Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - The Southfield Police Department is asking for the publics’ assistance in identifying a female that is suspected of being involved in a check fraud ring.

Police say the check fraud ring has been operating in the metro Detroit area for about one year and has been targeting elderly victims.

 

According to investigators, the suspects obtain personal information from checking accounts and then use that information to create and cash fraudulent checks.

 

Anyone who has information about this suspect’s identity is asked to call the Southfield Police Department at 248-796-5540 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/12/police-search-for-woman-involved-in-alleged-check-fraud-ring/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

TORONTO — (WWJ) The Canadian Auto Workers Union has told local leaders to get ready for a strike, just in case one is needed when their contracts with the “Detroit Three” auto companies expire next Monday night.

 

“We’re making the preparations with the obvious intent of trying to avoid a strike,” said CAW President Ken Lawenza. “We just have to keep working on it. It’s frustrating, because I thought there would be more collaboration based on the incredible combined sacrifices that we’ve made.”

 

Lawenza told WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert that the two sides are very far apart, as they enter the final week of bargaining. The union wants to see pay raises. The companies want to move toward bonuses for performance, and lower pay for entry level workers.

 

“If the Detroit Three does not change their position on the multiple issues that we have at the bargaining table, then we have a problem,” said Lawenza.

 

The companies have not been willing to move much from their opening positions, said the union president.

 

“The slow dancing is over,” he said. “We’ve articulated a vision for the CAW membership. A vision for Canadian manufacturing in Canada from the Detroit Three. Obviously the manufacturers themselves have articulated their vision. Today, we have a significant gap.”

 

The car companies have said that they need to reduce their costs in Canada, which, they say, has become one of the most expensive countries to manufacture products. Lawenza says they are trying to force a UAW style contract on a union that is dealing with different realities.

 

“Y’know there’s no recognition today of the cost of living in Canada,” he said. “No recognition to the purchasing power, parity challenges that we have versus the United States. It’s just….simply, it’s a case of whipsawing.”

 

Whipsawing is a labor term for playing one union against another. As we near the deadline, and the talks intensify, executives at the auto companies have become very guarded in their comments.

 

“Our approach is always to collaboratively work together with all of our union colleagues,” said Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields. “Y’know our expectation is we’ll be able to come out with a satisfactory agreement for both parties.”

 

If there is a work stoppage next week, analysts say it won’t take long for auto assembly plans to start closing on the American side of the border. Mike Robinet, who’s managing director of IHS consulting, says there are a lot of Canadian made parts sent across the border to U.S. assembly plants.

 

The timing couldn’t be worse, with car companies scrambling to meet a growing demand for vehicles.

 

“It will be very difficult to make up that production,” said Robinet.

 

Robinet says car companies don’t have a lot of options.

 

“In past years, you’ve been able to work overtime to make up some of that production, once a labor stoppage had been rectified. When you’re already working a tremendous amount of overtime, there’s no slack in the system. Those are lost sales.”

 

While a strike in Canada would cost the major automakers a lot of short term pain, Robinet says the union could be hurt even worse over the long term. With flexible manufacturing, it’s a lot easier for companies to move production of vehicles currently built in Canada to the United States.

 

“This is a watershed moment in the Canadian auto industry,” said Robinet. “If this contract does not necessarily level the paying field with the UAW in other areas of the market, we could have some real issues in terms of the Canadian industry being viable over the next decade.”

 

CAW President Ken Lawenza says he understands this, and will take it into account as union leaders decide whether a strike would be able to accomplish any of their goals.

 

He’s hoping, however, that as negotiations intensify, the two sides can find common ground and prevent a walkout.

 

“The deadline will force both sides, quite frankly, to get to work, if—in fact—an agreement can be reached.”

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/11/strike-deadline-looms-for-detroit-carmakers/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

ROSEVILLE (WWJ) - Police say an employee of a St. Clair Shores business was robbed while making a night deposit at a Comerica Bank in Roseville.

 

According to police, the employee was attempting to make a deposit around 7:40 p.m. last Saturday when they were approached by the suspect, who lifted his shirt and displayed a hand gun. Police say the suspect ordered the victim to the ground and took a bank bag with cash in it.

 

The employee, who was not injured, told police the suspect made a statement during the robbery about his daughter being sick.

 

The suspect, who was last seen on foot west bound from the area of 10 Mile and Collingwood, is described as a 20- to 25-year-old white male with a thin build a no facial hair. At the time of the robbery, the suspect was wearing a navy blue shirt with black pants that had a large horse shoe design on the back pockets, blue and black Air Max type shoes and an orange winter-type hat.

 

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Roseville Police at 586-775-2100.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/11/employee-robbed-while-making-night-deposit-at-roseville-bank/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

MACOMB (WWJ) – Starting Monday, the Macomb County Health Department is offering seasonal flu vaccines at the county health centers in St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens and Warren.

 

County Medical Director Dr. Kevin Lokar tells us who the vaccine is intended for.

 

“The influenza vacine is recommened for everybody, six months of age or older, although it’s specifically important for people with underlying medical conditions, cronic medical conditions, like heart disease, lung disease, those who are immune suppressed,” said Lokar. “It’s also recommended for women who are pregnant during the influenza seasons.”

 

The cost is $15 and the vaccine will be available through January, as supplies last.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/10/15-flu-shots-now-available-through-macomb-health-centers/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

A Detroit charter school is using a new way to make sure students are learning — that’s right, the WAY Program (Widening Alternatives For Youth) has begun.

 

The school is taking kids 14 to 19 years old out of  full-time classrooms and providing them with an iMac laptop and access to a lab — so they can learn at their own pace and around their own schedule. It was created as a “personalized learning experience for students who struggle with traditional high school.”

 

The program has 11 sites in 100 school districts across Michigan, with staff available 24 hours a day. Mentors issue detailed student achievement reports weekly.

 

“It is a highly interactive, personalized, individualized curriculum. And students have access to that, as well as a lab instructor 365 days a year,” said Shannon Smith, director of charter schools for the WAY program. “We also have a lab setting where students can come in and get personal help, as well as do science labs, art projects and those pieces.”

 

How does the program work to make sure students are getting the lessons they need to learn?

 

“We design projects around students’ interests and needs,” said Smith. ” We wrap state standards into those projects so students meet those standards and credit toward graduation by completion of those projects.”

 

Smith says the WAY Program has been a big success, with approximately a 95 per cent graduation rate. The new Detroit Way Academy is located on Vernor in Southwest Detroit.

 

The school is still accepting enrollments for the 2012-2013 school year. Get more details at www.wayprogram.net.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/11/detroit-charter-shows-students-new-way-to-learn/

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Category: News Briefs Written by Irish Times

US president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observe a moment of silence on the 11th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, on the south lawn of the White House in Washington. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0911/breaking22.html

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

DETROIT — Employers in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia metro area expect to hire at a moderate pace in the fourth quarter beginning Oct. 1, according to the quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

 

The hiring outlook is somewhat more brisk in the Grand Rapids area and for the state as a whole, Manpower said.

 

In the Detroit area, from October to December, 13 percent of companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 7 percent expect to reduce staff. Another 78 percent expect to maintain their current workforce levels and 2 percent are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 6 percent.

 

“As we look at the final months of the year, employment prospects are trending considerably weaker compared to the third quarter of 2012 when the Net Employment Outlook was 22 percent,” said Manpower spokesman Shane Weaver. “Hiring plans are slightly more optimistic compared to one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 3 percent.”

 

For the coming quarter in the Detroit area, job prospects appear best in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activities and professional and business services. Employers in transportation and utilities, education and health services and government plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in leisure and hospitality and other services is expected to remain unchanged.

 

In the Grand Rapids – Wyoming metro area, the outlook is stronger.

 

 

From October to December, 18 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 7 percent expect to reduce staff. Another 73 percent expect to maintain their current workforce levels and 2 percent are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook* of 11 percent.

 

“As we look at the final months of the year, employment prospects are trending weaker compared to the third quarter of 2012 when the Net Employment Outlook was 18 percent,” said Manpower spokewoman Jill Momber. “Hiring plans are similar compared to one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 11 percent.”

 

In the Grand Rapids area for the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activities, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, other services and government. Employers in education and health Services plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing and transportation and utilities is expected to remain unchanged.

 

For the state as a whole in the fourth quarter, 17 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 8 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 73 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels and 2 percent are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 9 percent.

 

“Employers’ hiring plans for Quarter 4 2012 are considerably weaker compared to Quarter 3 2012 when the Net Employment Outlook was 21 percent,” said Manpower spokesperson Becca Dernberger. “Compared to one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 9 percent, employers are equally optimistic about their staffing plans.”

 

Statewide for the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activities, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and other services. Employers in education and health services plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in government is expected to remain unchanged.

 

Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed in the United States, 17 percent expect to add to their workforces, and 9 percent expect a decline in their payrolls during the foruth quarter. Seventy-two percent of employers anticipate making no change to staff levels, and the remaining two percent of employers are undecided about their hiring plans. When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook is plus 11 percent, identical to the Quarter 3 2012 Net Employment Outlook.

 

To view results for other Metropolitan Statistical Areas or states, visit http://press.manpower.com.

 

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their work forces during the next quarter. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey’s United States results are based on interviews with 18,000 employers located in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which includes the largest 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas based on number of business establishments. The mix of industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System Supersectors and is structured to be representative of the U.S. economy.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/11/manpower-sees-modest-hiring-in-metro-detroit-stronger-outstate/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WDIV

 

RICHMOND, Mich. - Richmond police say they are investigating whether a woman who is accused of causing a fatal accident last week was under the influence of drugs.

 

Crystal Marie Fistler, 31, is charged with vehicular manslaughter for Friday morning’s crash on Division Road. She is accused of crossing the center lane and hitting 32-year-old Christina Marie Kimmel head-on.

 

Kimmel was killed.

 

Police said prescription drugs were found in Fistler’s car, but toxicology reports will be used to make a final determination.

 

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Richmond-police-investigating-if-driver-was-under-influence-of-drugs-at-time-of-deadly-crash/-/1719418/16546778/-/is3dipz/-/index.html

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) – The Secretary of State’s mobile office will stop on five university campuses this week to register voters.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson says it’s part of the 2012 “ExpressSOS” Voter RegistrationDrive. The stops include a visit today to Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Other stops include Central Michigan, Saginaw Valley State, University of Michigan-Flint, and Michigan State University.

October 9th is the last day to register to vote in the November election.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, meanwhile, stopped in Detroit this past weekend with the goal of getting more individuals registered to vote.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/10/voter-registration-drive-underway/

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Category: News Briefs Written by WWJ

 

DETROIT (WWJ) - Describing the crimes as “senseless acts of violence between known acquaintances,” Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee announced homicides have increased in Detroit at the end of the third quarter of 2012.

 

As of September 7, the Detroit Police Department’s 2012 unofficial homicide total is 261, a 4.4 percent increase compared to last year, when 250 murders occurred. According to statement from police released Monday, 18 people were slain in Detroit in the eight days leading up to Friday.

 

The official Uniform Crime Report statistics will be released by the FBI at the end of the year.

 

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/10/homicides-on-the-rise-in-detroit/

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