>>> FIRST AT 4, SUDDENLY
HE’S A FREE MAN.
LOCAL JOURNALIST DANNY
FENSTER RELEASED FROM A
MYANMAR PRISON.
HIS FAMILY IS TALKING TO
LOCAL 4 ABOUT THE SURPRISING
AMAZING TURN OF EVENTS.
>>> AT THIS HOUR, THE KYLE
RITTENHOUSE TRIAL IS COMING
CLOSE TO AN END.
WHY PROSECUTORS AGREED TO
DROP ONE CHARGE AND WE’RE
TRACKING CLOSING ARGUMENTS
AS WELL.
HERE’S PAUL.
>>> THANKS MUCH, KAREN.
A LOT OF US HAVE HAD A LOT
OF CLOUD COVER.
OVERALL IT’S A VERY COLD
REGIME BUT THEN WE’LL WARM
THINGS UP AND THEN COLD IT
RIGHT BACK DOWN.
I’LL HAVE THE TIMETABLE
STRAIGHT AHEAD.
>>>
>> Announcer: LIVE FROM WDIV
AND CLICK ON DETROIT, LOCAL
4 NEWS FIRST AT 4 STARTS
NOW.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY,
I’M KAREN DREW.
FIRST AT 4 THIS IS VIDEO
MANY PEOPLE CAN IMAGINE THEY
WOULD SEE SO SOON AFTER
JOURNALIST DANNY FENSTER WAS
SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN A
MYANMAR PRISON WITH HARD
LABOR.
THAT WAS FRIDAY.
THREE DAYS LATER
FENSTER RELEASED HE IS
HEADED BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES.
IT IS AN ASTONISHING TURN OF
EVENTS.
LOCAL 4’S ROD MELONI IS LIVE
IN FENSTER’S HOMETOWN OF
HUNTINGTON WOODS.
HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING TO
SOME VERY RELIEVED
RELATIVES.
>> Reporter: HAPPY TO SAY
THE LEAST.
THESE ARE THE SIGNS THAT
HAVE BEEN UP ALL OVER TOWN.
THEY’VE BEEN UP FOR THE LAST
SIX MONTHS.
BUT THERE’S SOME
CUSTOMIZATION GOING ON
AROUND TOWN.
IN FACT, EVEN IN DOWNTOWN
HUNTINGTON WOODS THEY’RE
SAYING HEY, WELCOME BACK
DANNY AS IS THE FAMILY.
>> Reporter: FORMER U.N.
AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON
JUMP OUT OF A CHARTER FLIGHT
HEADED TO DOHA, QATAR.
IN MOMENTS BEFORE THIS SHOT
DANNY CALLED HIS FAMILY.
HE AWAKENED THEM AT 4:30
A.M. OUR TIME.
HIS MOTHER ROSE TELLING
LOCAL 4 ABOUT THAT EXCITING
MOMENT IT.
>> WAS GREAT TO HEAR HIS
VOICE.
WE ASKED DANNY HOW ARE YOU,
HE SAID AMAZING.
>> Reporter: THEY LEARNED
LATE SUNDAY THINGS WERE
BREWING.
DANNY’S OLDER BROTHER BRIAN
STAYED UP ALL NIGHT
COORDINATING THE PHONE
CONTACTS.
THROUGH BLEARY-EYES HE TOLD
US:
>> AFTER HIS VERDICT HE HAD
ON FRIDAY AND THEN
POTENTIALLY GOING INTO THIS
WEEK FACING EVEN HARSHER
CHARGES THANK GOOD GOODNESS
THIS GOT DONE.
>> DANNY’S DAD IS GOING HOW
HE CAN BEIC HAVED AND
SENTENCED ON A FRIDAY AND
THEN JETTING HOME THE
FOLLOWING MONDAY.
>> WE ARE BOTH JUST
FLOATING.
>> I’M NUMB.
I LIKEN THIS TO THE WAY I
FELL IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
THIS ORDEAL.
LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
I’M KIND OF LIKE BACK THERE
AGAIN BUT IN A GOOD WAY.
>> THE FENSTER FAMILY
TELLING LOCAL 4 IT REACHED
OUT TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE
WHO COULD HELP GET DANNY OUT
OF A HORRIFYING MYANMAR
PRISON CONDITIONS AND THE
FAMILY WASN’T EVEN SURE THAT
RICHARDSON WAS THE RIGHT GUY
FOR THE JOB.
>> WE’VE BEEN IN REGULAR
CONTACT.
YOU KNOW HE MADE A VISIT A
FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE THOUGHT
MAYBE IT COMPLICATED THINGS
AND WE HAD THIS TERRIBLE
VERDICT A FEW DAYS AGO
THANKFULLY, HE WAS ABLE TO
SECURE DANNY’S RELEASE.
>> I’M JUST ON ADRENALINE
RIGHT NOW.
SO HAPPY SO MANY EMOTIONS.
I JUST, I DON’T EVEN KNOW
WHAT TO SAY I JUST CAN’T
WAIT TO SEE HIM AND HUG HIM
AND HOLD HIM.
>> WELL, DANNY’S WIFE
REMAINS IN MYANMAR BUT
THERE’S A PROBLEM IN HER
GETTING OUT.
SHE CAN SHE’S FREE TO LEAVE
IF SHE CAN GET A FLIGHT.
THERE’S A CIVIL WAR IN THE
COUNTRY SO THERE AREN’T THAT
MANY FLIGHTS.
BUT THE FAMILY EXPECTS
WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO THAT
SHE’LL BE ABLE TO GET HERE
AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAN
GET REUNITED.
BACK TO YOU.
>> ROD, SO MANY TWISTS AND
TURNS IN THIS CASE.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW
THIS RELEASE PLAYED OUT?
>> Reporter: WELL, I CAN
TELL YOU THIS, DANNY WAS
VERY CONFUSED.
HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS
REALLY HAPPENING FOR HIM.
HE HAD HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS
ABOUT ALL THIS HOW IT WAS
GOING.
BUT HE REALLY WASN’T SURE
UNTIL THE VERY END WHAT WAS
TO HAPPEN.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT COMING
UP ON LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 4 AND
5.
>> GREAT NEWS DANNY FENSTER
HEADED HOME TONIGHT.
MANY OF US ARE KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON THE COVID-19
NUMBERS AS DOCTORS SAY
MICHIGAN IS BECOMING A VIRUS
HOTSPOT ONCE AGAIN.
TODAY THE STATE IS REPORTING
MORE THAN 21,000 NEW KAYS
OVER -- NEW CASES OVER THE
PAST THREE DAYS.
THEY COME OUT THREE DAYS A
WEEK BUT THIS NUMBER IS A
BIG JUMP FROM ONE WEEK AGO
AND THE SEVEN DAY POSITIVITY
RATE NOW NEARING 16%.
ALSO THE STATE IS REPORTING
AN ADDITIONAL 95 DEATHS
SINCE FRIDAY INCLUDING 27 ON
A RECORDS REVIEW.
THE SUDDEN INCREASE IN FLU
KAYS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN IS CATCHING THE
ATTENTION OF FEDERAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS.
THE C.D.C. IS ON CAMPUS THIS
WEEK WORKING WITH THE
WASHTENAW COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT SINCE OCTOBER
6th.
THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH
SERVICE HAS REPORTED 528
CASES OF INFLUENZA.
THE C.D.C. WILL TAKE A LOOK
AT HOW IT’S SPREADING AND
THE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS.
COMING UP NEW AT 5.
WE ARE IN ANN ARBOR TALKING
TO EXPERTS ABOUT THIS
PROJECT AND WHY WE’RE SEEING
THIS SPIKE IN FLU KAYS WHEN
THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT ALONE.
>>> WELL, MANY OF US HAVE
THOSE CLOUDS THIS AFTERNOON
IT’S STILL A LITTLE CHILLY
OUTSIDE ABOUT TO GET COLDER.
METEOROLOGIST PAUL GROSS IS
STANDING BY, ALL RIGHT, PAUL
AM I REALLY HEARING WE WILL
DIP INTO THE 20s OVERNIGHT.
THAT LOOKS TO BE THE CASE
ESPECIALLY AS THESE CLOUDS
BREAK UP OVERNIGHT.
LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW WE
ARE ONLY IN THE 30s.
KEEP IN MIND AVERAGE HIGHS
RIGHT NOW UPPER 40s TO
AROUND 50.
WE’RE ONLY IN THE 30s.
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A
BREEZE OUT THERE IT FEELS
LIKE IT’S CLOSER TO THE LOW
30s OR 30 DEGREES.
YOU SEE ALL THE CLOUD COVER
BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE WE’VE
HAD SOME SUNSHINE IN THE FAR
EASTERN NORTHERN PART OF THE
AREA HERE.
BUT FOR A LOT OF US IT’S
JUST BEEN CLOUD COVER
THROUGH THE DAY.
NOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE
PISTONS GAME TONIGHT PISTONS
ARE HOME KINGS ARE IN TOWN.
THEY’RE NOT USED TO THIS
COLD THAT’S FOR SURE.
TEMPS JUST FALLING THROUGH
THE 30s BUT IT’S GOING TO BE
DRY.
CERTAINLY THAT IS A PIECE OF
GOOD NEWS.
WEATHER STORY RAIN RETURNS
WEDNESDAY WE’RE GOING UP
WE’RE GOING TO HIT 60 ON
WEDNESDAY MAYBE ABOVE THAT.
THEN WE’RE GOING BACK DOWN
SO WE’LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF
THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD, KAREN.
>> THANK YOU, PAUL.
>> WE’VE GOT BREAKING NEWS
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS ABOUT
TO SIGN A BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WORK
ABOUT A TRILLION DOLLARS.
LET’S LISTEN INTO THIS
MOMENT.
>> President Biden: TALKING
ABOUT HOW USEFUL AND
IMPORTANT IT IS FROM THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SPEAKER PELOSI, STENY HOYER,
JIM CLYBURN, COMMITTEE CHAIR
PETE FEE DISEASE -- DEFAZIO,
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
PROGRESSIVES AND MODERATES I
WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE AND ALL
THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND
RANKING MEMBERS HERE TODAY
PLEASE STAND.
ALL OF YOU STAND, COME ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
TO STATE THE OBVIOUS NONE OF
THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
I REALLY MEAN IT.
ALSO TO THE GOVERNOR.
WHERE ARE THE GOVERNORS?
GOVERNORS STANDS UP COME ON
I WANT YOU TO STAND UP.
RED STATES, BLUE STATES.
YOU ALL STEPPED UP AND MORE THAN 375 MAYORS, DEMOCRATS
THAN 375 MAYORS, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, ASKING TO
GET THIS DONE.
YOU GOT IT KID.
NEARLY NEARLY 50 OF WHOM ARE
HERE TODAY.
THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR FROM
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA, AND
MAYOR WARREN WHO SPOKE
EARLIER.
AND THE COUNTY AND STATE
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS, FAITH
LEADERS, THIS LAW WAS
SUPPORTED BY BUSINESS GROUPS
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS,
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE AND OTHER TOP BUSINESS.
OTHER TOP BUSINESS.
I WANT TOUPES THANK I’M SURE
YOU WILL I WANT TO THANK ORGANIZED LABOR YOU ALL
ORGANIZED LABOR YOU ALL
STOOD UP IT IRONWORKERS IT GOES ON AND THE BUILDING
GOES ON AND THE BUILDING
TRADE.
AND MY WIFE IS A MEMBER OF
THE UNION N.E.A. I’M GOING
TO GET IN TROUBLE.
SHE LOOK, FOLKS, FOR TOO
LONG WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE BEST ECONOMY IN THE
THE BEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD.
HERE IN -- BUT TODAY WE ARE
FINALLY GETTING THIS DONE.
SO MY MESSAGE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IS THIS.
AMERICA IS MOVING AGAIN AND
YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE
FOR THE BETTER.
IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE 10
MILLION HOMES OR YOUR CHILD
ATTENDS ONE OF THE 400,000
SCHOOLS THAT STILL HAS LEAD
PIPES IN THEM YOU FACE A
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH AND YOUR
HEALTH NOW.
THIS LAW WILL START TO
REPLACE 100 -- 100% OF THE
NATION’S LEAD PIPES SO EVERY
AMERICAN, EVERY CHILD CAN
TURN ON THE FAUCET AND DRINK
CLEAN WATER.
>> A LONG BATTLE THIS WAS TO
GET THIS BILL PASSED.
MUCH OF THE TRILLION DOLLAR
PLAN WILL GO TOWARDS ROADS,
BRIDGES, PUBLIC TRANSIT.
EXPANDING HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET ACCESS CERTAINLY A
BIG MOMENT FOR THE PRESIDENT
WHO STILL FACES A LOOMING
BATTLE OVER THE BUILD BACK
BETTER PLAN.
WE ARE STREAMING THE REST OF
THE CEREMONY AT
CLICKONDETROIT.COM WE’LL
HAVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DAY
WHEN YOU JOIN US FOR LOCAL 4
NEWS AT 5.
>>> ALSO BREAKING AT THIS
AFTERNOON, THE CITY OF
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN ON ALERT
AT THIS HOUR AS THE TRIAL OF
KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS COMING
TO AN END WITH CLOSING ARMS.
HE’S THE TEENAGER ACCUSED OF
SHOOTINGLY MEN KILLING TWO
OF THEM DURING THE NIGHT OF
PROTESTS.
KIMBERLY GILL AND KIM THE
JUDGE HANDED DOWN ONE RULING
BEFORE THE ARGUMENT STARTED.
>> KAREN, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS MORNING THE JUDGE
DISMISSED ONE COUNT OF
POSSESSION THAT CHARGE WAS
TOSSED ON A TECHNICALITY
OVER THE LENGTH OF WEAPON’S
BARREL.
AND PROSECUTORS CONCEDED THE
POINT BUT DURING CLOSING
ARMS THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE
THE JURY THIS IS NOT A CASE
OF SELF-DEFENSE AS
RITTENHOUSE HAS CLAIMED.
>> WHEN THE DEFENDANT
PROVOKES THE INCIDENT HE
LOSES THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE.
YOU CANNOT CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE
AGAINST A DANGER YOU CREATE.
THAT’S CRITICAL RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S
THREATENING OTHERS YOU LOSE
THE RIGHT TO CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE.
>> NOW THE PROSECUTOR
REPEATEDLY SHOWED JURORS
DRONE VIDEO HE SHOWS
RITTENHOUSE POINTING HIS
AR-15-STYLE RIFLE AT
PROTESTORS.
THE ILLINOIS TEENAGER SAYS
HE WENT TO KENOSHA TO HELP
PEOPLE AS PROTESTS BROKE OUT
OVER THE POLICE SHOOTING OF
JACOB BLAKE.
RITTENHOUSE SAYS HE FEARED
FOR HIS LIFE DURING THE
CONFRONTATION WITH THE MEN
THAT HE SHOT.
THE JUDGE HAS GIVEN EACH
SIDE TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO
MAKE THEIR ARMS.
THE DEFENSE TEAM JUST
STARTED ITS ARGUMENTS IN THE
PAST HALF HOUR.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THIS THIS CASE IS NOT A
GAME.
IT IS MY CLIENT’S LIFE.
>> WE DON’T PLAY FAST AND
LOOSE WITH THE FACTS AFTER
CLOSING ARMS ARE FINISHED
NAMES WILL BE DRAWN TO
DETERMINE WHICH 12 JURORS
WILL WHEN YOU JOIN US FOR
NOW KAREN BACK TO YOU.
>> WE APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, KIM.
>>> STILL AHEAD FIRST AT 4
TWO AIRLINES OFFER SOME BIG
BONUSES TO MAKE SURE HOLIDAY
TRAVEL GOES SMOOTHLY.
WHAT ARE THEY OFFERING AND
THERE IS SOME AGREEMENT ON
THAT.
ALSO, HE ONCE WORKED AT THE
WHITE HOUSE NOW HE FACES
POSSIBLE JAIL TIME.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE
SURROUNDING A LONG TIME ALLY
OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AT FIRST THE TERRIBLE
PERSONAL COST OF THE
ASTROWORLD TRAGEDY KEEPS
GROWING.
THE FAMILY OF THE YOUNGEST VICTIM OFFERS AN UPDATE.