>> Announcer: LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
>> Announcer: LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
DETROIT, HOME OF WDIV AND CLICK
ON DETROIT.
ON DETROIT.
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW!
>> Ben: DITCHING THE RAIN AS WE
HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
WILL IT FEEL MORE LIKE SUMMER OR
AUTUMN?
>> Devin: CUTS AT FORD, READY TO
START A NEW ROUND OF
WHITE-COLLAR LAYOFFS BUT THIS
TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.
>> Kim: AND WE BEGIN WITH
MICHIGAN’S FIGHT AGAINST THE
CORONAVIRUS.
524 NEW CASES CONFIRMED TODAY
AND 14 MORE MICHIGANDERS HAVE
LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE VIRUS.
TODAY, MICHIGAN GYMS, MOVIE
THEATERS AND ICE SKATING RINKS
WHICH HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE THE
START OF THE PANDEMIC WERE
HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR
ABOUT REOPENING PLANS.
>> Devin: BUT THAT DID NOT
HAPPEN.
MARA MACDONALD LIVE DOWNTOWN AT
THIS HOUR.
THEY WERE EXPECTING TO HEAR THAT
THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REOPEN
THOUGH IT WAS PRESUMABLY GOING
TO BE AFTER LABOR DAY.
>> Mara: AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT MAY STILL HAPPEN.
THE GOVERNOR SAID WHILE THERE
WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT COMING TODAY
WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT COMING TODAY
THAT SHE WOULD BE -- SHE WOULD
HAVE SOMETHING COMING SHORT
ORDER.
DOES THAT MEAN FRIDAY OR AFTER
LABOR DAY?
WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
>> WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY,
AND THE DECISIONS I’LL MAKE IN
THE COMING DAYS AND ANNOUNCE
WILL BE MADE IN A WAY THAT WILL
WILL BE MADE IN A WAY THAT WILL
PROTECT ATHLETES AND FAMILIES
AND COACHES AND PARENTS AND
PATRONS, OUR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AS WELL.
PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
>> Mara: THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
GETTING PUSHBACK WHEN IT COMES
TO GYMS OPENING AND TEAMS TO
PLAY SPORTS.
PLAY SPORTS.
OHIO GYMS HAVE BEEN OPEN SINCE
MAY!
THE MHSAA SAID THE FINAL
DECISION WOULD BE UP TO THE
GOVERNOR.
CURRENTLY, 33 OTHER STATES ARE
ALLOWING FOR FALL FOOTBALL.
WHITMER SAID LAST WEEK, SHE
WOULDN’T BE BULLIED INTO THE
DECISIONS.
TODAY, SHE DIDN’T ELABORATE ON
WHO WAS DOING THE BULLYING.
WHO WAS DOING THE BULLYING.
>> I’M NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED,
ENCOURAGED, OR TWEETED AT IF
IT’S NOT SUPPORTED BY THE BEST
SCIENCE AND DOESN’T HAVE THE
APPROPRIATE PROTOCOLS.
APPROPRIATE PROTOCOLS.
>> Mara: THE GOVERNOR DID INVITE
HUNTINGTON BANK ON STAGE TO
ANNOUNCE IT WILL MAKE $5 BILLION
IN LENDING AVAILABLE OVER A
FIVE-YEAR SPAN TO HELP OUT
MICHIGAN SMALL BUSINESSES AS
WELL AS ENCOURAGE MINORITY HOME
OWNERSHIP.
BACK HERE LIVE.
TO PUT SOME SORT OF CONTEXT TO
THE COVID NUMBERS, PER THE
THE COVID NUMBERS, PER THE
STATE, HERE IN METRO DETROIT, IN
OUR REGION, WE HAVE 66 NEW CASES
OF COVID PER DAY PER MILLION
PEOPLE.
BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS ARE LOW
LIKE THAT, THAT YOU HAVE A
DEGREE OF FRUSTRATION AT HOW
SOME OF THE REOPENINGS AT
BUSINESSES HAVE GONE.
I KNOW MACOMB COUNTY EXECUTIVE
MARK HACKEL HAS SAID HE BELIEVES
COUNTIES SHOULD HAVE A GREATER
DEGREE OF AUTONOMY HOW THESE
THINGS HAPPEN, NOT UNLIKE HOW
THE STATE ALLOWED EACH SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO CHART ITS OWN COURSE
THROUGH COVID.
I’M MARA MACDONALD, BACK TO YOU.
>> Devin: YOU KNOW, YOU CAN
SENSE THE FRUSTRATION AMONG
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WERE SITTING
ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT
THINKING THEY WOULD GET GOOD
NEWS TODAY, AND THE GOVERNOR
DIDN’T QUITE EXPLAIN TO US WHY
THE DELAY, THE MATTER OF DAYS.
WHY COULDN’T THE ANNOUNCEMENT BE
MADE TODAY?
>> Mara: WE DIDN’T GET THAT AND
>> Mara: WE DIDN’T GET THAT AND
WE DON’T KNOW THAT -- LET’S TAKE
EVERYBODY BACK, OKAY?
MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, A
CONSORTIUM OF GYMS AND THEIR
OWNERS WERE LED TO BELIEVE BY
THEIR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN
LANSING THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT
WAS COMING IN 48 HOURS, WHICH
MEANT THE GOVERNOR’S PRESS
BRIEFING ON WEDNESDAY.
WHY THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN TODAY,
IT’S UNCLEAR.
SHE SAID IT’S COMING SHORTLY.
I’M NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY IS
CLEAR ON WHAT THE LAG IS HERE
BUT THAT "A" DECISION IS COMING,
BUT I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S THIS
WEEK OR AFTER THE HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.
>> Devin: WE’LL WAIT FOR IT
TOGETHER.
>>> FORD MOTOR COMPANY LOOKING
TO CUT THE AMERICAN WORK FORCE.
>> Kim: IT’S A WAY TO CEMENT THE
LONG-RUNNING TURNAROUND PLAN.
ROD MELONI IS LIVE IN DEARBORN
WITH MORE.
>> Rod: JIM HACKETT, THE
OUTGOING CEO HAS BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THE TURNAROUND FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY’VE
BEEN DOING CUTTING AROUND THE
GLOBE, CHINA, EUROPE, PLACES
LIKE THAT.
NOW THEY’VE LOOKED AT IT AND
SAID EVEN IN THEIR MOST
PROFITABLE CORNER, THEY HAVE TO
MAKE CUTS.
FORD IS TARGETING A 10%
OPERATING PROFIT IN NORTH
AMERICA, A NUMBER NOT SEEN IN A
WHILE.
THEY INTEND TO REDUCE SALARIED
OR WHITE-COLLAR HEAD COUNT BY
1400 PEOPLE USING THOSE
RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE END
OF THE YEAR THROUGH A VOLUNTARY
INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND WILL WASTE
NO TIME IN IMPLEMENTING AS THE
PROGRAM OPENS SEPTEMBER 8th,
THEY MUST ACCEPT BY OCTOBER 23rd
THEY MUST ACCEPT BY OCTOBER 23rd
AND LEAVE THE COMPANY BY YEAR’S
END.
IF TOO FEW TAKE THE PACKAGE,
INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS WILL
COMMENCE.
STEPHANIE BRIMLY SAID IT’S NOT
PROMPTED BY COVID.
>> THESE LAYOFFS AND THIS
REINSTRUCTING IS NOT IN RESPONSE
TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS.
IT WAS PLANNED AHEAD.
IT’S JUST THAT THE CURRENT
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS MAKE IT MORE
CRITICAL.
>> Rod: ONE OF THE THINGS ALL
AUTO COMPANIES FACE THESE DAYS
IS THE DIFFICULT OF MOVING
FORWARD WITH AUTONOMOUS AND
ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT DON’T
TURN A PROFIT, AT THE SAME TIME
DESIGNING AND BUILDING TOP
QUALITY INTERESTING NEW VEHICLES
THAT CUSTOMERS DON’T JUST WANT
BUT HAVE TO HAVE.
BUT HAVE TO HAVE.
FORD IS LOOKING TO GO EASY ON
THE VETERAN WORK FORCE.
>> IT’S A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS
IN THAT YOU MIGHT END UP LOSING
SOMEBODY YOU WOULD PREFER TO
KEEP, BUT IN ORDER TO DO IT
FAIRLY AND SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE A RETIREMENT AND ALL OF
THAT, YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH
IT.
>> Rod: NOW, THEY’RE IN THE
PROCESS OF A REPRIORITIZATION,
AND WE CAN SEE IT HERE IN METRO
DETROIT BECAUSE YOU SEE AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND
ENERGY GOING INTO THE OLD TRAIN
STATION, AND THEY’RE GETTING
READY TO HAVE THAT OPEN BEFORE
TOO LONG AND HAVE A LOT OF
TOO LONG AND HAVE A LOT OF
ASSETS GOING INTO THAT
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PROBLEM,
MICHIGAN AVENUE TO ANN ARBOR,
AND THERE’S A LOT OF MONEY GOING
INTO THAT.
AND SO NOW THEY’RE LOOKING AT
CUTTING BACK ON CARS, MORE SUVs,
GET PROFITABLE AND IT’S A
DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE AUTO
INDUSTRY.
IT’S FORTUNATE THAT IT’S NOT 10
YEARS AGO.
>> Kim: HOW DID FORD ROLL THIS
OUT FOR THE WORK FORCE?
>> Rod: THEY SENT OUT THE LETTER
THIS MORNING AND THEN THIS
AFTERNOON AT 2:00, THEY HAD A
MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF
RESOURCES.
THEY NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD
DECISIONS ON THIS AND WHETHER
THIS IS RIGHT FOR THEM.
SO THERE ARE MANY ASSETS AND
MANY PLACES WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN
GO TO GET GOOD INFORMATION AND
MAKE GOOD CHOICES FOR
THEMSELVES.
>> Kim: INDEED.
ROD, WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> Devin: SAFE TO SAY WE’VE SEEN
A STEADY IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT
THE DAY.
>> Kim: OVER TO BEN, AND THE SUN
IS OUT.
>> Ben: FINISHED NICER THAN
WHERE WE WERE THIS MORNING.
WE’RE CLOSE TO AVERAGE.
WE’RE AT 79.
TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN HOVERING
ON EITHER SIDE OF 80 OUT THERE.
THE AIR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THE AIR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THE EAST SIDE, WHICH IS
NOTICEABLY, AT LEAST SOME
HUMIDITY THERE, THE REST OF US
ARE DRYING OUT.
AND IT’S FLOATING IN FROM THE
AND IT’S FLOATING IN FROM THE
SOUTHWEST IS HIGH AND RELATIVELY
THIN SO IT WON’T BLOCK A LOT IN
THE WAY OF LATE SUNSHINE.
A COUPLE SHOWERS IN THE OFFING
FOR THURSDAY.
WE’LL TALK TIMING AND WHO IS
UNDER THE GUN FOR THAT.
COOLER AND PLEASANT.
AND THE RAIN CHANCES RETURN FOR
NEXT WEEK AND WE HAVE CHANGES
FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AS WELL.
SO A LOT TO DISCUSS IN THE NEXT
FEW MINUTES.
GUYS?
>> Kim: HEADING INTO THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION, THE MICHIGAN
SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE AND
THE DETROIT CITY CLERK ARE
TEAMING UP TO MAKE SURE EVERY
VOTE COUNTS.
>> Devin: INCLUDES APPROVING
ACCESS TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED
AND GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS INTO
THE HANDS OF VOTERS.
A LOOK AT WHAT’S INVOLVED AND
HOW IT WILL WORK.
LARRY?
>> Larry: I TALKED TO JANICE
WINFREY AND SHE SAID IT’S ABOUT
MAKING SURE EVERYONE CAN VOTE
AND THAT ALL VOTES ARE COUNTED,
WHETHER YOU VOTE IN THE MAIL OR
IN PERSON.
WE DO KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WILL BE TRAINED HERE AT
LCA PRIOR TO THE ELECTION, AND I
TALKED TO MANY VOTERS AND
THEY’RE GLAD PEOPLE ARE TAKING
THESE MEASURES BECAUSE THERE’S A
LOT AT STAKE.
>> IT’S IMPORTANT WE’RE TALKING
ALSO ABOUT WHY WE VOTE AND WHAT
WE’RE VOTING FOR, AND NOT JUST
WHO.
>> Larry: IT’S SOMETHING THE
DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY WITH FOCUS
HOPE SAID HE WANTS PEOPLE TO
REMEMBER THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER
ELECTION.
>> THERE’S A LOT AT STAKE DURING
THIS ELECTION.
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
SOME PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING
FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE STATE OF
FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE STATE OF
SOCIAL AFFAIRS IN OUR COUNTRY,
PARTICULARLY CONVERSATIONS
AROUND BLACK AMERICA.
>> Larry: HE BELIEVES PEOPLE
WILL COME OUT IN HISTORIC
NUMBERS.
>> IT’S A LOT OF HYPE FOR WHAT’S
TO COME WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ALWAYS
BRING A LOT OF ENERGY.
>> Larry: THAT’S WHY JANICE
WINFREY SAID HER OFFICE AND
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN
BENSON ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO
MAKE SURE EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED
NO MATTER HOW YOU CAST YOUR
BALLOT AND ADDING 21 SATELLITE
OFFICES AND WILL SECURE 30 DROP
BOXES THAT WILL BE MONITORED AND
SECURE.
THIRDLY, THEY’RE RECRUITING AND
TRAINING 6,000 ELECTION WORKERS
TO MAKE SURE POLLING LOCATIONS
ARE FULLY STAFFED.
AND HERE AT LITTLE CAESAR’S
ARENA THEY WILL CONDUCT
PHYSICALLY DISTANT IN-PERSON
TRAINING FOR WORKERS PRIOR TO
THE ELECTION.
AND WINFREY TELLS ME THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE ALREADY GETTING
INVOLVED WITH THIS UPCOMING
ELECTION.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MEMBERS OF
THE NAACP AND MEMBERS AND STAFF
MEMBERS FROM ALL FOUR SPORTS
TEAMS HERE IN DETROIT.
THEY’RE CALLING PEOPLE TO HELP
OUT AT THE POLLS AS WELL.
WE’RE LIVE OUTSIDE LITTLE
CAESAR’S ARENA TONIGHT, LARRY
SPRUILL, LOCAL 4.
>> Kim: AN INVESTIGATION IS
UNDER WAY AFTER A PLANE GOES OFF
THE RUNWAY AT WILLOW RUN
AIRPORT.
>> Devin: IT HAPPENED AROUND
2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.
THE PILOT ABORTED DURING A
TAKEOFF.
THE PLANE DID NOT CRASH AND
LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE
DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY
DAMAGE.
>>> A NEW REASON TO SAY "GO
BLUE" EVEN IF YOU’RE A SPARTAN
FAN.
>> Kim: WE’RE INTRODUCING TO YOU
A U OF M RESEARCHER ON THE
CUTTING EDGE OF A CORONAVIRUS
VACCINE.
>> Devin: YOU’LL SEE A LOT OF
THESE NEW STORES POPPING UP
AROUND TOWN.
THE CHAIN AIMING TO TAKE THE
PLACE OF ART VAN.
SHAWN?
>> Shawn: WE GOT OFF THE PHONE
FROM A MOTHER WHOSE 16-YEAR-OLD
SON WAS SHOT AND KILLED AND HER
