Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.
Michigan Treasury under fire as hundreds of thousands wait for delayed tax refunds
Michigan taxpayers say they remain months behind on refunds after a troubled Department of Treasury software rollout produced thousands of erroneous notices, missed callbacks and long waits for answers.
It’s not just tax filers, but also accountants who’ve spent months trying to get clear answers. A treasury spokesperson attributes the delays to incorrect and incomplete information on returns.
The department also launched a software upgrade roughly two months before the start of the tax filing season.
Court accepts plea deal for alleged ringleader of Metro Detroit trafficking ring
A Chinese national facing multiple charges in connection to one of the “largest human trafficking rings ever discovered in the state” is awaiting sentencing after agreeing to a plea deal on Tuesday.
Jingyu Jin, 46, and four others were arrested in December 2024 for their alleged involvement in the sex trafficking ring, which operated out of four illicit massage parlors in Metro Detroit: 111 Healing Studio in St. Clair Shores, AM Healing Studio in Sterling Heights, Magic Health Spa in Detroit, and 8 Star in Detroit.
How Google Drive upload led to Metro Detroit physician’s assistant facing child porn charges
A Grosse Ile man is facing federal child pornography charges after investigators say an FBI search of his home uncovered evidence connected to online activity reported through Google cyber tips.
Michael Wendt, 38, was taken into custody following a federal search warrant executed at a home on Thorofare Road in Grosse Ile, according to court documents filed in the case.
MSP: Students submitted near-record number of tips to OK2Say safety program last year
Michigan students reported a record number of incidents to the Michigan State Police’s OK2SAY safety program last year, ranging from bullying and harassment to drug use and suicide threats.
Launched in September 2014, OK2SAY allows anyone to confidentially report tips on potential harm or crime directed at Michigan students, school employees, and schools.
In the latest annual OK2SAY report, released Tuesday, MSP reported it received 10,777 tips (about 8,242 incidents) through the program — the second-highest number recorded since the program began.
Weather: Early fall feel settles into Metro Detroit before summer warmth returns this weekend
If you’ve been waiting for a break from the heat, humidity and smoke, today is your day. Metro Detroit will enjoy weather that feels more like early fall than late summer, thanks to a refreshing air mass that has settled across Southeast Michigan. Expect mostly sunny skies, noticeably lower humidity, and a brisk breeze throughout the day.
Afternoon temperatures will only reach the mid-70s, making today the coolest day of the week and nearly 10 degrees below average for this time of year.