Nightside Report May 6, 2021: New questions surround Whitmer’s trip to Florida to visit sick father; Man charged with threatening 2 Warren City Council members, families

Here are tonight’s top stories

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at an April 14, 2021, COVID-19 briefing. (Michigan Governor's Office)

New questions surround Whitmer’s trip to Florida to visit her sick father

DETROIT – More questions and controversy surrounds Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s trip to Florida to visit her sick father in March.

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Deadline Detroit reported Whitmer took a private plane to Florida to visit her father.

The Governor’s Office has been scant with the details regarding her trip to Florida, which came weeks before she told Michiganders not to travel to Florida. The office cited concerns over the Governor’s safety after multiple people have been indicted and charged in a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap or kill Whitmer.

Click here to read more.

The latest: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 858,050; Death toll now at 18,054

Metro Detroit weather: Wet Thursday evening, then drier and chillier overnight

Thankfully, Mother Nature continues to help with showers this evening and early in the night. Becomes drier, again, by dawn and colder. Pattern repeats Friday. Mother’s Day weekend will be mostly dry with a fair amount of sunshine. Rain does return if you plan on taking your mother out to dinner on Mother’s Day.

Click here to read the full forecast.

4 Fast Facts

  • Keith Olson has been charged with threatening two members of the Warren City Council and their families. Police said Olson, 46, was angry about something that happened at a recent City Council meeting and called two members. Click here to read more.
  • A Dearborn Heights man strangled his mother to death one month after she asked a judge to release him when he was charged with assaulting her, officials said. Click here to read more.
  • A young man was caught on camera trying to set a church on fire. Click here to read more.
  • A special resolution was passed Thursday by the Wayne County Commission -- they want to make sure law enforcement knows they have their full support. Click here to read more.

Be Informed

High tech thieves, scammers target Michigan residents

Michigan is one of the top states for high tech thieves and scammers to search for victims.

Local 4′s Hank Winchester has an inside look at the tactics being used to trick people and what the attorney general said you can do to protect yourself.

Click here to read more.

‘Help wanted’: Businesses across Michigan struggle to find employees

Businesses across Michigan are struggling to find employees.

As these businesses struggle, unemployment numbers have been falling.

Click here to read more.


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Wednesday, May 5, 2021 --


Questions about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge



About the Author:

DeJanay Booth joined WDIV as a web producer in July 2020. She previously worked as a news reporter in New Mexico before moving back to Michigan.