENTS TODAY
WHERE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY
THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT ON
THE PLOT, PERIOD.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THE
EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT THE
PLOT WAS NOT JUST TALK BUT
MESSAGES AND VOICE
RECORDINGS WILL SHOW THAT
THE GROUP WAS INTENT ON
TAKING ACTION.
COMING UP IN ONE HOUR LIVE
AT 5:00, THE FIRST WITNESS
CALLED TODAY TO THE WITNESS
STAND WE’LL TELL YOU WHAT HE
HAD TO SAY AND THOSE KEY
VOICE RECORDINGS WERE PLAYED
FOR THE JURY IN COURT.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SHAWN.
>>> ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA
NESSEL ANNOUNCES THE FIRST
CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO THE
SEX ABUSE CLAIMS AGAINST THE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
51-YEAR-OLD MARK CHAPMAN
FACES 10 COUNTS OF CRIMINAL
SEXUAL CONDUCT.
PROSECUTORS SAY CHAPMAN
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED TWO BOYS
AT THE TIME HE WAS THE
SCOUTMASTER IN ROSEVILLE.
THEY SAY CHAPMAN ALSO WORKED
IN AND ATTENDED THE CHURCH
OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER
DAY SAINTS.
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE
AND STATE POLICE ARE
EXAMINING ABOUT 5,000 CLAIMS
SENT FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF
AMERICA NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION FOR REVIEW.
>> THIS IS NOT A JOKE TO US,
THESE ARE PEOPLE’S LIVES AND
WE ARE DETERMINED TO
INVESTIGATE, USE ALL OF OUR
RESOURCES THAT WE POSSIBLY
CAN TO INVESTIGATE THESE
CASES AND WHERE THE EVIDENCE
LEADS TO CHARGES TO
PROSECUTE THESE CASES
VIGOROUSLY.
>> $850 MILLION CIVIL
SETTLEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED
LAST YEAR BETWEEN THE BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND MORE
THAN 60,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO
SUED THE ORGANIZATION OVER
ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE.
>>> ALL RIGHT A WARMER
WEDNESDAY A LITTLE BIT OF
SUNSHINE SO LET’S GET OVER
TO PAUL WITH OUR FIRST LOOK
AT THE FORECAST.
PAUL, WE NEED TO ENJOY THIS.
THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE,
RIGHT?
>> YEAH I MEAN BOY THAT
SUNSHINE WASN’T THAT GREAT
TODAY?
OH, THE SUNSHINE MEANS SO
MUCH.
IT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE
ESPECIALLY WHEN IN MARCH
WHEN THE SUN ANGLE IS HIGHER
YOU FEEL THOSE RAYS.
WE GOT WELL INTO THE 40s FOR
HIGHS TODAY.
IT IS A LITTLE BREEZY TODAY.
MAYBE A LITTLE STRONGER
THERE OVER IN PONTIAC.
BUT OVERALL, BOY, NO
COMPLAINTS WHAT A GREAT DAY.
VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY
THOUGH SHOWS YOU HERE THIS
IS THE COLD FRONT COMING OUR
WAY.
YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE.
WE GET A BAND OF CLOUDS WITH
THE FRONT.
A FAIRLY QUIET NIGHT AHEAD.
IT’S JUST WE HAVE A COLDER
AIR MASS COMING IN AND WE
WILL COOL QUICKLY THIS
EVENING.
IN FACT, WE’LL COOL WAY DOWN
ALL THE WAY TO 30 BY
MIDNIGHT AND DROPPING DOWN
EVEN COLDER THAN THAT BY
TOMORROW MORNING.
SO COMING UP, WE’RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT THE COLDER
AIR COMING IN THAT MEANS THE
NEXT MOISTURE FALLS AS SNOW.
WE’LL GET SOME ACCUMULATION
ON FRIDAY.
WE’LL HAVE A BITTER COLD
SATURDAY I MEAN REALLY COLD
BUT THEN WARM UP ON SUNDAY
AND WE’LL BE NEAR 60 DEGREES
BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT
STRAIGHT AHEAD, KAREN.
>> WE ARE GETTING ANOTHER
LOOK AT THE CHANGING
CORONAVIRUS SITUATION HERE
IN MICHIGAN.
THE STATE REPORTING A TWO
DAY TOTAL OF 1739 NEW CASES
BREAKING DOWN TO AN AVERAGE
OF 869 A DAY.
WE LOST ANOTHER 240 LIVES.
PFIZER IS TESTING A COVID
ANTI-VIRAL TREATMENT FOR
KIDS.
IT’S STARTING SECOND AND
THIRD TEST PHASES FOR KIDS
SIX TO 13.
THE TREATMENT HAS ALREADY
BEEN OK’D FOR HIGH RISK
PEOPLE 12 SCPORLD.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN IS
DROPPING ITS MASK MANDATE IN
INDOOR SPACES LIKE
RESIDENCES HALLS BUT THEY
WILL STILL BE REQUIRED IN
CLASSROOMS.
>>> -- IMPACTING NEARLY
ASPECT OF OUR LIVES AND THE
NEW SURVEY FINDS TWO-THIRDS
OF AMERICANS NOW SAY THEY
ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK.
PAULA TUTMAN LIVE AT THE
DOLLAR TREE IN UTICA.
PAULA THIS IS REALLY ADDING
UP FOR EVERYBODY?
>> Reporter: YEAH, IT REALLY
IS.
I WANT TO START BY BREAKING
A LITTLE BIT OF GIRL CODE
AND TELL YOU THAT I CAN
ACTUALLY REMEMBER WHEN CANDY
BARS WERE ONLY 10 CENTS A
CANDY BAR.
NOW, DOLLAR TREE, FOR
INSTANCE, THEY’VE BEEN
SAYING FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS
THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING
IS A DOLLAR INTERESTINGLY
ENOUGH CANDY BARS ARE A
LITTLE BIT LESS.
BUT BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING YOU
MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THAT
THEIR PRICES HAVE CHANGED.
THE SIGNS STILL SAY DOLLAR
TREE BUT INSIDE THE PRICE IS
SOMETHING ELSE.
>> THEY HAVE GONE UP A
QUARTER ON EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: LAST YEAR,
DOLLAR TREE CORPORATION
ANNOUNCED IT WOULD RAISE
PRICES AND ABOUT 2.50 MONTHS
AGO IT DID.
THE DOLLAR TREE IS NOW THE
DOLLAR 25 TREE AND MOST
PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE BARELY
NOTICED UNTIL NOW WHEN GAS
PRICES POPPED OVER THE $4
MARK.
>> AND I THINK IT’S BECAUSE
IT’S A DOLLAR STORE SO IT’S
A DOLLAR AND EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY IS THINKING $1.25
BUT IF IT WAS $20 AND THEY
RAISED IT 25% MAKE IT $25
IT’S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
>> Reporter: DOLLAR TREE HAS
15,000 PLUS STORES IN THE
U.S. AND CANADA AND KEEP IN
MIND IT’S BEEN THE DOLLAR.25
TREE IN CANADA FOR QUITE
SOMETIME.
AS YOU PROBABLY GUESS
INVESTORS ARE HAPPY BECAUSE
EARNINGS HAVE GONE UP CLOSE
TO 36% IN THE LAST YEAR AS
CONSUMERS LOOK FOR MORE WAYS
TO BUY MORE FOR LESS.
>> GAS PRICES, AND
EVERYTHING IS UP, MEAT IS UP,
EVERYTHING IS UP.
SO, IT HURTS, YEAH, BUT,
ESPECIALLY WE’RE RETIRED SO
WE’RE ON A FIXED INCOME.
SO ANY TIME YOU SEE
SOMETHING GO UP YOU DON’T
LIKE IT YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO
SEE STUFF GO DOWN.
>> Reporter: THE HIKE IS A
BIG ONE WHEN YOU PUT IT IN
PERSPECTIVE.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS, CEREALS
AND BAKERY FOODS, FOR
INSTANCE BE SAW THE LARGEST
PRICE INCREASE EVER.
WITH A MASSIVE JUMP OF 1.8%.
NOW THAT’S PRETTY BIG.
DAIRY WENT UP 1.1% BUT LOOK
AT THIS, MEAT PRODUCTS WENT
UP 30%, FRUITS AND VEGGIES
JUST UNDER 90% BY COMPARISON
THIS IS A 25% HIKE SOMEWHERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE
SHOOTING ARROWS.
BUT MOST CUSTOMERS SAY IT’S
STILL AN INCREDIBLE VALUE.
>> MY MOM’S BIRTHDAY IS IN A
COUPLE WEEKS I GET A CARD
FOR $1.25.
IF I GO IN A RECOGNIZE STORE
I WILL PAY $3 $4 A CARD.
I KNOW THE THINGS I WILL
BUY.
>> A QUARTER IS NOT A BIG
DEAL BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE
NOW I UNDERSTAND.
>> Reporter: IN A NEWS
RELEASE THE SAYS IT’S NOT
INFLATION THAT’S UPPING THE
PRICE BUT A DESIRE TO
IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE.
MOST CUSTOMERS WE SPOKE TO
TODAY SAID THE EXPERIENCE IS
FINE EVEN WITH THE BIG PRICE
HIKES.
>> IT’S LIKE THERE WAS A
LADY IN FRONT OF ME THAT ARE
DOING CRAFT PROJECTS.
THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO
SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS
IS A GREAT PLACE.
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW YOU
MAY WONDER HOW ON EARTH WERE
THEY EVEN MAKING A PROFIT
SELLING MOST EVERYTHING FOR
ONLY $1 BUT KAREN, GET THIS,
2021 REPORT FINANCIAL REPORT
SAYS THAT THEY PULLED IN
SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF $26.5
BILLION IN 2021 I THINK YOU
CAN ALMOST COUNT ON THAT
GOING UP BY 25% FOR 2022.
>> WOW.
THOSE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU, PAULA.
WE DO APPRECIATE IT.
>>> WELL, TONIGHT DETROIT
MAYOR MIKE DUGAN WILL GIVE
HIS NINTH STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS WITH A FOCUS ON JOBS
AND ALSO REDEVELOPMENT.
YOU CAN WATCH IT LIVE ON
LOCAL 4 OUR STREAMING APP
LOCAL 4 LUS OR
CLICKONDETROIT.COM.
IT STARTS AT 7:00 ALSO AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING NOTE