Latest of Local 4's 2016 DNC coverage

Local 4's Devin Scillian is in Philadelphia to cover the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

The convention started Monday and goes through Thursday. Local 4 will be your source for live coverage of the event each night.

Follow: @DevinScillian

Watch Live: 2016 Democratic National Convention

The convention is being held at the Wells Fargo Center. Hillary Clinton was nominated Tuesday as the Democratic Party's Presidential candidate.

President Obama makes case for Clinton at DNC

A long list of big name Democrats set the stage Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention including President Barack Obama, Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Kaine, and two Michigan mayors.

Obama focused largely on the presidency that will follow him and seemed to unify the party that for days has seemed to be split.

“Nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the oval office, you can read about, you can study it, but until you’ve sat at that desk you don’t know what it is like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war,” Obama said. “But Hillary has been in the room. She’s been part of those decisions. She knows what is at stake when it comes to the decisions our government makes.”

Clinton took the stage and embraced Obama after his speech.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine introduced himself to American voters and accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver brought Flint back into the spotlight and focused on the country's crumbling infrastructure.

“Here’s our chance to keep Flint out there and keep this story going and to help get the person, Hillary Clinton, in the White House, that’s really had our backs all this time,” Weaver said after her speech.

Detroit Mayor Duggan spoke to Democrats about the revitalization of the city saying that the Detroit needs Clinton in the White House.

“I think it’s a great thing for Detroit,” Duggan said after his speech. “A few years back, I don’t’ think they ever would have put Detroit on the stage.”

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan speaks at convention

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spoke to Democrats Wednesday night at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, highlighting unity as a source of problem solving.

“The population of Detroit has declined every single year that I’ve been alive, but that’s changing now as our city’s recovery is fueled by renewed spirit of unity and a commitment to creating a comeback that includes all Detroiters.”

Duggan spoke highly of Hillary Clinton saying she “knows that the best way to bring our citizens back is to give our citizens a real change at good paying jobs.

During his speech, he said the city is 18 months out of bankruptcy, “something Donald Trump knows a little bit about.”

“Unlike Donald Trump, Detroit is only going to do bankruptcy once,” Duggan said.

Mayor Karen Weaver brings Flint into national spotlight at DNC

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver spoke to Democrats Wednesday night at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, bringing Flint back to the national spotlight and commanding attention to the country’s crumbling attention.

“Our infrastructure is broken, leaking and rusting away,” Weaver said. “Our local economy struggles to rebound, and there are many more Flints across the country where environmental issues are hurting our kids and families.”
Weaver took office after the April 2014 switch to the Flint River that led to water crisis. Hillary Clinton visited the city in February.

“Flint is also a city in crisis,” Weaver said. “Five years ago, our Republican state government used the Michigan law to take over control of the city. In 2014, the state switched our water source to a polluted river to save a handful of dollars causing lead contamination to leech into our drinking water poisoning a whole community and leading to health impacts our children for generations.”

Local 4's Devin Scillian caught up with Weaver after her speech and talked about the convention.

Sanders supporters weigh their options

Spirits seemed to be high on the convention floor, but protests continued on the streets of Philadelphia as supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders show their dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s choice for President.

It remains an open question whether Sanders’ supporters will do as he asked and vote for Hillary Clinton.

“The energy in the democratic party in this presidential election is all with the ‘Berners,’” Michigan delegate Leesha Fagan.

Some Sanders’ supporters blocked the entrance to the convention with a sit-in Wednesday morning.

“When you feel that you have been slighted, and treated unfairly, you’re going to react and this is this reaction that people are feeling,” Michigan delegate Elayne Petrucci said.

Flint Mayor to speak Wednesday night

Wednesday night has a long list of big names set to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention and a few of those speakers are from the Great Lakes State.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver is expected to talk about the role of government in their cities and the struggles their people face every day.

“It’s an opportunity to put Flint on the map for something great because I know that’s what’s going to happen,” Weaver said. “For such a long time, we felt like we were alone and no one knew what was going on, but people know and people care.”

Flint took a place in the national spotlight after the city used the Flint River as a way to save money, but lead leached from aging pipes as improperly treated water flowed into homes and businesses.

“It was a political decision made by the governor to cut funding to cities,” Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI 5th District) said.

Clinton makes history with nomination

The math was clear and it was South Dakota that made Hillary Clinton the first woman nominated by a major party to be President.

“When I applied for a job at GM, they said ‘Why would a woman want to work at GM?’” Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12th District) said. “Today we have a woman CEO of GM and now a woman nominated to be President.”

Former President Bill Clinton took the stage at the Democratic National Convention, making the case for his wife’s presidency.

“She’s been around a long time, and she’s sure been worth every single year making people’s lives better,” Bill Clinton said. “She’s a natural leader she’s a national organizer and she’s the best darn change-maker I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

Democrats prepare to nominate Clinton despite sharp divisions

A roll call vote was called Tuesday evening to determine the Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate.

“She is as experienced, and as balanced, and as thoughtful and as decent as you’re going to possibly find on the public stage,” former Sen. Carl Levin said.

Many delegates are divided and the vote will decide who is officially taking on Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

‘Bernie or bust’ fallout

Even after Sen. Bernie Sanders took the stage Monday night, pleading with his supporters to back Hillary Clinton, the party unification seems to have stalled.

From the streets of Philadelphia to the convention floor, a wave of backlash and protests continue from Sanders’ anti-establishment support.

Delegates from across the country believe the nomination was hijacked and refuse to support Clinton.

“We’re not backing her,” Michigan delegate Leesha Fagen said. “She stole the election. The DNC stole the election for her. We will not back someone who stole an election.”

Impact of First Lady’s speech

Politicians across party lines, celebrities and activists praised First Lady Michelle Obama for her speech given Monday night at the Democratic National Convention.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great,” Obama said. “That somehow we need to make it great again because this right now is the greatest country on earth.”

Obama’s public speaking became a topic of national attention even before the DNC when Melania Trump’s speechwriter admitted to plagiarizing the first lady’s 2008 DNC speech.

“She was by far, in my opinion and I think others share it, best speaker of the night, she gave us something to think about, and she really focused on what we should be focusing on,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

Sanders addresses DNC after controversy

Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed the convention Monday night, bringing the party together after an internal email leak which showed the Democratic National Committee leaders were hostile towards Sanders as a Presidential candidate.

“This election must be about bringing our people together, not dividing us up,” Sanders said.

Many of his supporters spent the day protesting, believing there was still a way for Sanders to receive the nomination. He quelled the fervor saying that “Clinton must become the President of the United States.”

“If you believe that this election isn’t important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices Donald Trump would nominate,” Sanders said.

Rocky Day 1 for Democrats

Supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders protested Monday in Philadelphia after the Democratic Party’s internal emails were leaked revealing he may not have gotten a fair shake during the primaries.

Sanders told his supporters they should back Hillary Clinton and stressed how important it is for voters to rally around a candidate who can beat Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“Sen. Sanders speech on Monday night will probably be one of the most important of the convention,” Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12th District) said.

Leaked emails spur convention controversy

As preparations were being finalized for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, some 19,000 internal Democratic Party emails were released Friday by WikiLeaks revealing discussion by D.N.C. officials about how to discredit Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The leak set off a frenzy as the convention kicked off, forcing the resignation of the party chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and enraging Sanders’ supporters.

Sanders is expected to speak at the convention Monday night.

Wasserman Schultz was greeted by boos Monday morning at her home state’s breakfast meeting.

DNC speakers announced

A mix of high-profile politicians, celebrities and community activists are scheduled to speak during the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Read: Convention speakers at the DNC

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and First Lady Michelle Obama will speak Monday night kicking off the convention, as well as immigration reform activist Astrid Silva and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

The rest of the week features speakers like Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Vice Presidential pick Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.


About the Authors:

Devin Scillian is equally at home on your television, on your bookshelf, and on your stereo. Devin anchors the evening newscasts for Local 4. Additionally, he moderates Flashpoint, Local 4's Sunday morning news program. He is also a best-selling author of children's books, and an award-winning musician and songwriter.