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Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

To help protect Michigan families – particularly children – from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, a law requiring secure storage of firearms goes into effect starting Tuesday, Feb. 13.

The new secure storage law, Public Act 17 of 2023, requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.

“We want to make sure Michigan families are aware of the new law designed to prevent unintentional deaths involving guns and how to comply with the new requirements,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Data shows firearms involved in unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents were often stored both loaded and unlocked, and children were most often fatally injured when the shooter was playing with or showing the firearm to others.”

If an individual fails to store a firearm as required and a minor obtains the firearm and any of the following occur, they are guilty of a crime under Public Act 16 of 2023, as follows:

If the minor possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or possesses or exhibits the firearm in the presence of another person in a careless, reckless or threatening manner: a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days or a fine of up to $500, or both.
If the minor discharges the firearm and injures themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts serious impairment of a body function on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $7,500, or both.
If the minor discharges the firearm and inflicts death on themselves or another individual: a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

These penalties could be imposed in addition to charges for other criminal offenses arising from an incident.

“As the top law enforcement officer in the state of Michigan, as a former Wayne County prosecutor and as a mother, I too am exasperated and deeply saddened that thousands of Michigan residents fall victim each year to the scourge of senseless, preventable gun violence in our state,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “I am proud that our state has finally implemented new commonsense gun safety measures and am committed to using the resources of my office to educate residents about the new measures and support our communities through implementation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds (67%) of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred when the shooter was playing with the firearm or showing the firearm to others. Overall, firearms used in unintentional injury deaths were often stored unlocked (76%) and most of these unlocked firearms were also loaded (91%). Unlocked firearms were most commonly accessed from a nightstand or other sleeping areas (30%).

In addition, firearms are involved in more than half of suicide deaths in Michigan. Secure storage can also serve as a suicide prevention strategy.

In 2020, firearms became the number one cause of death for children in the United States and Michigan, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.

“Firearm violence is preventable, and a leading cause of death in our young people,” said Dr. Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “In Michigan, and across the United States, childhood deaths from firearms now exceed deaths from pediatric cancers and drownings. We have had major success over the past decades in reducing pediatric deaths from motor vehicle accidents, and we need to harness the same public health approach - including education and community outreach - to help keep Michigan children and families safe from firearm violence.”

Michigan , United-states , Wayne-county , Dana-nessel , Elizabeth-hertel , Centers-for-disease , Public-act , Attorney-general-dana , Disease-control , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is sharing food safety tips to help your Super Bowl party score a touchdown!

“Getting ready to watch the Super Bowl with some tasty snacks is always a treat, but getting sick from a foodborne illness isn't," said DHD#10 Health Officer Kevin Hughes. "Please make sure when prepping, cooking, serving, and storing food, that you’re exercising caution.”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has some easy steps to help reduce your risk of becoming sick from undercooked or improperly prepared food. Whether you are serving up cheesy pizza, delicious wings, or spicy nachos, keep these tips in mind:

Keep your kitchen area clean by washing your hands before, during, and after you handle raw food. Make sure the preparation surfaces and utensils are thoroughly clean, too.
Make sure to separate raw meat and poultry from any produce or cooked foods. Using different cutting boards is a great way to keep from cross-contamination.
Cook your meat and poultry to their correct internal temperature. When using your food thermometer, be sure to measure temperatures away from the bone.
Only put out small amounts of food at a time while keeping the rest of your perishable snacks chilled.

For the USDA’s Food Handling Basics, click here:https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics.

For more information on food safety, visit:https://www.foodsafety.gov/.

Kevin-hughes , United-states-department-of-agriculture , District-health-department , Super-bowl , Officer-kevin , United-states-department , Handling-basics , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary , Ot-ac , C

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Steven Spielberg’s film “Schindler’s List” tells a powerful story that remains as important in 2024 as it was when it was released in 1993.

Ferris State University’s Shoah Visual History Project, in conjunction with the Big Rapids Festival of the Arts, is hosting a screening of the Academy Award-winning film at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, in Room 202B of the David L. Eisler Center.

Based on a true story, “Schindler’s List” features Oskar Schindler, an industrialist and Nazi Party member, who helped save more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by providing them jobs in his factories.

Tracy Busch, a history professor in Ferris State’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education, sees this anniversary of the film’s original release as an appropriate time to host a screening in Big Rapids.

“On its 30th anniversary of the 1993 release of Schindler’s List, we take heart in remembering that acts of resistance, even within the Nazi system, could save lives,” said Busch, who is in first year as director of the Ferris Shoah Visual History Archive Project. “It reminds us that our daily efforts to fight injustice are a part of a larger battle that will have historical significance.”

The generosity of Detroit-area businessman and real estate developer Mickey Shapiro, the child of Holocaust survivors, helped Ferris State acquire access to the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive in 2017.

At the time of the acquisition, Ferris State was only the third institution in Michigan, joining the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, and 53rd in the world to have access to a fully streaming video collection of more than 54,000 primary source testimonies of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity.

The USC Shoah Foundation VHA is housed in the Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education.

The Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg, includes the Institute for Visual History and Education. Shapiro, A 2017 Ferris State Honorary Doctorate Recipient, is a member of the institute’s board of councilors.

The collaboration to bring this unique educational resource to Ferris State benefits the campus and local community.

“It is also noteworthy that the stories told in the making of Schindler’s List became the foundation for the Shoah Visual Learning Archive,” Busch said. “This archive has been put to use in a number of classrooms, including Criminal Justice, Architecture, History, Social Work, Sociology, and Business. The Shoah Archive has since expanded beyond its Holocaust beginnings to include survivor testimonies from other genocides, including Armenia, Rwanda, Guatemala and Nanjing.”

Parking is free behind the David L. Eisler Center, 805 Campus Drive in Big Rapids.

Anyone with a disability who needs accommodation to attend this event should contact Tracy Busch at (231) 591-5846 or by email at TracyBusch@ferris.edu.

Guatemala , Detroit , Michigan , United-states , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China , Michigan-state-university , Armenia , Big-rapids , Rwanda , Tracy-busch

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

A recent water main break occurred between the 300 and 400 blocks of Ives Avenue.

According to Big Rapids City Communications Director, Steve Gove, repairs are officially scheduled to begin at 8:30 A.M. on Friday, Feb. 9.

After repairs are made, a boil water advisory will be in place until Saturday, Feb. 10.

The City of Big Rapids thanks residents affected for understanding and sends an apology for this inconvenience.

Big-rapids-city-communications , Big-rapids-city-communications-director , Steve-gove , Big-rapids , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary , Ot-ac , C , Op-40 , Ig-rapids

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Monday, January 29

Harassment – Officers were dispatched to a stalking complaint. The complaint was investigated and a report has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney for review.

Suspicious – Officers were dispatched to a suspicious situation complaint. The complainant found a prescription pill bottle in their yard that had the label removed from it. The contents on the bottle had been damaged due to water and couldn't be identified. The property was accepted by officers so it could be properly disposed of.

Disorderly – Officers dispatched to a disorderly person at a residence. The subject left prior to officers' arrival, and the caller advised no further services were needed since the subject left.

Tuesday, January 30

Traffic Stop – Officers conducted a traffic stop for defective vehicle equipment. Operator of the vehicle was arrested for warrants out of Mecosta County.

Abandoned Vehicle – Officers noticed a vehicle parked on the roadway blocking part of the traffic lane. No one was found in or near the vehicle. Attempts were made to call the registered owners last known phone number. The vehicle was impounded due to being a traffic hazard.

Wednesday, January 31

Retail Fraud – Officers were dispatched for a larceny complaint. The suspect was identified and a report was sent to the Prosecutor.

Thursday, February 1

Assist Another Department – Officers assisted CPS with an investigation of child abuse.

Malicious Destruction of Property – Officers were dispatched for a malicious destruction of property complaint at a local business.

Trespassing – Officers were dispatched for a retail fraud. The suspect was identified and a report was sent to Prosecutor.

Friday, February 2

Private Property Damage Accident – Officers were dispatched to investigate a private property damage accident.

Saturday, February 3

Nothing reported.

Sunday, February 4

Suicide – Officers were requested by Mecosta County Sheriff's Department to track a suicidal subject. During the track, officers were informed that the subject was picked up by a vehicle and taken to a local residence. Officers returned to service without incident.

Traffic Stop – Officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle with an improper plate. Operator was found to be operating on a revoked license, and the vehicle had an improper plate and no insurance. Operator was issued an appearance ticket and the vehicle was towed.

Prosecuting-attorney , Property-damage-accident , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary , Ot-ac , C , Op-40 , Ig-rapids , Ichigan , I

New Zealand red meat exports: Drop in 2023 figures reflects global economy

New Zealand’s red meat sector exported products worth $10.2 billion in 2023, a drop in value of 11 per cent compared to the previous year, says the Meat...

United-kingdom , Netherlands , United-states , Taiwan , Canada , Italy , China , Brazil , Australia , New-zealand , Japan , Brazilian

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The Ferris State Bulldogs are slated to announce the program's next class of incoming recruits as the Bulldogs gear up for National Signing Day on Wednesday (Feb. 7).

FSU will take part in the annual nationwide festivities as NCAA Division II's winningest active head coach Tony Annese announces his staff's 13th class of incoming Bulldog recruits. Over the course of his tenure, Annese has landed the nation's top D2 recruiting class numerous times based on rankings from various sources.

The Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs for a nation-leading ninth consecutive time this past fall, expect to again land another stellar recruiting class. FSU has reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals five times in the past seven seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past nine full seasons in D2 Football.

Ferris State fans are encouraged to follow the Bulldogs' official football social media accounts for coverage throughout the day on Wednesday. Each National Letter-of-Intent signee will officially be announced on social media with graphics as their additions are finalized beginning early Wednesday morning. Updates will be posted during the day on facebook (@FerrisFootball), X-twitter (@FerrisFootball) and instagram (@FerrisStateFB).

Ferris State will also hold a live national signing day announcement and press conference on Wednesday at the Ewigleben Sports Complex starting at approximately 2 p.m. (ET). Local, regional and statewide media are welcome and encouraged to attend the national signing day event. The press conference will take place in the Gold Room overlooking the new Center for Athletics Performance near the new Bulldog Arena on the east end of the facility. Media are encouraged and requested to arrive early to be directed to the appropriate location.

Bulldog fans can also catch the event online as the entire class is unveiled and it will be streamed live online in high-definition via the Bulldog Sports Network on FSU's official athletics YouTube page. To view the stream, please visit this direct link - https://www.youtube.com/ferrisathletics

In addition to the announcement of this year's signing class, Coach Annese will be on hand during the press conference to provide comments about this year's National Letter-of-Intent signees as well as take questions from media members in attendance.

A complete list of Bulldog Football recruits and biographical information will be posted online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com following the event along with various highlights, photos, comments from Coach Annese and coverage throughout the day.

In addition to the announcement of this year's signing class, a video package featuring Coach Annese discussing this year's National Letter-of-Intent signees will also be part of FSU's "Signing Day" Central platform.

For complete coverage of the 2024 football signing day class, stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Official links will be posted as additional details on the class become available.

The Bulldogs claimed back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 2021 and 2022 before concluding this past fall with an 8-3 overall record, which included a narrow setback to FCS National Runner-Up Montana. FSU is slated to open the 2024 campaign in late August with a national showdown at Pittsburg State (Kan.).

Montana , United-states , Tony-annese , Bulldog-sports-network , National-runner , National-signing-day-on-wednesday-feb , Youtube , Division-ii-national-semifinals , Division-ii-national-championships , Division-ii-playoffs , Ferris-state-bulldogs , National-signing-day

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Big dreams and desires were part of Keisha Reynolds’ makeup as a young girl in the Detroit area.

“I had considered schools in Michigan and Ohio, but a visit with my mother to the Ferris campus was very significant for both of us,” Reynolds said. “I had learned about the university in a college fair, so we came to Big Rapids. I quickly fell in love with Ferris and its campus and my Mom said, ‘I can see you going here.’ It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Keisha has long understood and applied her high-energy approach to all things academic and social, which extended to her learning, working and other efforts on the Ferris campus.

“I did almost everything I could, in terms of organizational involvement, which included helping the Student Government Association establish ‘The Big Event,’ along with promoting a readership campaign and serving as a social media specialist,” Reynolds said. “I helped found the Black Student Union, was selected for membership in Lambda Pi Eta, the Sigma Tau Delta honorary society for English students, Gamma Epsilon Tau. These involvements prepared me for real-world activities like team building, strategizing, speaking before an audience and promoting ideas. The roles I had at Ferris were all a huge benefit to the work I have done in my career, very foundational in helping me build experience and grow my success.”

Reynolds finds great pride in her contribution for black students at Ferris, and her place in the university’s seminal efforts to engage audiences online as a student worker in University Advancement and Marketing.

“Our first platforms were Facebook and Twitter,” Keisha said. “It was pivotal, since I could put in practice the theories I was learning in class, by designing communications, writing, and conducting interviews for content. My coursework helped me in all my efforts on campus.”

Reynolds earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Technical Communication in 2012 and followed up on another phase of her intentions, by taking her talents out of state.

“Perhaps it was divine circumstance, since I would tell my parents from a very young age that I wanted to go to Virginia,” Reynolds said. “When I considered my graduate school options there, I found the best match for my intentions was at Norfolk State University, so I applied and was accepted.”

Once again, Keisha dove into the opportunity with eyes open for all possibilities to learn and contribute to her new community.

“As I pursued my master’s degree, I completed an internship with Norfolk State University’s Communications office as a graduate assistant,” Reynolds said. “That was a great experience, where I was allowed to contribute. So many doors opened for me, including my involvement with the Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce, Black BRAND.”

Reynolds earned her Master of Arts in Media and Communications, Public Relations in 2015 from NSU. While working for a private school in Norfolk to start her career, Keisha established K&R Communications LLC just months thereafter, an agency designed to help corporate clients and faith-based organizations navigate online strategies to engage and enrich their audiences.

“I am leading my agency from Detroit now, though the company continues its mission in greater Norfolk,” Reynolds said. “Working with clients is so vastly different from when I began. The landscape is ever-changing, with the incorporation of video elements growing in importance these last few years. You test things on behalf of your clients to try and build their success. It requires being ever present as a student and professional, in terms of knowing what the market is offering to accentuate our results.”

The ability to deliver on a variety of fronts simultaneously remained Reynolds’ mode of operation, as she developed a women’s empowerment network, EmpoweringHER in 2016 and as the next year began, she joined the faculty of Hampton University.

“As the lead professor in Strategic Communications, I taught Principles of Public Relations, Web Design and Development, Brand/Marketing Campaigns, Crisis Communications, Social Media and Analytics and the Capstone course for the curriculum,” Keisha said. “I found I love teaching as much as all my other endeavors. That included curriculum where students brought case studies forward and shaped social media messaging to build success for their clients. I also was the advisor for Hampton’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Students in Hampton’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications were eager to learn, and a joy to engage with.”

Add the roles of keynote speaker and author to Reynolds’ resume in her later years in Virginia, with contributions to the works “SpeakUp! The Ultimate Guide to Dominate in the Speaking Industry” and “Sister Leaders: Reflections and Success Stories of Women Leaders Who Purposely Collaborate With Other Women,” which were Amazon #1 best-sellers in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

“Being a writer is a natural facet of my professional abilities,” Reynolds said. “I believe there are ideas and concepts I can provide that can be of benefit to others. My role in speaking engagements is being set aside for a while, so I can focus on consulting, but I am open to and intend to return to such opportunities in the future.”

In 2022, Keisha returned to Michigan and to teaching, and learning, with service as an adjunct member of the Department of Communication at Wayne State University, and with entry this fall in Liberty University’s School of Communication and the Arts’ doctoral program.

“My instruction in Business Communications helps students explore how to best offer a message, through internal and external presentations, and in corporate settings. It is different than my past instruction in strategic communications, but I have the skill set to succeed, with theory and practice elements that resonate with my students. I am just into the doctoral program, with great excitement about what this learning will provide me. I desire to become a tenured professor and continue teaching at a greater level. I love what I do in my agency and sharing that experience of real-world application in the classroom.”

With the rapid pace of working, teaching and learning continuing, Reynolds paused to consider how her Ferris experience provided the knowledge and confidence to continue her good works after her campus experience, and again in her hometown.

“I always felt that the chance to do great things was before me,” Keisha said. “I feel there will be other new opportunities to pursue excellence. Each experience has allowed me to proceed confidently into anything I do and I seek to give the best message possible, to whatever audience I encounter.”

United-states , Ohio , Norfolk-state-university , Virginia , Michigan , Big-rapids , Liberty-university , Norfolk , Hampton , Hampton-university , Wayne-state-university , America

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The number of video and cable television operators in Michigan remained unchanged at 31 in 2023, and total subscriptions for these fell, continuing a long-term pattern, the Michigan Public Service Commission’s annual Status of Competition for Video Services in Michigan found.

There were 1,287,510 video/cable television customers reported for Michigan in 2023, a decline of 189,692 from the previous year. It marked the second consecutive year of declines that had been continuous since a peak of 2.3 million subscribers in 2015, interrupted only by a small one-time increase in 2021. The falling number of subscriptions reflects a nationwide transition as customers switch from video/cable services to internet streaming services.

The number of franchise agreements between video/cable providers and municipalities increased to 2,206 in 2023 from 2,032 statewide in 2022.

The MPSC’s video/cable report is based on responses by providers to an annual MPSC survey. The report is submitted by Feb. 1 each year to the Governor and Legislature. The report does not include satellite TV providers, which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act.

About 42% of video and cable TV providers who responded to the MPSC’s voluntary survey reported investing a total of more than $24 million in Michigan in 2023.

The MPSC works to resolve disputes between customers, municipalities and video and television service providers. The MPSC received 2,183 customer complaints in 2023, a 67% increase from 1,305 in 2022. The most common complaint involved cable line issues, followed by billing charges and internet service problems.

A complaint form is available at the MPSC’s Video/Cable webpage, which also lists contact information for service providers in Michigan and consumer tips.

The video/cable report is based on franchise entities and video and cable television providers who responded to the MPSC survey, and other information collected by the MPSC.

The report makes several recommendations to the Legislature, including:

Moving the due date of the annual report to March 1 to allow respondents additional time to provide timely and accurate year-end information.
Requiring video/cable providers to submit additional information to ensure the MPSC has accurate contact information for purposes of handling complaints and gathering information and data pursuant to the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act.
Requiring providers that change company names, go out of business or merge with another company to provide notification to the MPSC.

Michigan , United-states , Video-services-local-franchise , Video-services , Michigan-public-service-commission , Uniform-video-services-local-franchise , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary , Ot-ac , C

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office took 485 calls for service for the month of January.

The corrections staff booked 71 subjects into the jail between 1/01/23 - 1/31/23. The average daily inmate population for January was 58 inmates.

911 Hang Ups: 6

Abandoned Vehicles: 7

Alarms: 11

Animal Control: 7

Area Check: 22

Assaults/Sexual Assaults/Threats: 13

Assist to Other Jurisdictions: 4

Attempt to locate: 6

Breaking & Entering: 0

Check Wellbeing: 24

Civil: 16

Death Notification: 0

Disorderly: 8

DNR: 8

Domestic Assaults: 10

Fail to Pay (Gas Drive Off): 1

Flee & Elude (Pursuits): 1

Follow-up Investigations/Details: 30

Found Property: 0

Fraud: 1

Hit & Run: 1

Juvenile Assaults/Runaways: 15

Larceny: 2

Malicious Destruction of Property: 4

Mental Health Calls: 7

Minors in Possession: 2

Missing Persons: 1

Motorist Assist: 21

Misc. (PPO Vio, Standby, ETC.): 34

OWI/OUID: 1

Paper Service: 11

Parking/Traffic Hazard: 3

Personal Injury Accident: 2

Property Damage Accident: 66

Property Check: 0

Retail Fraud: 0

Road Run-Off: 12

Stolen Vehicles: 4

Suspicious Situation: 6

Traffic Stops: 89

Prisoner/Mental Transport: 9

Trespass: 1

Vehicle Inspections: 2

Warrants: 14

Weapon Offenses: 3

Paper-service , Sheriff-office , Mental-health , Osceola-county , Gas-drive-off , Health-calls , Traffic-hazard , Injury-accident , Damage-accident , Mental-transport , Radio-station