Podcasts about ingham county

Originally uploaded July 12, re-edited May 12. Chris Holman welcomes back Eric A Schertzing, Consultant, Michigan Land Bank Association, who is joined for this conversation by Michelle Thompson, New Executive Director, Michigan Land Bank Association. So Michelle, you were added new in March what was your background before this? Michelle, I understand you have a great story to tell from Benzie County and the Land Bank laying the foundation for 22 housing units? (Business needs employees, and employees need housing!) Eric you've been working for years on these issues in Ingham County bring us up to speed - something about Condo Developments? Can either of you share about Private and public housing projects that are being enabled by Land Banks around the State? Michelle has a great story to tell from Benzie County and the Land Bank laying the foundation for 22 housing units. Business needs employees, and employees need housing! Eric's perspective are the years of work to have housing ready parcels in a community. Ingham Land Bank is doing two small condo developments in transit rich locations that were acquired blighted homes a dozen years ago, removing them and waiting for the time and funding to act, Private and public housing projects are being enabled by Land Banks around the State. MLBA shared a release at the time of her announcement: Michigan Land Bank Association Welcomes Executive Director to Lead Statewide Efforts The Michigan Land Bank Association (MLBA) announced the hiring of its Executive Director, Michelle Thompson. Thompson brings with her a wealth of experience, having retired March 1st from her position as Benzie County Treasurer, a role she dedicated herself to for 27 years. Notably, in 2012 she led the establishment of the Benzie County Land Bank Authority and served as its chairperson until her retirement. “I am thrilled to welcome Michelle as our new executive director. Her unparalleled dedication to the principles of land banking, coupled with her proven track record of transformative leadership in Benzie County, make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said MLBA Chair Tim Burgess. “Her expertise and commitment will be crucial as we continue our mission to strengthen communities across the state.” Michigan land banks have returned tens of thousands of residential, commercial and industrial properties to productive use, expanding housing opportunities across the state, with demonstrated positive impacts on public health, safety and economic stability. In 2018 the Michigan Association of Land Banks (MALB) commissioned a report assessing land banking activity in Michigan. over the first 12 years of land banking. Numerous studies have documented how Michigan land bank interventions have increased property values, reduced the number of future tax reverted properties, created jobs, lowered crime and had other critical economic and community impacts. “I am deeply honored to embark on this journey as the Executive Director of the MLBA,” said Thompson. “Having dedicated over a decade to the transformative power of land banking at the local level, I'm eager to leverage that experience to champion the vital work of land banks statewide. Together with the MLBA, I am deeply committed to advancing equitable and sustainable community development initiatives that uplift every corner of our state.” » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

John's program this week is a repeat of his conversation with Judge Rosemary Aquilina, Ingham County, Michigan Circuit Judge, famous for her sentencing of Dr. Larry Nassar for his crimes against American gymnasts. She is also a published novelist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enjoyer Podcast is all about those who refuse to stay silent when it matters most. In this episode, we break down the firestorm surrounding the 21 Day Equity Challenge in Ingham County. Commissioner Monica Schafer didn't just see something—she said something. And the pushback was immediate. From political blowback to silent supporters, Monica takes us inside the battle over DEI policies, government accountability, and the cost of speaking out. What happens when you challenge the system? And how can everyday people step up and make an impact?Discover more at Enjoyer.com/PodcastFollow Monica on X:@SchaferCountyFollow James on X:@DownI75 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michiganenjoyer.substack.com

An Ingham County judge has heard renewed arguments from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in her office's efforts to shut down Line 5: the Enbridge oil pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac. we'll bring you the latest on that case as WWJ's Tracey McCaskill runs down the top local headlines for your Thursday midday in Metro Detroit. (Photo: © Brian Wells/Times Herald via Imagn Images)

Originally uploaded September 25th, re-edited October 11th. Chris Holman welcomes Rob Dale, Deputy Emergency Manager and Regional Planner, Ingham County Emergency Management, Mason, MI. About national preparedness month.... Welcome Rob tell us about Ingham County Emergency Management? Is Ingham County's structure like the other Michigan Counties? Is this set by FEMA or Homeland Security guidelines? How much are you engaged with the business community, and how do you alert them? Our reason of having you on, is an upcoming event you have set for here at the Capital Region International Airport soon tied into National Preparedness Month, can you tell us about that? Is this routine preparation or something special for your organization? What other agencies will be cooperating on this? What else can employers or employees do to be prepared? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX… » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

In the news today: For our first story of the day focusing on community news, Greater Lansing United Nations Association plants peace pole on campus. For our second story focusing on student life, Ingham County residents struggle with quality, affordable housing. For our final story focusing on more community news, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities welcomes new campus planner.

Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines

In this episode I explore pioneer recollections recorded in a book published in 1923 entitled "Pioneer History of Ingham County" by Mrs. Franc L. Adams. It covers stories written in 1873 by some of the pioneers who settled in Lansing and Mason. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

Tonight's guest, Pat, was driving down a country road, in 2012, at 10:30 PM, when the unthinkable happened. He was driving about 60 miles per hour, and he had his wife sitting next to him. He had driven down that road, in Ingham County, Michigan, numerous times before, at night, so he had no reason to think this night would be any different. It wouldn't be long before he'd find out just how wrong that line of thinking was. We hope you'll tune into tonight's livestream episode of the show and listen to Pat talk about what happened next. He'll be ready to answer questions from the live chat as well.  Premium memberships are now available! If you'd like to be able to listen to the show without ads and have full access to premium content, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com/Podcast to find out how to become a premium member.  If you'd like to help support the show, by buying your own Dogman Encounters t-shirt, sweatshirt, tank top, or coffee mug, please visit the Dogman Encounters Show Store, by going to https://Dogman-Encounters.MyShopify.com  If you've had a Dogman encounter and would like to speak with me about it, whether you'd like to keep your encounter confidential or be interviewed on a show, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com and submit a report.  If you've had a Sasquatch sighting and would like to be a guest on My Bigfoot Sighting, please go to https://MyBigfootSighting.com and submit a report.I produce 3 other podcasts. Below, you'll find links to them.  My Bigfoot Sighting...  https://spreaker.page.link/xT7zh6zWsnCDaoVa7  Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio...  https://spreaker.page.link/WbtSccQm92TKBskT8  My Paranormal Experience https://www.spreaker.com/show/my-paranormal-experience  Thanks for listening!

Originally uploaded April 18th, reedited July 8th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes JV Anderton business attorney (now Shareholder) at Foster Swift and an Executive Committee Member for LEAP Why succession planning is important? I understand you have a program to tell us about? What will the program cover? Where is the program? LANSING, MI – Ingham County businesses will have access to succession planning assistance through an innovative training series this spring and summer. Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Ingham County, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Star Trust and Transworld Business Advisors are delivering four Succession Planning 101 courses and two Succession Planning 201 courses geared to provide business owners a “Layman's Guide to Succession Planning.” “Succession planning is one of the most over-looked aspects of business lifecycle and yet, an effective succession strategy can make an enormous financial difference to the owner(s) and the community,” says J.V. Anderton, Foster Swift business attorney and LEAP Executive Committee Member. “Our goal with this program is to help business owners lay the foundation for starting their own succession plan. This is a multi-disciplinary approach that will look at the financial, emotional, legal and logistical side of the process.” Succession Planning 101 covers: identifying possible successors, operations and existing contracts, financial planning, self-evaluation and communications, the importance of a succession planning team, key legal considerations and recommended timeline for taking key steps. Succession Planning 201 covers: maximizing the value of your trusted advisors, prepping your business for transition, business valuations, communications in the process, and includes a case study. Succession Planning 101 (4 scheduling options) April 25: 8:30-10:00 am. Foster Swift Hub: 313 S. Washington Square, Lansing MI May 21: 3:30-5:00 pm. Okemos Conference Center: 2187 University Park Drive, Okemos MI Click Here for Registration July 18: 8:30-10:00 am. LRCC Office: 500 E Michigan Avenue, Suite 200, Lansing MI Click Here for Registration August 27: 3:30-5:00 pm. Hidden Gem Event Center: 4230 Charlar Drive, Holt MI 48842 Click Here for Registration Succession Planning 201 (2 scheduling options) June 18: 8:30-10:00 am. LRCC Office: 500 E Michigan Avenue, Suite 200, Lansing MI Click Here for Registration September 18: 3:30-5:00 pm. LRCC Office: 500 E Michigan Avenue, Suite 200, Lansing MI Click Here for Registration There is no fee for attending, but pre-registration is required. To register go to: https://members.lansingchamber.org/ap/Events/Register/NWHjRMotxHaCm Speakers include: J.V. Anderton, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC Amanda Dernovshek, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC Taylor Gast, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC Benjamin Brakken – Tri-Star Trust Jessica Stark – Transworld Business Advisors.

In prison slang, to "get turned out" typically means to be coerced or forced into sexual activity, often as a result of threats, manipulation, or physical violence. This phrase is commonly used to describe situations where an inmate is compelled to engage in sexual acts against their will, usually by more dominant or aggressive inmates.Key points about this term include:Coercion and Force: Inmates who are "turned out" are often subjected to various forms of coercion, including physical threats, actual violence, or psychological manipulation. This can involve gang pressure or intimidation by individuals seeking to exert control over them.Sexual Exploitation: The term usually refers to non-consensual sexual activities. The victim may be forced into a sexual relationship, often becoming the "property" of another inmate or group.Power Dynamics: The practice of turning someone out is deeply tied to the power dynamics within the prison environment. It reflects the brutal hierarchy and the ways in which power and dominance are established and maintained among inmates.Psychological Impact: Being turned out can have severe psychological consequences for the victim, including trauma, depression, and a profound sense of helplessness. The experience often leaves lasting emotional and mental scars.Survival Strategy: Sometimes, inmates may submit to being turned out as a means of survival, trading sexual favors for protection, food, or other necessities within the harsh prison environment.Who is Larry Nassar?Larry Nassar is a former American gymnastics doctor who was convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse and other crimes. His case drew significant public attention due to the high profile of his victims and the extent of his abuse.Key points about Larry Nassar and his crimes include:Professional Background: Nassar worked as a sports physician for USA Gymnastics, the organization responsible for selecting and training national gymnasts, and Michigan State University (MSU).Criminal Acts: Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of young female athletes under the guise of medical treatment. The abuse occurred over several decades, with many victims being minors at the time.Investigations and Convictions:Federal Child Pornography Charges: In July 2017, Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.State Sexual Abuse Charges: Nassar was also charged in Michigan state court for sexual assault. In two separate trials, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County and three counts in Eaton County. He was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January 2018 for the Ingham County charges and an additional 40 to 125 years in February 2018 for the Eaton County charges.Victims: Over 300 victims came forward, including well-known Olympic gymnasts like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. Their testimonies were crucial in bringing Nassar to justice.Impact and Aftermath:Institutional Failures: The case highlighted significant failures within USA Gymnastics, MSU, and other institutions that failed to act on reports of Nassar's abuse over the years.Reforms: In response to the scandal, there have been calls for and implementations of reforms in how institutions handle allegations of sexual abuse, particularly in sports organizations.(commercial at 8:25)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Disgraced Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is 'paying gangsters with sexual favors for prison protection' | Daily Mail Online

In prison slang, to "get turned out" typically means to be coerced or forced into sexual activity, often as a result of threats, manipulation, or physical violence. This phrase is commonly used to describe situations where an inmate is compelled to engage in sexual acts against their will, usually by more dominant or aggressive inmates.Key points about this term include:Coercion and Force: Inmates who are "turned out" are often subjected to various forms of coercion, including physical threats, actual violence, or psychological manipulation. This can involve gang pressure or intimidation by individuals seeking to exert control over them.Sexual Exploitation: The term usually refers to non-consensual sexual activities. The victim may be forced into a sexual relationship, often becoming the "property" of another inmate or group.Power Dynamics: The practice of turning someone out is deeply tied to the power dynamics within the prison environment. It reflects the brutal hierarchy and the ways in which power and dominance are established and maintained among inmates.Psychological Impact: Being turned out can have severe psychological consequences for the victim, including trauma, depression, and a profound sense of helplessness. The experience often leaves lasting emotional and mental scars.Survival Strategy: Sometimes, inmates may submit to being turned out as a means of survival, trading sexual favors for protection, food, or other necessities within the harsh prison environment.Who is Larry Nassar?Larry Nassar is a former American gymnastics doctor who was convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse and other crimes. His case drew significant public attention due to the high profile of his victims and the extent of his abuse.Key points about Larry Nassar and his crimes include:Professional Background: Nassar worked as a sports physician for USA Gymnastics, the organization responsible for selecting and training national gymnasts, and Michigan State University (MSU).Criminal Acts: Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of young female athletes under the guise of medical treatment. The abuse occurred over several decades, with many victims being minors at the time.Investigations and Convictions:Federal Child Pornography Charges: In July 2017, Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.State Sexual Abuse Charges: Nassar was also charged in Michigan state court for sexual assault. In two separate trials, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County and three counts in Eaton County. He was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January 2018 for the Ingham County charges and an additional 40 to 125 years in February 2018 for the Eaton County charges.Victims: Over 300 victims came forward, including well-known Olympic gymnasts like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. Their testimonies were crucial in bringing Nassar to justice.Impact and Aftermath:Institutional Failures: The case highlighted significant failures within USA Gymnastics, MSU, and other institutions that failed to act on reports of Nassar's abuse over the years.Reforms: In response to the scandal, there have been calls for and implementations of reforms in how institutions handle allegations of sexual abuse, particularly in sports organizations.(commercial at 8:31)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Disgraced Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is 'paying gangsters with sexual favors for prison protection' | Daily Mail Online

In prison slang, to "get turned out" typically means to be coerced or forced into sexual activity, often as a result of threats, manipulation, or physical violence. This phrase is commonly used to describe situations where an inmate is compelled to engage in sexual acts against their will, usually by more dominant or aggressive inmates.Key points about this term include:Coercion and Force: Inmates who are "turned out" are often subjected to various forms of coercion, including physical threats, actual violence, or psychological manipulation. This can involve gang pressure or intimidation by individuals seeking to exert control over them.Sexual Exploitation: The term usually refers to non-consensual sexual activities. The victim may be forced into a sexual relationship, often becoming the "property" of another inmate or group.Power Dynamics: The practice of turning someone out is deeply tied to the power dynamics within the prison environment. It reflects the brutal hierarchy and the ways in which power and dominance are established and maintained among inmates.Psychological Impact: Being turned out can have severe psychological consequences for the victim, including trauma, depression, and a profound sense of helplessness. The experience often leaves lasting emotional and mental scars.Survival Strategy: Sometimes, inmates may submit to being turned out as a means of survival, trading sexual favors for protection, food, or other necessities within the harsh prison environment.Who is Larry Nassar?Larry Nassar is a former American gymnastics doctor who was convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse and other crimes. His case drew significant public attention due to the high profile of his victims and the extent of his abuse.Key points about Larry Nassar and his crimes include:Professional Background: Nassar worked as a sports physician for USA Gymnastics, the organization responsible for selecting and training national gymnasts, and Michigan State University (MSU).Criminal Acts: Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of young female athletes under the guise of medical treatment. The abuse occurred over several decades, with many victims being minors at the time.Investigations and Convictions:Federal Child Pornography Charges: In July 2017, Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.State Sexual Abuse Charges: Nassar was also charged in Michigan state court for sexual assault. In two separate trials, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County and three counts in Eaton County. He was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January 2018 for the Ingham County charges and an additional 40 to 125 years in February 2018 for the Eaton County charges.Victims: Over 300 victims came forward, including well-known Olympic gymnasts like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. Their testimonies were crucial in bringing Nassar to justice.Impact and Aftermath:Institutional Failures: The case highlighted significant failures within USA Gymnastics, MSU, and other institutions that failed to act on reports of Nassar's abuse over the years.Reforms: In response to the scandal, there have been calls for and implementations of reforms in how institutions handle allegations of sexual abuse, particularly in sports organizations.(commercial at 8:31)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Disgraced Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is 'paying gangsters with sexual favors for prison protection' | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost the Signal with a $5 monthly donation!Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservicesSometimes our passion grows from facing our fears. Today's guest in the Disaster Tough Podcast, Rob Dale, relates to this sentiment.Rob Dale is an Emergency Manager, Meteorologist, and Adjunct Professor based in Ingham County, Michigan.After a formative incident in his youth involving a major weather event, Rob worked toward becoming one who helps others know what to expect and what to do in major weather incidents. He started his career as a broadcast meteorologist in Lansing, Michigan for the CBS affiliate, WLNS.After 10 years, he moved to Regional Planning and Emergency Management in the public and private sectors.As the Deputy Emergency Manager for Ingham County, he has dealt with ice storms, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and other major incidents.He has also acted as a liaison for incidents affecting the surrounding area including Lansing, Dehli Township, and Michigan State University.In this episode, he and host John Scardena discuss various topics relating to effective leadership and Emergency Management in times of disaster, including mass notifications, weather concerns, and a variety of other topics.Major Endorsements: L3Harris's BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.comImpulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com

Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines

For Media Business Episode 72: Tony Conley has a three-part conversation welcoming back John J. Dewane who was appointed as Ingham County Prosecutor by the Judges of the 30th Circuit Court, and is now running for election. The appointment became effective from Dec. 31, 2022, through 2024. For this conversation they cover several questions including: 1-how goes the campaign? 2– best part about campaigning 3-most challenging thing about campaigning? 4-What have you learned that was most surprising while talking to constituents? 5-We are hearing so much about anti-somatic crimes and behavior in big cities. What's your take on that? And do you see any of that in Ingham county? 6-How are the crime rates in Ingham county? Up or down? 7-how about violent crime in our county? 8-what are the best things that we can do to prevent crime especially amongst young people? 9-how do you work with this challenge when so many parents are not monitoring their kids? 10-What's your thought on crime in big cities? 11-as a candidate, running as a Democrat, why do you think you have so much support from Republicans and independents? Mr. Dewane has served in the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office since 2001, including the past twelve years as Deputy Chief Assistant. In that role, he has conducted over 80 felony trials, including numerous homicide cases. He has also led the office's screening division and worked as a liaison to law enforcement agencies in their investigations of serious, violent, and gun-related crimes. Prior to serving as a prosecutor, John Dewane was an attorney in private practice in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he represented criminal defendants as well as local governments prosecuting individuals for traffic and ordinance violations. Upon graduating from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1988, Mr. Dewane represented indigent clients in various legal areas while employed at the Berrien County Legal Services Bureau. “It is an honor to be appointed as Ingham County Prosecutor by the Judges of the 30th Circuit Court. As a prosecutor, I'm excited to continue serving Ingham County in this new role. I look forward to working with law enforcement, the judiciary, community leaders, and the citizens of Ingham County to increase public safety by pursuing appropriate criminal charges of appropriate severity. We must work together to address violent crimes, working with police in Lansing and across the county. Police and prosecutors are on the front lines of addressing the increase in gun violence in our county, and we must improve this crucial partnership as we investigate and prosecute violent crimes – such as homicides and gun crimes. As a career prosecutor, I understand that leading this department is a new challenge. It's one that I am excited and ready to pursue, and I'm asking for our community's support as we work together to seek justice for the victims my office serves. Most importantly, I look forward to advocating for victims of crimes, ensuring that their voices are heard as we seek justice within the bounds of the law.” John J. Dewane Ingham County Prosecutor » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Doug Lloyd, Eaton County Prosecutor, Delta Twp, Michigan, It's been about a week since Prosecutor Lloyd announced his re-election plans for 2024. As this Chief law enforcement officer looks to build on 24-year service to Eaton County. Welcome Doug, now this is a business broadcast, a little more targeted than a general conversation so,... From what I understand you have current oversight of the economic crimes units and previous work with the Office Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) (which manages the bad check, welfare fraud, retail fraud, failure to return property/library property, and social security fraud diversion programs), tell us about that? For our statewide business audience are there Specific cases you have seen/can speak on that directly pertain to businesses, e.g., fraud and property violations? How can business across Michigan protect themselves against check/welfare fraud diversion (among other crimes)? At this point can you share the emphasis the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office puts on protecting local and state business? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX… » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Prosecutor Doug Lloyd announces re-election plans for 2024 Chief law enforcement officer to build on 24-year service to Eaton County DELTA TOWNSHIP, MI – Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd today reaffirmed his commitment to the residents and businesses of Eaton County, announcing that he will seek re- election in 2024. Appointed as the county's chief law enforcement officer in 2013, Lloyd won election to seat in 2014 and, again, in 2016 and 2020. He previously served as Eaton County's chief assistant prosecuting attorney and Jackson County assistant prosecuting attorney. Prosecutor Lloyd is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Arkansas and Nevada. “I am honored to continue serving as Eaton County prosecutor,” said Prosecutor Lloyd. “I remain 100% committed to protecting victims of crime, especially violent crime, and bringing to justice criminals and anyone who threatens the safety and security of our residents, businesses and communities.” In this position, Prosecutor Lloyd leads a team of 10 attorneys and 15 administrative staff members. His responsibilities include managing a caseload averaging 6,000 criminal cases annually. In addition, he is the chief administrator of the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence, Drug and Economic Crimes units. His success with the Economic Crimes Unit led to Prosecutor Lloyd's appointment as special prosecutor in Ingham and Clinton counties for bad check and welfare fraud diversion cases. His extensive experience prompted a gubernatorial appointment in 2013 to the Organized Retail Fraud Advisory Board. Prosecutor Lloyd also served on the state's Insurance Fraud Task Force and State Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee. He is the past president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. “Eaton County is growing and changing, especially in our more populated communities,” said Prosecutor Lloyd. “With that growth comes an increased demand on the Prosecutor's Office which requires experience, true dedication and commitment. For over 27 years, I have honorably helped victims find justice and successfully put away those whose criminal actions harmed others physically, verbally or financially. I take protecting victims and prosecuting criminals very seriously. Eaton County deserves no less.” A resident of Delta Township in Eaton County, Prosecutor Lloyd is married to Mina, who recently retired as Ingham County assistant prosecuting attorney after 27 years. They have two sons, Matthew and Nicolas, who both graduated from Michigan State University. ###

Election law ... and the courts ... dominate politics as we begin 2024: Michigan's redistricting re-do - what, why, and how! The Supreme Court's challenge from conflicting decisions on Trump's ballot access A separate Supreme Court challenge on whether the President is above the law … or, as Nixon famously told David Frost decades ago "but when the President does it, that means that it's not illegal" Also this week: Another candidate steps up to succeed Dan Kildee in Congress, and immediately becomes the Democratic frontrunner Kristina Karamo's days as Michigan Republican Party chair may be numbered And a new report illustrates how Donald Trump and his family used the U.S. government to rake in millions for their businesses. John Bebow (Bridge Michigan photo) We're joined by award-winning journalist John Bebow. Bebow began his journalism career on a bike delivering newspapers and ended it playing an instrumental role in shaping Michigan's modern media industry. Bebow, 56, stepped down at the end of 2023 from his role as publisher of Bridge Michigan, a publication that under his leadership won more than 200 state and national awards and was lauded as a national model for economic viability in nonprofit news. He will remain as an executive adviser through 2025. He had crucial roles in some of the biggest changes in Michigan media over the past 25 years, from uncovering corruption in Detroit as a reporter and helping launch the MLive online news site to launching and growing Bridge Michigan and its sister publication, BridgeDetroit. In 2006, Bebow was the first employee of The Center for Michigan, that launched what was then Bridge Magazine in 2011. When the latest round of expansion concludes this month, Bridge and the Center will have more than two dozen full-time employees, with offices in Ypsilanti and Lansing and a more than $4 million annual budget. “It is exponentially more rewarding than any story that ever appeared under my byline,” Bebow said of Bridge's growth. “It's so far beyond my wildest dreams, it would have taken me two bottles of Jack Daniel's to have dreamed up the ridiculous success that has happened.” Bebow has had ink in his blood since middle school, when he delivered the Lansing State Journal on a route in his Ingham County hometown of Mason. After graduating from Western Michigan University, he worked at the Lansing State Journal, Traverse City Record-Eagle and Ann Arbor News before joining The Detroit News. There, he covered the mob, corruption in casino development and troubles in the city water department. He deployed to Iraq to cover the war for the News in 2003, and was injured in a military truck mishap. After a stint at the Chicago Tribune, John returned to his home state, where, for the Detroit Free Press, he investigated Baker College. Bebow was part of the launch of MLive, which served as an early model for publications moving stories online. There, he rose to become editor in chief. “Without John Bebow, there is no Bridge Michigan,” said David Egner, CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. (Bridge photo by Brayan Gutierrez) At Bridge, the former investigative reporter became a prolific fundraiser, a shrewd accountant, and a boss that demanded the best of his employees while sticking to a mantra of “family first,” giving staffers generous time off to deal with family issues. “I have tremendous admiration and respect for my colleagues,” he said. “I lit a lot of fires, (but) I think a lot of that was needed at various points to get to where we are today. It was the product and the impact that were first and foremost.” By almost any measure, those efforts worked. The initial goal of Bridge in 2011 was to reach 10,000 Michigan residents. By 2022, annual readership had swelled to 7.8 million. In 2024, there will be about 20 journalists putting out at least six online editions and five newsletters every we...

In 1981, a 23-year-old woman was dragged kicking and screaming from her East Lansing apartment in front of an entire building full of onlookers. In 1982, a rebellious teen vanished while hitchhiking in a Detroit suburb. In 1983, almost exactly one year later, another pretty brunette teenager disappeared while hitchhiking in the same neighborhood. Three years, three murdered women, three cold cases. One would become the first case in Ingham County to use DNA as evidence. One would be solved through new advancements in DNA technology decades later. And one would be solved by a team of eagle-eyed students at Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice. But for decades, their grieving families waited for invisible strings to connect and lead to justice. To learn more about microdosing THC, visit microdose.com and enter code violentends for free shipping and 30% off your first order.

Last night's storms left over 300,000 Michiganders without power this morning. Meteorologists confirmed a tornado touchdown in Rockford, just north of Grand Rapids, and another in Ingham County that then swept through Livingston County. Southeast Michiganders have been inundated in recent years with heavy rains, flooding, and outages time and time again. We hear from an emergency response manager on the ground in Ingham County, and then from folks working on long-term climate resiliency planning for the region.  GUESTS: Rob Dale, Deputy Emergency Manager for Ingham County's Department of Emergency Management Nina Ignaczak, reporter and editor for environmental news publication Planet Detroit Kelly Karll, manager of Environment & Infrastructure for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Have integrity, do the right thing, and the rest of it falls into place.” This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. This week, Stacy sits down with Heidi Williams, director of the Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter in Mason, Michigan. Ingham County is a municipal shelter that takes in approximately 3,000 animals per year. The county launched a TNR program in 2023 to provide support to the estimated 50,000 community cats that call Ingham County home. Stacy and Heidi talk about her background as a first responder, and how she came to find herself in animal control and sheltering. They discuss her unique perspective as the director of a municipal shelter, and how they worked with the community to build support for a county-supported TNR program. They also discuss the role of managed intake, the importance of empowering and supporting your staff, and the other important changes Heidi has made during her tenure to help her organization become a well-respected destination adoption location.  For more information about Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter or to get in touch with Heidi, visit snipandclip.org or AC.ingham.org. 

Michigan AG files felony charges against 16 fake Trump electors | Missouri regulators say federal radioactive groundwater contamination efforts are not working | MO Gov Mike Parson signs bill easing restrictions on retired educators' ability to teach | Illinois Supreme Court rules SAFE-T Act Constitutional, making Illinois the first state to ban cash bail | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announces 800,000 student loan borrowers to receive forgiveness in the next month. Support this show and all of the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the patreon link to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month and goes up from there with extra shows and special access at the higher levels. Heartlandpod.com, click the patreon link or just go to Patreon and search for the heartland pod. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.INTRO: Welcome to Flyover View, a member of the Heartland Pod family of podcasts and a look at heartland news from 30,000 feet. I'm your host, Sean Diller, and I want to thank you for joining me today.Here we go! DETROIT NEWS:16 false Trump electors face felony charges in MichiganCraig MaugerBeth LeBlancThe Detroit NewsLansing — Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed felony charges against 16 Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Donald Trump won Michigan's 2020 presidential election, launching criminal cases against top political figures inside the state GOP.Each of the 16 electors have been charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election law forgery, according to Nessel's office.The revelation capped six months of investigation and produced the most serious allegations yet in Michigan over the campaign to overturn Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes or 3 percentage points, but Trump and his supporters maintained false claims that fraud swung the result.As part of the push to undermine Biden's victory, Trump supporters gathered inside the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate, claiming to cast the state's 16 electoral votes for Trump.Eventually the false certificate was sent to the National Archives and Congress. The document falsely claimed the Trump electors had met inside the Michigan State Capitol on Dec. 14.  But that's not what happened. In fact Dec. 14 at the real state capitol is where the real electors met to cast their real electoral votes for the real winner, Joe Biden. The Michigan Attorney General said "The false electors' actions undermined the public's faith in the integrity of our elections and, we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan.""My department has prosecuted numerous cases of election law violations throughout my tenure, and it would be malfeasance of the greatest magnitude if my department failed to act here in the face of overwhelming evidence of an organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election."Ryan Goodman, a law professor New York University School of Law, called the charges "a strong case" and noted the fake electors signed a sworn statement attesting "we convened and organized in the State Capitol.""In truth, they met (secretly) in GOP headquarters basement," Goodman wrote on Twitter.The felony complaints indicate the warrants for each of the electors were signed Thursday and Friday of last week, according to copies of the documents.The names and positions of the electors are available in news articles, and include several current and former state GOP committee chairs and local elected officials.Each of the 16 electors is charged with eight felonies: two counts of election law forgery; two counts of forgery; and one count each of uttering and publishing, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to commit election law forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. Conspiracy to commit forgery carries one of the steepest penalties, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.The conspiracy charges allege the defendants worked with specific named others to falsely make a public record: which was the false certificate of votes of the 2020 fake electors from Michigan.The 16 fake electors convened in the basement of Michigan GOP headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and produced a certificate that claimed Trump had won the state's 16 electoral votes.An affidavit prepared by Michigan AG Nessel's office in support of the complaint indicated Republican staffers in interviews with investigators said that non-electors were blocked from entering the building and the electors themselves were required to surrender their cellphones to prevent any recording of the event. GOP elector Mayra Rodriguez would later tell the Jan. 6 Select Committee that Trump campaign aide Shawn Flynn was present and spoke to the fake electors at the site.Attorney Ian Northon attempted to deliver a manila envelope similar to the size of the false electoral vote certificate to the Michigan Senate, claiming it contained the Republican electoral votes, the filing said. The U.S. National Archives and U.S. Senate Archives reported receiving a copy of the false certificate as well. Michigan election law bans someone from knowingly making or publishing a false document "with the intent to defraud."Each defendant, or their attorneys, has been notified of the charges, and the court will provide each with a date to appear in Ingham County district court for an arraignment. In a statement, AG Nessel's office also said "This remains an ongoing investigation, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General has not ruled out charges against additional defendants," Nessel's office said.YIKES: 14 years for conspiracy to commit forgery. And I'm not a practicing attorney, but I would bet anyone connected to Rudy Giuoini, Sydney Powell, Lindsey Graham, and some of these other goofballs could be looking at conspiracy charges as well. Because the tough thing about conspiracy crimes - so here it's conspiracy to commit election forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery - so the tough part if you're a defendant, is that once you talk with another person about the plan, and anyone involved takes even the smallest step toward moving on it, the crime of conspiracy is complete. You'll be found guilty if the prosecutor can prove it. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Something in the water.BY: ALLISON KITE - JULY 17, 2023 4:40 PM     A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.In 2021, Missouri environmental regulators warned the federal government that radioactive contamination of groundwater from a uranium processing site near St. Louis was not improving despite cleanup efforts, according to documents reviewed by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock.Officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy in May 2021, responding to the agency's five-year review of its cleanup efforts at a Weldon Spring site where uranium was refined during the Cold War.While the radioactive waste and contaminated debris from the uranium processing site have been contained, Missouri regulators said contamination in the surrounding groundwater wasn't getting better.The letter, which has not been reported publicly, is the latest example of Missouri officials pushing the federal government to do more to protect the health of St. Louis-area residents near the litany of World War II and Cold War-era nuclear sites in the region. A six-month investigation by The Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press found that federal agencies and private companies, for decades, downplayed concerns about radiological contamination or failed to investigate it fully at sites in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.St. Louis and surrounding areas played a key role in the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium processed in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago. After the war, Mallinckrodt, which operated the downtown plant, started similar operations at a new facility on Missouri Highway 94 just north of the Missouri River.The more than 200-acre site has been contaminated for decades by radium, thorium and uranium as well as dangerous non-radioactive chemicals from its use to manufacture explosives and process uranium ore. The Weldon Spring plant was demolished and the debris buried, along with residue leftover from uranium processing, in a 41-acre containment cell covered with rock. The containment cell, the highest point in St. Charles County, is accessible to the public and has a monument to the communities displaced by the war effort and information on the cleanup effort at the top.Closer to the Missouri River, a quarry the federal government used to store radioactive waste was also contaminated. It's separated from the main site but part of the same cleanup and monitoring effort.Remediation of the plant is complete, but monitoring has shown uranium contamination is not decreasing. The Environmental Protection Agency shared some of the state's concerns that the groundwater monitoring network was insufficient and the groundwater is not projected to be restored in a reasonable timeframe. Beyond that, the state says, the extent of the contamination hasn't been sufficiently defined, meaning it could be more widespread than the Department of Energy knows based on its sampling. The federal sampling program, the state argues, is inadequate.Missouri regulators, in their letter, repeatedly corrected the Department of Energy when the federal agency said uranium levels were falling in groundwater wells at the site.In a response to the state, the federal government said it would revise its conclusion that the remedy was working. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Pulled out of retirementNew law tackles Missouri teacher shortage by encouraging retirees to return to classroomGov. Mike Parson signed legislation last week that allows educators to return to work without losing retirement benefitsBY: ANNELISE HANSHAW - JULY 13, 2023 9:00 AMMissouri's school districts are struggling - not just with a teacher shortage but a scarcity of bus drivers, custodians and other essential personnel.In the most recent school year, teachers with inadequate teaching certification taught over 8% of Missouri public school classes, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The crisis has led larger school districts to consider adopting four-day school weeks to address teacher retention and recruitment problems.Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, has been working on one way to address the problem for four years. And last week, the governor signed a bill into law, set to take effect Aug. 28, that will allow retired public-school staff to work full-time for a district for up to four years without losing retirement benefits.Prior to Black's legislation, teachers and non-certificated staff could work full-time for only two years post-retirement without losing benefits.The law also addresses other positions, like bus drivers and janitors. Retired school employees can work in positions that don't require a teaching certificate for more hours. CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS:UPDATED: Cash bail will end in Illinois as state supreme court rules the SAFE-T Act is constitutionalTuesday, July 18, 2023By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18. The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an individual's wealth will no longer play a role in whether they are incarcerated while awaiting trial. Judges can still order someone to be detained as they await trial, but the new system will instead be based on an offender's level of risk of reoffending or fleeing prosecution. With the new law's implementation, Illinois will become the first state in the U.S. to fully eliminate cash bail – and all provisions of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform will have taken full effect.Short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, the wide-ranging measure was an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus that passed in the wake of a nationwide reckoning with racism in the criminal justice system following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.The act reformed police training, certification and use-of-force standards, expanded detainee rights, and gave the attorney general's office authority to investigate alleged civil rights violations by law enforcement. It also requires body cameras at all police departments by 2025. Some larger departments are already required to use body cameras under the law.State Rep. Justin Slaughter, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the measure in the House, said the pretrial detention overhaul addresses an “overly punitive criminal justice system” for impoverished Illinoisans – especially those in Black and brown communities.It's a system that often forces innocent individuals to take plea deals – and to accept a criminal record – to obtain their freedom when they don't have money to post bail.“So this is not about being tough on crime or soft on crime,” he said. “This is about being smart on crime, reworking our system, streamlining our system to address those higher-level, more violent, dangerous alleged offenses. It's not about having someone unnecessarily sit in jail.”While opponents of the new law have argued it will strain smaller court systems and hinder judicial discretion, the lawsuit centered on the meaning of two mentions of the word “bail” in the Illinois Constitution, and the interplay between branches of government.The Supreme Court ruled on a set of consolidated cases filed against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Gov. JB Pritzker and the state's Democratic legislative leaders by state's attorneys and sheriffs from over 60 counties.The lawsuit specifically cited Article VIII of the state constitution, which states, “all persons” accused of crimes “shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.” Any changes to the language, the lawsuit argued, would require a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.While a Kankakee County judge ruled with the state's attorneys and sheriffs late last year, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, writing for the majority, said the lower court misinterpreted the state constitution..  She wrote, “The Illinois Constitution does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public,”Theis' majority opinion also said that the pretrial release provisions “expressly take crime victims into account.”“As we have already mentioned, those provisions require a court to consider the ‘nature and seriousness of the real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons that would be posed by the defendant's release,' including crime victims and their family members,” she wrote.  The pretrial detention changes – often referred to as the Pretrial Fairness Act, or PFA – will create a “presumption” in favor of pretrial release, meaning “the state bears the burden of establishing a defendant's eligibility for pretrial detention,” Theis wrote.Advocates say the intent of that provision is to divert lower-level nonviolent offenders from pretrial incarceration while giving judges authority to detain individuals accused of more serious crimes if they are deemed dangerous or at risk of fleeing prosecution.Another facet of the reform entitles defendants to a more intensive first appearance in court. During that appearance, defendants will now have a right to legal representation and prosecutors can detail their reasons for continued detention.The new hearings replace standard bail hearings, which often last less than five minutes and end with a judge deciding the conditions of release, including how much money the defendant must post to be released.Advocates for the bail reform have noted that it gives judges greater authority to detain individuals accused of crimes such as domestic battery and violations of orders of protection prior to trial than does prior law.Kaethe Morris Hoffer, the executive director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, spoke in favor of the reform at a virtual news conference Tuesday.  “I want to be clear – safety and interests and voices of people who have endured rape and violence in the sex trade have never been prioritized when the criminal legal system is asked to make decisions about the liberty of people who are accused of serious crimes of violence. This changes that.”While the new law directs law enforcement officers to cite and release anyone accused of a crime below a Class A misdemeanor, they would maintain discretion to make an arrest if the person is a threat or if making the arrest is necessary to prevent further lawbreaking.Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart was one of two state's attorneys in Illinois who backed the SAFE-T Act alongside Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. He noted that many smaller jurisdictions will lose revenue from cash bail payments when the system is eliminated – a point that reform advocates have repeatedly noted shows a flaw in the system.Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.KANSAS REFLECTOR: Promises made, promises kept.White House announces more than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven. You heard that right. BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA - JULY 14, 2023 10:41 AM    WASHINGTON — The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency's income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. This happens when qualified payments were made but aren't being counted accurately. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” The Department of Education has already begun to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.Cardona said “By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have already done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, veterans and other borrowers with permanent disabilities”A 2022 NPR investigation found numerous problems with the agency's handling of IDR plans, which are meant to help low-income borrowers. Loan servicers failed to keep track of borrowers' progress toward forgiveness and payment histories were not properly transferred from one loan servicer to another. In January of this year, The Department of Education announced plans to overhaul the income-driven repayment plan.Under the new plan, monthly payments would decline to 5% of a borrower's income — down from 10% — and the repayment timeline for loan forgiveness would be decreased to 10 years from 20 or 25 if the initial loan is less than $12,000.The announcement Friday followed the Supreme Court's decision in late June to strike down the Biden administration's student debt relief program that would have canceled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers.Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education has canceled about $116 billion in student loan debt for borrowers who were misled by for-profit institutions, borrowers with disabilities and those with loans in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Welp, that's it for me. From Denver I'm Sean Diller, original reporting for the stories in todays show is from Capitol News Illinois, Missouri Independent, Detroit News, and Kansas Reflector.

Michigan AG files felony charges against 16 fake Trump electors | Missouri regulators say federal radioactive groundwater contamination efforts are not working | MO Gov Mike Parson signs bill easing restrictions on retired educators' ability to teach | Illinois Supreme Court rules SAFE-T Act Constitutional, making Illinois the first state to ban cash bail | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announces 800,000 student loan borrowers to receive forgiveness in the next month. Support this show and all of the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the patreon link to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month and goes up from there with extra shows and special access at the higher levels. Heartlandpod.com, click the patreon link or just go to Patreon and search for the heartland pod. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.INTRO: Welcome to Flyover View, a member of the Heartland Pod family of podcasts and a look at heartland news from 30,000 feet. I'm your host, Sean Diller, and I want to thank you for joining me today.Here we go! DETROIT NEWS:16 false Trump electors face felony charges in MichiganCraig MaugerBeth LeBlancThe Detroit NewsLansing — Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed felony charges against 16 Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Donald Trump won Michigan's 2020 presidential election, launching criminal cases against top political figures inside the state GOP.Each of the 16 electors have been charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election law forgery, according to Nessel's office.The revelation capped six months of investigation and produced the most serious allegations yet in Michigan over the campaign to overturn Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes or 3 percentage points, but Trump and his supporters maintained false claims that fraud swung the result.As part of the push to undermine Biden's victory, Trump supporters gathered inside the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate, claiming to cast the state's 16 electoral votes for Trump.Eventually the false certificate was sent to the National Archives and Congress. The document falsely claimed the Trump electors had met inside the Michigan State Capitol on Dec. 14.  But that's not what happened. In fact Dec. 14 at the real state capitol is where the real electors met to cast their real electoral votes for the real winner, Joe Biden. The Michigan Attorney General said "The false electors' actions undermined the public's faith in the integrity of our elections and, we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan.""My department has prosecuted numerous cases of election law violations throughout my tenure, and it would be malfeasance of the greatest magnitude if my department failed to act here in the face of overwhelming evidence of an organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election."Ryan Goodman, a law professor New York University School of Law, called the charges "a strong case" and noted the fake electors signed a sworn statement attesting "we convened and organized in the State Capitol.""In truth, they met (secretly) in GOP headquarters basement," Goodman wrote on Twitter.The felony complaints indicate the warrants for each of the electors were signed Thursday and Friday of last week, according to copies of the documents.The names and positions of the electors are available in news articles, and include several current and former state GOP committee chairs and local elected officials.Each of the 16 electors is charged with eight felonies: two counts of election law forgery; two counts of forgery; and one count each of uttering and publishing, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to commit election law forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. Conspiracy to commit forgery carries one of the steepest penalties, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.The conspiracy charges allege the defendants worked with specific named others to falsely make a public record: which was the false certificate of votes of the 2020 fake electors from Michigan.The 16 fake electors convened in the basement of Michigan GOP headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and produced a certificate that claimed Trump had won the state's 16 electoral votes.An affidavit prepared by Michigan AG Nessel's office in support of the complaint indicated Republican staffers in interviews with investigators said that non-electors were blocked from entering the building and the electors themselves were required to surrender their cellphones to prevent any recording of the event. GOP elector Mayra Rodriguez would later tell the Jan. 6 Select Committee that Trump campaign aide Shawn Flynn was present and spoke to the fake electors at the site.Attorney Ian Northon attempted to deliver a manila envelope similar to the size of the false electoral vote certificate to the Michigan Senate, claiming it contained the Republican electoral votes, the filing said. The U.S. National Archives and U.S. Senate Archives reported receiving a copy of the false certificate as well. Michigan election law bans someone from knowingly making or publishing a false document "with the intent to defraud."Each defendant, or their attorneys, has been notified of the charges, and the court will provide each with a date to appear in Ingham County district court for an arraignment. In a statement, AG Nessel's office also said "This remains an ongoing investigation, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General has not ruled out charges against additional defendants," Nessel's office said.YIKES: 14 years for conspiracy to commit forgery. And I'm not a practicing attorney, but I would bet anyone connected to Rudy Giuoini, Sydney Powell, Lindsey Graham, and some of these other goofballs could be looking at conspiracy charges as well. Because the tough thing about conspiracy crimes - so here it's conspiracy to commit election forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery - so the tough part if you're a defendant, is that once you talk with another person about the plan, and anyone involved takes even the smallest step toward moving on it, the crime of conspiracy is complete. You'll be found guilty if the prosecutor can prove it. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Something in the water.BY: ALLISON KITE - JULY 17, 2023 4:40 PM     A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.In 2021, Missouri environmental regulators warned the federal government that radioactive contamination of groundwater from a uranium processing site near St. Louis was not improving despite cleanup efforts, according to documents reviewed by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock.Officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy in May 2021, responding to the agency's five-year review of its cleanup efforts at a Weldon Spring site where uranium was refined during the Cold War.While the radioactive waste and contaminated debris from the uranium processing site have been contained, Missouri regulators said contamination in the surrounding groundwater wasn't getting better.The letter, which has not been reported publicly, is the latest example of Missouri officials pushing the federal government to do more to protect the health of St. Louis-area residents near the litany of World War II and Cold War-era nuclear sites in the region. A six-month investigation by The Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press found that federal agencies and private companies, for decades, downplayed concerns about radiological contamination or failed to investigate it fully at sites in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.St. Louis and surrounding areas played a key role in the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium processed in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago. After the war, Mallinckrodt, which operated the downtown plant, started similar operations at a new facility on Missouri Highway 94 just north of the Missouri River.The more than 200-acre site has been contaminated for decades by radium, thorium and uranium as well as dangerous non-radioactive chemicals from its use to manufacture explosives and process uranium ore. The Weldon Spring plant was demolished and the debris buried, along with residue leftover from uranium processing, in a 41-acre containment cell covered with rock. The containment cell, the highest point in St. Charles County, is accessible to the public and has a monument to the communities displaced by the war effort and information on the cleanup effort at the top.Closer to the Missouri River, a quarry the federal government used to store radioactive waste was also contaminated. It's separated from the main site but part of the same cleanup and monitoring effort.Remediation of the plant is complete, but monitoring has shown uranium contamination is not decreasing. The Environmental Protection Agency shared some of the state's concerns that the groundwater monitoring network was insufficient and the groundwater is not projected to be restored in a reasonable timeframe. Beyond that, the state says, the extent of the contamination hasn't been sufficiently defined, meaning it could be more widespread than the Department of Energy knows based on its sampling. The federal sampling program, the state argues, is inadequate.Missouri regulators, in their letter, repeatedly corrected the Department of Energy when the federal agency said uranium levels were falling in groundwater wells at the site.In a response to the state, the federal government said it would revise its conclusion that the remedy was working. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Pulled out of retirementNew law tackles Missouri teacher shortage by encouraging retirees to return to classroomGov. Mike Parson signed legislation last week that allows educators to return to work without losing retirement benefitsBY: ANNELISE HANSHAW - JULY 13, 2023 9:00 AMMissouri's school districts are struggling - not just with a teacher shortage but a scarcity of bus drivers, custodians and other essential personnel.In the most recent school year, teachers with inadequate teaching certification taught over 8% of Missouri public school classes, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The crisis has led larger school districts to consider adopting four-day school weeks to address teacher retention and recruitment problems.Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, has been working on one way to address the problem for four years. And last week, the governor signed a bill into law, set to take effect Aug. 28, that will allow retired public-school staff to work full-time for a district for up to four years without losing retirement benefits.Prior to Black's legislation, teachers and non-certificated staff could work full-time for only two years post-retirement without losing benefits.The law also addresses other positions, like bus drivers and janitors. Retired school employees can work in positions that don't require a teaching certificate for more hours. CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS:UPDATED: Cash bail will end in Illinois as state supreme court rules the SAFE-T Act is constitutionalTuesday, July 18, 2023By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18. The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an individual's wealth will no longer play a role in whether they are incarcerated while awaiting trial. Judges can still order someone to be detained as they await trial, but the new system will instead be based on an offender's level of risk of reoffending or fleeing prosecution. With the new law's implementation, Illinois will become the first state in the U.S. to fully eliminate cash bail – and all provisions of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform will have taken full effect.Short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, the wide-ranging measure was an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus that passed in the wake of a nationwide reckoning with racism in the criminal justice system following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.The act reformed police training, certification and use-of-force standards, expanded detainee rights, and gave the attorney general's office authority to investigate alleged civil rights violations by law enforcement. It also requires body cameras at all police departments by 2025. Some larger departments are already required to use body cameras under the law.State Rep. Justin Slaughter, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the measure in the House, said the pretrial detention overhaul addresses an “overly punitive criminal justice system” for impoverished Illinoisans – especially those in Black and brown communities.It's a system that often forces innocent individuals to take plea deals – and to accept a criminal record – to obtain their freedom when they don't have money to post bail.“So this is not about being tough on crime or soft on crime,” he said. “This is about being smart on crime, reworking our system, streamlining our system to address those higher-level, more violent, dangerous alleged offenses. It's not about having someone unnecessarily sit in jail.”While opponents of the new law have argued it will strain smaller court systems and hinder judicial discretion, the lawsuit centered on the meaning of two mentions of the word “bail” in the Illinois Constitution, and the interplay between branches of government.The Supreme Court ruled on a set of consolidated cases filed against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Gov. JB Pritzker and the state's Democratic legislative leaders by state's attorneys and sheriffs from over 60 counties.The lawsuit specifically cited Article VIII of the state constitution, which states, “all persons” accused of crimes “shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.” Any changes to the language, the lawsuit argued, would require a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.While a Kankakee County judge ruled with the state's attorneys and sheriffs late last year, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, writing for the majority, said the lower court misinterpreted the state constitution..  She wrote, “The Illinois Constitution does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public,”Theis' majority opinion also said that the pretrial release provisions “expressly take crime victims into account.”“As we have already mentioned, those provisions require a court to consider the ‘nature and seriousness of the real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons that would be posed by the defendant's release,' including crime victims and their family members,” she wrote.  The pretrial detention changes – often referred to as the Pretrial Fairness Act, or PFA – will create a “presumption” in favor of pretrial release, meaning “the state bears the burden of establishing a defendant's eligibility for pretrial detention,” Theis wrote.Advocates say the intent of that provision is to divert lower-level nonviolent offenders from pretrial incarceration while giving judges authority to detain individuals accused of more serious crimes if they are deemed dangerous or at risk of fleeing prosecution.Another facet of the reform entitles defendants to a more intensive first appearance in court. During that appearance, defendants will now have a right to legal representation and prosecutors can detail their reasons for continued detention.The new hearings replace standard bail hearings, which often last less than five minutes and end with a judge deciding the conditions of release, including how much money the defendant must post to be released.Advocates for the bail reform have noted that it gives judges greater authority to detain individuals accused of crimes such as domestic battery and violations of orders of protection prior to trial than does prior law.Kaethe Morris Hoffer, the executive director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, spoke in favor of the reform at a virtual news conference Tuesday.  “I want to be clear – safety and interests and voices of people who have endured rape and violence in the sex trade have never been prioritized when the criminal legal system is asked to make decisions about the liberty of people who are accused of serious crimes of violence. This changes that.”While the new law directs law enforcement officers to cite and release anyone accused of a crime below a Class A misdemeanor, they would maintain discretion to make an arrest if the person is a threat or if making the arrest is necessary to prevent further lawbreaking.Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart was one of two state's attorneys in Illinois who backed the SAFE-T Act alongside Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. He noted that many smaller jurisdictions will lose revenue from cash bail payments when the system is eliminated – a point that reform advocates have repeatedly noted shows a flaw in the system.Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.KANSAS REFLECTOR: Promises made, promises kept.White House announces more than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven. You heard that right. BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA - JULY 14, 2023 10:41 AM    WASHINGTON — The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency's income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. This happens when qualified payments were made but aren't being counted accurately. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” The Department of Education has already begun to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.Cardona said “By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have already done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, veterans and other borrowers with permanent disabilities”A 2022 NPR investigation found numerous problems with the agency's handling of IDR plans, which are meant to help low-income borrowers. Loan servicers failed to keep track of borrowers' progress toward forgiveness and payment histories were not properly transferred from one loan servicer to another. In January of this year, The Department of Education announced plans to overhaul the income-driven repayment plan.Under the new plan, monthly payments would decline to 5% of a borrower's income — down from 10% — and the repayment timeline for loan forgiveness would be decreased to 10 years from 20 or 25 if the initial loan is less than $12,000.The announcement Friday followed the Supreme Court's decision in late June to strike down the Biden administration's student debt relief program that would have canceled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers.Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education has canceled about $116 billion in student loan debt for borrowers who were misled by for-profit institutions, borrowers with disabilities and those with loans in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Welp, that's it for me. From Denver I'm Sean Diller, original reporting for the stories in todays show is from Capitol News Illinois, Missouri Independent, Detroit News, and Kansas Reflector.

Michigan State University Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff elaborates on topics she covers in her June 2023 Spartan Community Letter, which you can read by clicking on the communications tab at president.msu.edu. “The campus has a different rhythm in the summer, but we've got a lot going on as we kind of round out the end of summer session one and move into summer session two. And I'm really excited about that. And we really do have a great foundation for success, and we do appreciate the Board of Trustees engagement and approval this month of our budget. And that budget really does prioritize compensation. “For me, the administration, and the Board of Trustees, our employees really are our most important asset and underlie all our strategic aims, particularly in student success. And so we did prioritize the compensation. That is a very important and welcomed part of this budget. The other thing I would just highlight is that the Board has approved the new recreation center. It's going to be on Shaw Lane, kind of between Birch and Harrison.“And we still have recreational facilities right now. Students and folks can still be in IM West and other places on campus. But when this is completed in a couple of years, that's going to really be a great first in class space. And that truly is about student success. Ensuring that our students have those kinds of places that they can recreate and relax and take care of their health and wellbeing, that represents a really important asset and something that we're delighted to work on. What is important that that budget has been approved and we're moving forward.”And the budget also includes $8 million in new investments in campus safety initiatives that Vice President Lynch is leading. “He's been doing a great job, and he's been talking with a lot of folks around the community. We've had a lot of community input. One of the things we've done is to work in partnership with Ingham County, and we now have a lot of outdoor signals that will now be co-opted to use for emergency settings like we had this last semester. We've got more green light emergency phones that include cameras. We're putting new door locks across campus, and that's happening daily. And we are going to be opening our campus security operations center, which really is an integrated system security that allows for a lot of real time monitoring. That's critical.“I want everyone to know how grateful we are to the community for the outpouring of support through the Spartan Strong Fund. We closed that fund after raising $2 million from about 4,200 donors. That really is an extraordinary outpouring of support for our students, faculty, and staff. And I just want to give, as a proxy for all those individuals, a great big thank you for their support. And about 300,000 of those dollars is going to go towards a memorial.” Speaking of the Board, you recently gave them your second annual strategic plan update. I know you live and breathe that strategic plan every day. What is some of the progress you'd like to highlight today as the plan indeed evolves?“We prioritized and funded advising last year. This is allowing us to add more advisors to our ranks and to develop professional opportunities for those advisors. And that's exciting. It allows for students to have more access to those individuals who can help them along their journey. We also, of course, wanted to highlight our employees in our strategic plan through our honorifics. And this includes university distinguished professors and the various honors and awards that we provide to our staff. But we're really making a concerted effort to ensure that everyone is recognized in ways that, for our humble folks around here, Russ, as you know, they often just do the great work and say, ‘Well, don't shine that light on me.' We want to make sure that excellence of our employees is recognized.“We also have a goal, which I think some people were surprised by, of a billion dollars in annual research expenditures by 2030. And we are going in that direction. We're now at $759 million, and that's important for all of us. We have our sustainability goals. We're at number two in the Times Higher Ed for the whole United States. We're number two in the entire U.S. for sustainability. And our DEI goals are ones that we continue to build year on year. This includes in our healthcare colleges, where we've increased our number of students of color by more than 10 percent. Around the state, you visited our extensive footprint in Grand Rapids. You announced an investment in the iconic Fisher Building in Detroit and highlighted our role in Lansing's regional community at an address at the Lansing Economic Club. “We're building in all the places and spaces that are relevant to our educational mission. This includes our investment office's purchase of majority ownership in the Fisher Building in downtown Detroit, part of the New Center of Detroit. It's also right adjacent to our collaborative partners, the Henry Ford Health Care system, as well as the Pistons. And this partnership is really going to help us toward our commitment of reducing health disparities, particularly in Detroit, by using our research acumen to build better care for every zip code across the state of Michigan.“I also have been working in Lansing. We have an annual economic impact across the Lansing regional area that's just remarkable. And we've just announced a community initiative called BELIEVE. I believe in Lansing, and many people do as well. It's co-chaired by April Clobes from the MSUFCU. We're going to bring excellence to Lansing through investment, empowerment, vision, and energy. That's BELIEVE. Bringing Excellence to Lansing through Investment, Empowerment, Vision, and Energy. And later this summer, I'm going to be on some dairy farms and out in some fields. I'm going to be at a cheese factory. We really have a great deal of wonderful activity across all 83 counties of Michigan, and I'm excited to be a part of that.”Final thoughts?“It's summer, and it is thought that these are slower, more serene days on campus. And I think they are in some ways, but there are also great things that are happening as everyone gets ready for this next fall season of education. And I'm just so thrilled to be able to elevate to our community some of these great things that are happening at Michigan State.”Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines.

May 26, 2023 ~ Diane Cross, Michigan Department of Transportation Spokeswoman tells Paul an M-DOT worker was killed in Ingham County this week and she also says construction projects are put on hold for the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Ron DeSantis teams up with everybody's favorite billionaire for a 404-error campaign launch … while Donald Trump hunkers down in Mar A Lago waiting for what could be his summer of indictments. In Michigan, politics and government is a little more on track - the Governor signing another major gun safety law, the state's attorney discipline board takes aim at the lawyers who led the Big Lie lawsuits, and there's still another money-based scandal brewing as part of the Republican legislative legacy. And we're sad to report that neither Jeff nor Mark is on Putin's list of 500 Americans barred from visiting Russia. Barack Obama and Stephen Colbert made the list -- but Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are still welcome. (Also on the list: former Senators John McCain, Harry M. Reid and Orrin G. Hatch -- who are all currently dead.) The calendar may tell us it's the spring of 2023, but for local election administrators across the state it's already 2024. The newly enacted voter protection rights approved by voters in 2022, the likelihood of an early presidential primary and continuing right-wing claims of 2020 election fraud, have local clerks in full implementation mode for what could well be a very challenging election cycle. Joining the conversation this week is one of the state's leading experts on running fair and accurate elections, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum. Prior to her election as Ingham County Clerk 10 years ago she served for 6 years in the state Legislature where she was ranking member of the House Elections Committee. She's a lifelong resident of rural Lansing, and the daughter of Dianne Byrum who was the first woman to lead a party caucus in the state Legislature. Barb Byrum has a bachelor's degree in agribusiness management, and a law degree from the MSU College of Law. Also in Clerk Byrum's resume: after the 2014 Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriages she presided over the first gay marriage in Michigan. =========================== This week's podcast is underwritten in part by EPIC-MRAEPIC ▪ MRA is a full service survey research firm with expertise in: • Public Opinion Surveys • Market Research Studies • Live Telephone Surveys • On-Line and Automated Surveys • Focus Group Research • Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns • Political Campaigns & Consulting • Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research • Community - Media Relations • Issue - Image Management • Database Development & List Management =========================== Stories We're Following This Week Michigan politics and policy Michigan inked $25M grant without vetting ex-aide to House speaker, ex-convict - Bridge Michigan Gov. Whitmer Signs Extreme Risk (Red Flag) Protection Order Legislation to Keep Michigan Communities Safe - Executive Office How firearms could be confiscated under Michigan's new 'red flag' law - Detroit News AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Federal Restriction Prohibiting Handgun Sales to Individuals Under 21 - Attorney General's Office Whitmer repeals letter grade rankings for public schools - Detroit Free Press Pamela Pugh enters race for Michigan's open US Senate seat Leslie Love announces run for Senate, challenges Slotkin - Lansing State Journal Commission accuses lawyers who tried to reverse 2020 election of misconduct - Detroit News AG Nessel Sues Avid Telecom Over Illegal Robocalls - Attorney General's Office Voting Rights and Candidates GOP state lawmakers try to restrict ballot initiatives, partly to thwart abortion protections - AP News Ahead of 2024 election, several states overhauled voting laws - The Washington Post Biden maintains edge over Trump in 2024 US election - Reuters/Ipsos poll The GOP Culture Wars Transgender Mississippi girl misses graduation after judge's ruling - Reuters Abortion to be included in Michigan anti-discrimination law - Bridge Michigan Nebraska passes 12-week abortion,

May 12, 2023 ~ Full Show. Title 42 expires. Dave Trott Former Republican Congressman tells us about the new Republican Common Sense Party. Retired Brigadier General Doug Slocum, Former Air Wing Commander for 127th Fighter Group at Selfridge Air National Guard Base commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords. Senior News Analyst Lloyd Jackson has a story of in the influx of calls to Ingham County 911 during the MSU campus shooting. Senior News Analyst Marie Osborne discusses Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy proposing changing the voting age to 25. Attorney Todd Flood breaks down the charges against Daniel Penny, the man accused of killing Jordan Neely, a homeless man on a NYC subway train and Chris Ruzzin previews this weekend's Miracle League fundraiser Saturday at 5pm at Bowlero Lanes in Royal Oak.

May 12, 2023 ~ Lloyd Jackson, WJR Senior News Analyst, talks with Guy Gordon about how Ingham County dispatchers handled more than 2,000 calls on the night of the shooting at Michigan State University.

May 2, 2023 ~ Chris Renwick, WJR Senior News Analyst, talks with Guy Gordon and Jamie Edmonds about the former Ingham County prosecutor signing a stipulation that says prosecutors wouldn't seek life prison sentences.

When Vice President and Chief of Police Marlon Lynch joined his alma mater in February 2021, Michigan State University expanded the role of police chief in recognition of the broadening nature of proactive safety planning needs across the university beyond traditional law enforcement efforts. To strengthen and bolster these efforts going forward, Interim President Woodruff has changed the structure of Police and Public Safety's leadership to enable the accelerated expansion of university safety efforts across the East Lansing campus and all MSU campuses throughout Michigan.Chris Rozman is the new chief of police. And Vice President Lynch is now vice president and chief safety officer for MSU. On this episode of MSU Today, Lynch and Rozman talk about the transition and their new roles.Conversation highlights:(1:12) – “My role as vice president and chief safety officer will be broader, as opposed to also having primary responsibility for the university police department. The university and its needs evolve.”(3:40) – “I'm honored and humbled to be offered the appointment to chief at my alma mater and the place where I've spent my entire career.”(5:47) – “We do a really good job of community outreach, engagement, and policing as it is, and I want to make sure we weave that through all our employees in every aspect of our department. Our police officers do a great job daily, and I want to emphasize the point that every interaction we have with every member of our community is an opportunity to engage and build trust.”(9:14) – “I'm not an emotional person, but I have found myself feeling very emotional since then. It's something to deal with both personally and professionally. Being cognizant of that is necessary for us to move forward.”(11:06) – “What I think really stands out is that our department and most of our employees who have been here a long time are truly connected to this community. We are impacted and healing just like our community.”(12:40) – “As we were committed to communicating updates and sharing information with our community, we weren't talking to the media or the cameras. We were speaking to our community.”(13:38) – “We are part of the community. We are Spartans protecting Spartans. That's how we're going to move forward. This is our campus. What surprised me was the number of students who told us they still feel safe on campus. We are absolutely committed to ensuring the safety of this campus now and in the future. And we know we need to work with the community to do that and we stand ready.”(15:25) – “The chiefs for the cities of East Lansing, Lansing, and Meridian Township, and the sheriff for Ingham County are all Spartans. There's a connectivity in the law enforcement and public safety community, including fire and EMS.”Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Tony Conley welcomes John J. Dewane who recently has been appointed as Ingham County Prosecutor by the Judges of the 30th Circuit Court. The appointment became effective from Dec. 31, 2022, through 2024. In their conversation, they discuss the position he has recently been named to. They also cover how this diehard University of Michigan football fan was also a youth tackle football coach for many years. They review the trouble the drug Fentanyl is causing in the community, crime rates in Michigan, new ideas on gun control, and how mental health impacts crime. Mr. Dewane has served in the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office since 2001, including the past twelve years as Deputy Chief Assistant. In that role, he has conducted over 80 felony trials, including numerous homicide cases. He has also led the office's screening division and worked as a liaison to law enforcement agencies in their investigations of serious, violent, and gun-related crimes. Prior to serving as a prosecutor, John Dewane was an attorney in private practice in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he represented criminal defendants as well as local governments prosecuting individuals for traffic and ordinance violations. Upon graduating from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1988, Mr. Dewane represented indigent clients in various legal areas while employed at the Berrien County Legal Services Bureau. “It is an honor to be appointed as Ingham County Prosecutor by the Judges of the 30th Circuit Court. As a prosecutor, I'm excited to continue serving Ingham County in this new role. I look forward to working with law enforcement, the judiciary, community leaders, and the citizens of Ingham County to increase public safety by pursuing appropriate criminal charges of appropriate severity. We must work together to address violent crimes, working with police in Lansing and across the county. Police and prosecutors are on the front lines of addressing the increase in gun violence in our county, and we must improve this crucial partnership as we investigate and prosecute violent crimes – such as homicides and gun crimes. As a career prosecutor, I understand that leading this department is a new challenge. It's one that I am excited and ready to pursue, and I'm asking for our community's support as we work together to seek justice for the victims my office serves. Most importantly, I look forward to advocating for victims of crimes, ensuring that their voices are heard as we seek justice within the bounds of the law.” John J. Dewane Ingham County Prosecutor » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX… » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music

In the news today: For our first headline of the week focusing on MSU athletics, MSU gymnastics claims second place in the Big Ten Championship. For our second headline focusing on campus news, student-led healing event causes confusion among students. For our final headline of the day focusing on city news, Ingham County signs on to opioid lawsuit payments.

John’s guest this week is Judge Rosemary Aquilino, a Circuit Judge of Ingham County, Michigan. Among the many times that she has made an impact on Michigan and American public life, she was the judge who sentenced Dr. Nasser of Michigan State University for having taken sexual liberties with American gymnasts. But that is just one part of her fascinating career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the news today: For our first headline of the day focusing on city news, new Ingham County prosecutor reverses felony firearm policy. For our second headline jumping back to Michigan State University's fall commencement, seniors celebrate at fall commencement ceremony. For our final headline of the day focusing on culture here at MSU, intimidated by the gym? IM regulars share encouragement for newcomers. 

In this episode, hosts Brianna Lennon and Eric Fey speak with Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum in Michigan about how she pushes back against election misinformation, the need for greater voter education, and how she hopes all election officials – regardless of party – can work together to address election-related conspiracy theories.

As the chief continues to reorganize the department, today we're focusing on the Police Services Bureau. We have with us today Captain Sherief Fadley. He leads the Patrol Division inside the Police Services Bureau. And Captain Dan Munford oversees the Community Engagement Unit.“The Community Engagement Unit is a team comprised of four sergeants and me,” says Munford. “We're spread out throughout the different neighborhoods on campus, and our goal is just to reach out and be a contact and liaison for our students, faculty and staff within the residential neighborhoods.”“I'm entrusted by the VP to run our Patrol Division, our K-9 Unit, and our IRSRT, which is our tactical team,” says Fadley. “Our Patrol Division is a fully functional; we're a police service. We're vested with the authority as police officers sworn in the state of Michigan. We also are deputized in Ingham County because we have property all over Ingham County, and sometimes we're called for mutual aid assists. We have a 24/7 365-day operation. We provide police services to the community ranging from anything from bike larcenies to domestics, narcotics calls, drug calls, and active shooters if there's that type of call. We respond essentially from mild to wild, Russ.”And Chief, why did you reorganize in this way?“It's about evolving to meet the needs of the campus and how we engage with our community,” says Lynch. “It's having a specific unit that spends time engaging with the housing staff and with the student affairs staff on a regular basis as often as possible.“A good example is Dan's office is in the main library. These offices have existed for years within various buildings within the campus. It's a philosophy of continuous engagement. It's trying to be proactive with the comfort level with our community and how they become more comfortable with us and the roles that we play, specifically from a community engagement piece. And that will continue to evolve.“We also looked at what types of calls are most common for us. We have a number of officers on patrol, and as we talk to Deputy Chief Andrea Munford and Community Support, we have started also to invest in supporting mental health issues and sexual assault investigations. We try to balance our manpower to meet the needs of the community.”Lynch explains the difference between community service and community support. And we learn more about the “very popular” K-9 unit and the versatility of MSU's officers from Fadley. “I believe an MSU police officer can go anywhere in policing,” continues Fadley. “I don't believe just anyone can come to MSU and police.” Fadley shares a story of MSU officers wrangling 40 beef cattle in the middle of the night. “We're here 24/7,” says Munford. “We are highly trained. Don't be afraid to talk to us. We love talking to people, especially in my role. If you ever see me out, that's what we do. We're dedicated to this university, we're dedicated to this job, to the students, faculty, staff, and their safety. It's a great place to work.”“The addition of the comfort K-9s is something else that we see that our community values and needs,” Lynch adds. “K-9s want to help to soothe and help with stress for those of our community, that's part of it as well. And we are starting a Citizens Police Academy and it will go through the semester. We have 20 participants. There's been a lot of interest from our community members for it. And it's an opportunity to be transparent on how the department operates and why things are done in a certain manner. And it's beginning of fall semester, so there are lots of things going on. Everything from the move-in to the beginning of football season and everything in between.”“Please remember what Captain Mumford said, we're very approachable,” says Fadley. “Come meet and know your MSU police and public safety officers. We're that resource, we're there for them. We don't pick and choose our calls. When the call comes in, we answer them. We want the community to be comfortable knowing that it's a partnership. We're here to serve with a second to none type of response and everybody's behind that. You'll see it in the interactions between our department and the community members. I'm very pleased with that.”MSU Today airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 5 a.m. on WKAR News/Talk and Sundays at 8 p.m. on 760 WJR. Find “MSU Today with Russ White” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

In this installment, the Armchair Attorney is joined by the Honorable Rosemarie Aquilina of 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County. We talk about law, leadership, and what it means to serve.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina shares how her career was molded by her upbringing and the importance of really listening. We also talk about the magical question she asked during her infamous trial that I have continued to ask to this day. WE'LL DISCUSS: How her desire to be heard as a child played a role in becoming a lawyer, and how a child abuse case moved her to become a judge Why she decided to stop writing during law school How her approach to the infamous sexual abuse trial of sports doctor Larry Nassar allowed for the Army of Survivors to come forward   ABOUT JUDGE AQUILINA: Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was elected to the 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County in November of 2008. She became part of Michigan's history by becoming the first female JAG Officer in the Michigan Army National Guard when she enlisted. Ultimately, she became one of the most requested JAG Officers because of her dedication to service and the soldiers she served with. Judge Aquilina opened Aquilina Law Firm, PLC, which grew to become very successful and which resulted in her becoming the host of Ask the Family Lawyer, which became syndicated.   In addition to all the other amazing things Rosemarie does, she is also a published author with three books under belt- All Rise, Feel No Evil, and Triple Cross Killer. Her books are thrillers from start to finish, keeping everyone guessing and on the edge of their seat.    Judge Aquilina's Book Recommendations: Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell: https://amzn.to/3zYJxTG   Judge Aquilina's Books: Just Watch me: https://amzn.to/3ppoUuV All Rise: https://amzn.to/3pppj0p Feel No Evil: https://amzn.to/3phuJdV Triple Cross Killer: https://amzn.to/3Qr6dmL   To learn more about Judge Aquilina, visit the links below: Website: https://www.rosemarieaquilina.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraquilina/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/aquirosemarie?lang=e   Subscribe to the Podcast here: Apple   |  Google  |  Spotify  | Stitcher   Stay Connected with Heather: To schedule a call with Heather, click here  To follow Heather on Instagram, click here To subscribe to Heather's 3Q newsletter, click here To request a transcript of this episode, email operations@heatherhansenpresents.com

“I'd like to start first by recognizing the passing of former MSU Chief of Police, Kelly Roudebush,” says Lynch. “My time with Kelly was not necessarily here at MSU as a professional in police and public safety, but we were classmates together here in the School of Criminal Justice and served a year at Meridian Township Police Department as police cadets. We had an opportunity to establish a relationship and kept in touch over the years. She touched a lot of people, that's for certain. She was a quality person, and she will definitely be missed, but never forgotten.”Joining Chief Lynch is Assistant Chief Doug Monette, who leads the Police Services Bureau.“I spent about nine and a half years over at the East Lansing Police Department before coming here,” Monette says. “I have been at MSU for over 25 years. The roles that I've had as a police officer include patrolman, patrol supervisor, detective, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, and until Vice-President Lynch was named, I was the interim chief here at the Michigan State University Police Department. I've been here a long time. I've been here roughly around 35 years and I've loved every minute of it. This is a great organization, and I look forward to the future.”How would you say policing has changed in that time? “Policing has changed over the years,” continues Monette. “Some of it has been cyclical because when I first got into it, community policing was a big piece of this. We are getting back to community policing, which is known as community engagement, getting to know our community, and getting to know our faculty staff and students because that's important. That's why we're here. And in doing that, we're developing relationships and contacts so we can better service our community.”And Chief Lynch, wasn't the concept of community policing developed at the MSU School of Criminal Justice, which you graduated from?“Yes, Russ,” says Lynch. “It was Dr. Robert Trojanowicz, and I was fortunate enough to have him as a professor. He was one of the founding fathers of the theory and its practical components. The School of Criminal Justice here has been a leader in the overall concept of community policing.”How do you define community policing and how does it meet your goal of better meeting the needs of the Spartan community?“For us, it's something we do all the time, not just some of the time,” says Lynch. “Day-to-day engagement and being part of the community and not just responding during a times of crisis or a critical incident is important. The community needs to feel comfortable enough with us to share important information with us, and we need to maintain an open line of communication both formally, whether that's through an advisory committee, and informally by the officer who is responsible for a particular neighborhood working in in partnership with community stakeholders.”Monette talks more about the importance of building relationships and being connected, supportive, and engaged to provide better service. And Lynch says it's important to monitor officers' mental health as well as their physical health.“That's part of the overall health of our community,” Lynch says. “Officer wellbeing is just as important. If our officers and staff are not comfortable and healthy and may need assistance themselves, how could we have the expectation that they could provide that for the community?“Doug's area is the most visible. The patrol unit is what everyone knows, the marked police vehicles and the uniformed police officers. Those are the officers who respond to you directly when you need assistance. It's very important to us to have our officers on board regarding the community engagement components while we deliver quality service to the community. It's probably the largest area of the department as far as number of officers assigned to it as well. The Police Services Bureau is a key component to what goes on. It is the beginning and sometimes the end of the cycle of services for us. Assistant Chief Monette's area encompasses a lot. The familiarity with what they do and how they do it is important to how our relationship will be with our community.”“That's one of the things that I think is really important is that people have a good understanding that the patrol unit provides service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Monette continues. “The patrol officers are typically the first responders to incidents and respond directly to calls when dispatched from the Ingham County regional 911 center.“When they're not on calls, they're patrolling and actively engaging with our campus partners to solve quality of life issues and problems proactively. It's important that we're out there and that we're a resource for our community. Our officers get out of their cars. They walk the buildings and sidewalks, even in the winter. They're out there engaging with people because putting the name with a face is important. And it's better if people know who to contact. If someone is in a crisis, we want them to feel comfortable to call us. That's why we're here.“I really appreciate this opportunity to have a conversation about what we do, how we do it, and the way to do it. We're very proud of our organization. We're very proud of our people. They are highly trained. They are highly skilled. They provide a wonderful service for our community.”MSU Today airs every Sunday morning at 9:00 on WKAR News/Talk and Sunday nights at 8:00 on 760 WJR. Find, rate, and subscribe to MSU Today with Russ White on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows. And please share this conversation if you're so inclined.

The COVID-19 pandemic has required a lot of attention and decision making at MSU to keep everyone safe and moving forward. Can you give us an idea of how these decisions are made?President Stanley:We begin with the fundamental principle of keeping everyone safe at Michigan State University: faculty, staff, and students. And at the same time, we're doing everything we can to continue our vital mission of education and economic development. These things and our extension mission are critical to us. And so, those considerations sometimes conflict a little bit or may conflict with what we need to do, but in general, we try to optimize each of those things. I meet very frequently with other Michigan State University leaders like University Physician Dave Weismantel and Norm Beauchamp, who oversees all of our medical areas. I also consult with the provost, of course, because she represents faculty, and with Vennie Gore, who oversees student affairs, and with Melissa Woo, executive vice president for administration representing our staff.It's a group that represents a number of constituents on the campus and allows us to take a very broad view of what we're doing. And then of course, we look at data. Because of my background, I'm very interested in what's happening. We follow what's happened in the past at Michigan State University. What have our patterns been in the past in terms of COVID? We're now well more than two years into this pandemic. So we can look at historical data and understand what happens. We know that when students return to campus, for example, we've seen a surge each time. Even if there was lower background in the community, we've seen a surge. When there's higher background in the community, we see a surge again on top of whatever's happening in the community. So that's happened. We need to be prepared for that.We also know that we've been very successful in safely administering learning during this time in person in our last semester. So we take that into account as well. We also consider guidance from the CDC. We try to adopt CDC guidance and stay with it. We look at what the state department of health and human services is recommending to try and go with that. And then of course, we make recommendations based on the science. We've learned a lot about the virus. It transmits probably twice as effectively as the previous virus did. It's also probably about half as virulent in some sense. About a half the people who had to be hospitalized from Delta have to be hospitalized with Omicron.About half the people who were hospitalized with Delta would be hospitalized with Omicron. So that's good. Hospital stays are shorter with Omicron, but still people are hospitalized. And if you go into a situation with with Omicron where you have three times as many people getting infected, then the fact that half as much means you're still getting more people in the hospital than you did with the Delta outbreak. So that's somewhat what we're seeing around the country right now is hospitals are at capacity. Finally, we look to coordinate with others. I talk to the leaders at other institutions. We obviously talk to our health department. We talk to our representatives from some of our cities and townships. So they understand what we're planning to do. All those things come together in making the kind of difficult decisions we do.Russ White:And as you mentioned, sir, we were able to limit the spread of the coronavirus while keeping most classes in person last semester. Why did we start this semester with mostly remote classes?Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.:It was a difficult decision because we know how much students want to be in person. And I think all of us wanted to be back in person, but I think it had to do with two things. One was just a little bit of uncertainty about Omicron, understanding it better. I think just even in the past few weeks, we've learned more about it and how it spreads. The second was the recognition that there were going to be large numbers of cases associated with this surge and that the measures we'd done before, vaccination and boosters - boosters are imperative by the way – are the difference between getting sick with these viruses and getting hospitalized with these viruses and having to a very mild illness. But what we know about Omicron is the breakthrough infections are more common with Omicron than they were with any variant up to date and it's far more contagious.So again, most of the cases that we've seen as a country are in unvaccinated individuals. And about 90 percent of the cases we've seen that are hospitalizations or deaths, unfortunately, are with unvaccinated individuals. But vaccinated people are getting Omicron. And some of us may know people who've been vaccinated and had their boosters who are getting Omicron. So we knew there'd be more cases to deal with. And the concern was we do have to quarantine or isolate. We have to isolate individuals who've been infected for now, according to CDC guidance, at least five days. Before it was 10 days. So if we came back and we had a major surge, our concern was there would be significant absenteeism, both in classes and in the faculty because of this Omicron surge at this time. So it would make it more difficult to have in person classes because people just wouldn't be able to show up basically.The first three weeks of the semester are critical in learning. It's the time when everyone learns about the course and what's going to be taught and some of the basic principles that are going to be important. And we wanted to make sure there was a consistent first experience for everybody coming back to MSU this semester. So we thought the easiest way to do that would be to be remote in these first three weeks. The goal now is that after we get these first three weeks in that everybody's on the same page. We know there'll still be some absentees. We know there'll be some classes that have to be missed, but people will have started the semester. They'll be in class. They'll know what's going on and it's going to make it I think a better experience.We also cared about what was happening with the opening of other school districts. We wanted to be aware of some of the surges that might take place there with reopening. We want to give parents who have to care for children or who may have children of elementary school age who may have to come home again because they test positive the opportunity to work remotely during this time and to give more flexibility to our faculty and caregivers with their schedules. So that's what's driven it. We're looking to open again to start in person classes on January 31st. That's our goal right now. And we're following numbers very carefully as we look up to that.Russ White:So what else are we doing this semester to control the spread of COVID-19?Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.:The mask mandate remains incredibly important. I encourage everybody to get the best kind of mask you can. And I think that's very important to do that. Mask wearing indoors remains something that we need to do. And I would really encourage everybody to do that. It's always still disappointing to me that the rest of the state hasn't caught up with that, but I'm really glad that I see it on our campus and people continue to adhere to it. And it's been adhered to at sporting and entertainment events and other things as well. I really appreciate that people are doing that. The really important thing of course is for people to be vaccinated and to make sure you've had your boosters. And we're requiring boosters for all faculty, staff, and students. If you're eligible during this period of time, we expect you to get it by February 1st.When you become eligible, if it's after February 1st, we expect you to get it within two weeks of your eligibility taking place. And so that's the most important thing. We know that this disease can change to something that can be very severe and cause death. Again, we're not seeing a huge decline in deaths right now during this Omicron surge, but they're not increasing proportionally to the number of cases as they would've with the Delta, for example, but that's still concerning. So, getting vaccinated and getting boosted is really critical. To make that easier, we're working within Ingham County to set up some vaccine stations that will be available for more of the mass vaccination efforts like we had early on in the pandemic at the pavilion.We're looking for those opportunities with maybe a capacity of about 1,000 boosters at a time. We're also continuing to talk to other surrounding areas about the availability of vaccinations so that we can put on our Together We Will website the locations of places that are providing vaccines for people who need to get them. We're doing some vaccines in our pharmacy. We're doing some vaccines in student health, but there's about a three week wait, at least for those. So I encourage people to find out where's the place you can get vaccinated. And for those students, faculty, and staff who have not had that booster, this is a great time to do this. While we're working remotely, you can do it while you're at home.Russ White:And President Stanley, I think you'd like to remind listeners too, that we're all in this together. Nobody likes this, but Spartans Will get through this.Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.:I know that people are frustrated by the pandemic. I think all of us and many of us who have really taken this seriously have really thought about our responsibility, not just to ourselves, but to others and family members and the community to try and control some of the spread of disease. It's difficult when we're confronted with this variant that still can infect people, even though they've taken the precautions. And again, there's no shame in getting infected by this virus. It's not anything you did necessarily. It's the virus and its infectivity that's changed. But I think we still need to have the empathy we've had for people. But we also need, again, to think about doing the things that we can do to try and mitigate this to the extent we can.We're all in this together. All of us have the same goal, which is to pursue our education and to pursue our innovative work at Michigan State University and do it in an environment where we're safe and welcome. We all have that goal. Getting vaccinated, getting boosted, and wearing your mask are all ways in which we work together to allow us to get as close to normal as we can during this challenging period. And I think it will get better. What we know from South Africa and the United Kingdom is that this virus goes up and then it goes down in a much more rapid way than we saw with the previous one. I'm optimistic that by mid-February, we'll be seeing significant declines in these numbers and that things will look much better by March.The pandemic has been challenging. There's a high level of frustration, but there will be better days ahead. Pfizer has announced they're making an Omicron specific vaccine that may help us with this variant and may make a difference. We have new antivirals coming in from Pfizer and from Merck that may be helpful in treating individuals who do get COVID who need this. They do more to reduce the severity of disease for people who get it. There are some good things on the horizon, and we just need to recognize that this is a surge. It is going to come back down again. That's what it's done everywhere else. It's not going to sustain at this level. It's not really possible. We've got to get through these next few weeks, but then things are going to be better as we go through the spring semester.MSU Today airs Sunday mornings at 9:00 on WKAR News/Talk and streams at WKAR.org. Find, rate, and subscribe to “MSU Today with Russ White” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.