Belinda Pierce says the deal that 47-year-old Dowan Knighten entered into is a "joke". Knighten had been charged with mutilation of a dead body, concealing the death of an individual, and tampering with evidence after the body of 29-year-old Kayla Pierce was discovered behind his Detroit house in February.
An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is asking the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) to help address the racial climate within Brighton Area Schools.
Arc Livingston Executive Director Anne Richardson says she will be formally leaving the agency at the end of the year after six years at the helm and 19 years overall.
16 people lined up Monday night to air their grievances toward the district in general and Superintendent Chuck Hughes and Board President Thom Dumond in particular.
Republican State Rep. Ann Bollin of Brighton Township chairs the House Elections Committee, which last week amended two Senate-approved bills to include a new signature policy which would require all voters, regardless of whether they have a valid photo ID or not, to also undergo a signature verification check at the polls.
Brighton Board of Education President Roger Myers says the district doesn’t plan to initiate a masking requirement for students when school resumes on Sept. 7th.
Improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plant appear to be paying off and no overflow problems have been reported despite all of the recent rain.
A proposed curriculum change brought forth by students to help support the mental health of their fellow students was discussed at Monday's Howell Public Schools Board of Education meeting.
Livingston County Catholic Charities is getting special funding from the Raskob Foundation to support mental health programming that helps Livingston County residents, and in particular, those who may be low income or underserved.
New Board President Sean Carlson mad a number of changes to the Board's committee structure, putting a focus on communicating with the community and supporting students.
A proposed financial patch to help plug the expected rate cut for rehabilitation facilities and in-home care providers is being eyed warily by many of those whose loved ones depend on that care, including Rebecca Bond of Howell, whose son Dillon suffered a severe brain injury after being hit by a car in 2013.
The 2021 Kids Count Databook from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that while Livingston County had just 4.6% of children living in poverty, in Michigan as a whole that number was 18%.
U.S District Court Judge George Caram Steeh denied the motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against real estate agents Rick Beaudin of KW Realty Livingston and Mary Kay Ikens of RE/MAX Platinum, stating that the defendants “must accept the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint as true, which they have largely failed to do.”
A patriotic fireworks display sets off at dusk Friday from the center of Whitmore Lake. Saturday will mark the 62nd annual parade at 10am with the theme “Celebrating Hope and Freedom”.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission discussed planned roundabout construction at the intersection of Pontiac Trail and North Territorial Road in Salem Township next summer that will have major traffic impacts.
Public Act 21 of 2021 will now allow veterans and their dependents to answer certain questions about personal and sensitive information during a closed session interview, instead of during an open meeting.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says that as schools prepare for the return of in-person instruction this fall, the guidance to essentially maintain current recommendations is designed to protect students, teachers and staff, and maintain in-person learning.
Democratic State Representative Jewell Jones of Inkster pleaded guilty Thursday in 53rd District Court to violating his bond by skipping out on military training, which he had stated to officials would have prevented him from undergoing court-ordered drug and alcohol testing.
Alisha Beaton of Fowlerville is charged with embezzlement between $1,000 and $20,000 by an agent or trustee. In court Friday, her attorney stated that despite an offer to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor charge, his client remained adamant she did not commit the crime.
The Michigan House overwhelmingly approved a $65 billion state spending plan and the release of billions in federal COVID-19 relief aid for K-12 schools, seeking to pressure the Senate to get on board so it could be signed into law soon.
The City will launch its new social district during the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, which allows for outdoor alcohol consumption within a commons area located within designated social boundaries of the downtown.
A 3-year extension for the Livingston County Sheriff's Office to continue providing law enforcement services to the township is expected to be approved.
The State Representative's plan will allow time worked during the pandemic to count towards training requirements for gaining certified nurse's aid certification.
A 2011 Freightliner filled with Coca-Cola products was stopped eastbound on the shoulder of Highland Road near Hughes Road in Oceola Township Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say that as the vehicle started up traveling eastbound it began to sink on the soft shoulder before rolling onto its side.
18-year-old Hayden Jagst was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on charges that include open murder following the death of his father, who was a member of the Canton Township Police Department.
29-year-old Alex Graham was ordered to serve two years of probation, with the first six months in the Livingston County Jail after leading police on a chase earlier this year.
After two deadlock rounds of voting, the board voted 6-2 to appoint Marty Smith to the vacancy. Smith is the Senior Lender at First National Bank in Howell and will serve the remainder of former Commissioner Kate Lawrence's term following her resignation earlier this month.
22-year-old Brooklyn Alexander of Holt was charged with fleeing and eluding police and commission of a felony with a motor vehicle following the March 1st incident.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Jagst family of Brighton after Monday's tragic shooting of 48-year-old Ed Jagst. His 18-year-old son Hayden was charged with open murder in the case.
Charges are expected to be filed today against the 18-year-old Brighton resident that police say shot and killed his father. 48-year-old Edward Jagst, a member of the Canton Township Police Department, was identified Tuesday as the person shot and killed on Monday morning inside his home on Woodlake Drive.
The Howell Township Planning Commission granted the request which will give them more time to secure funding for a new facility to be built off of Tooley Road.
With several types of decorative streetlights sprinkled around Brighton, the City Council is interested in shrinking that number down for easier storage and monetary savings.
The free drive-thru vaccination clinic, sponsored by both Pinckney Community Schools and the Livingston County Health Department, will be held in front of the Pathfinder School this Saturday, June 26th from 9am until noon.
A special meeting was held to approve the language of the survey which will help gauge community interest in several options regarding what to do with the old Town House.
Brighton Police Chief Rob Bradford tells WHMI that officers were dispatched at about 10:30 Monday morning to a home on Woodlake Drive on the report of a shooting. The victim, whose name has not been released by authorities, was formerly a school resource officer in the Plymouth-Canton Community School District.
41-year-old Wayne Seely argued with his attorney in court last week over delaying his trial on charges including Assault with Intent to Murder. The charges stem from an incident in August of 2020 in Putnam Township in which he’s accused of attacking two acquaintances with a baseball bat.
8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin made the rounds to various Livingston County organizations and individuals Monday after honoring them last week in Congress.
An 18-year-old suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of his father was arrested along Murphy Drive between Challis and Nemco Way at about 11am. The fatality is said to have taken place earlier at a home on Woodlake Drive.
The first-ever Pride Rally and March on Sunday was organized by the Pride Alliance of Livingston, which is part of the Livingston Diversity Council. People of all ages, from babies in strollers to senior citizens, gathered to display their support and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community.
State Representative Bob Bezotte gave a legislative update, heard from the Livingston County Human Services Collaborative Body, and took questions from residents during a Zoom meeting on Friday.
Renewed interest in saving the old Town Hall building has led the Board of Trustees to discuss avenues of action, but some in the community feel they still aren't being listened to.
42-year-old Robert Keith Sohn was charged with 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct last year for an incident alleged to have occurred at a neighbor’s house. In court earlier this month, 53rd District Court Judge Shauna Murphy found there was enough evidence to send the case to circuit court for trial.
ITC Transmission Company’s plan to close South Hickory Ridge Road between M-59 and Lone Tree Road has again been postponed and is not expected to happen in June.
The Board of Trustees formally adopted the amendment which identifies which trees are to be protected, which aren't, and regulations for working within the rules.
The Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges on May 24th against three 17-year-old defendants and a 16-year-old juvenile stemming from the investigation of a complaint filed by a Hartland High School student that she was being harassed by fellow classmates.
Though they all spoke in favor of meeting in person, Council decided to continue meeting online and not at the Community Center until renovations on Council chambers are complete.
33-year-old Kenneth Michael Hill was charged in April with three counts of uttering and publishing, two counts of larceny from a building, forgery, attempted larceny of $20,000 or more and fraudulent use of a financial transaction device.
The "PowerMIFleet" program from Consumers Energy will offer rebates of up to $50,000 each to companies that install EV charging stations. Brian Wheeler, Consumers Energy's media-relations manager, said any size operation can take part.
Blood drives coming up in Brighton, Howell, and Pinckney will help battle the severe blood shortage the Red Cross is facing as trauma center needs are atypically high.
The City received a Certificate of Achievement for receiving a perfect score on the 2020 Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements or AMAR review - which was said to be a testament to outgoing Assessor Ashley Winstead's good work.
The traditional sounding of the bells, called the Striking of the Four Fives, was made for former Deputy Chief Charles L. Bidwell of the Brighton Area Fire Department, who died June 9th at age 89. A noontime service took place at the fire authority’s Main Station, officially named in Bidwell’s honor.
32-year-old Michael Joseph Libtow pleaded guilty last month to six felony accounts including felonious assault, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent.
Thai Summit's Human Resources Manager James Hogan says the impact of the global computer chip shortage produced an interesting challenge in that while some automakers have had to cut back on their orders while they wait for the chips; it was matched by a lean labor market. He called it a “one-two punch” scenario that essentially offset itself.
The legislation, sponsored by Republican State Senator Lana Theis of Brighton Township, would require applicants to include a copy of their photo ID, their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Those who do not would get a provisional ballot.
The office of 8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin reached out to Board Chair Wes Nakagiri to secure a spot on the agenda for the June 28th board meeting, but was refused an opportunity to be placed on the agenda.
Junior Girl Scout Troop 40227 is installing, stocking, and maintaining a free food pantry for any residents or individuals who might need some help. It will be located at the Imagination Station in downtown Brighton.
The Village is pursuing grant funds for the reconstruction of North Howell Street and chip sealing on Mower Road, Coyote Court, Turtle Trace and Town Trail.
Seeking reappointment to the Huron Clinton Metroparks Board, Steve Williams continued to defend his record and beliefs while submitting to the County Board a comparison of their own Social Equity Plan to that of the Metroparks.
Construction is expected to begin in the near future on an indoor practice facility for the Brighton Area Schools that encompasses a substantial chunk of the $59.4 million bond issue passed by voters in 2019.
The county will be receiving $37.2-million in American Rescue Plan funds that Livingston County Democrats want spent on improving internet and internet access to citizens across the county.
41-year-old David Vincent Garcia of Brighton will serve prison time for throwing a sandbag off of the Old Plank Road overpass onto westbound I-96 on October 4th of 2020 - seriously injuring Cindy Eckley of Livonia.
Council approved three special land use requests from applicant Chris Bonk for a proposed project called “The Means” at 935 West Main Street/M-36. It's one more step in a larger process.
The state is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to try and redistribute vaccine to others states as well as large pharmacy chains within Michigan.
The four week online program from Michigan Works! Southeast will help young adults prepare a portfolio, develop skills, and interview better for the jobs they want.
The Board of Commissioners is working to develop a uniform policy for making appointments to county boards and committees. The new policy was drafted in the aftermath of Board Chair Wes Nakagiri's expressed displeasure with the voting record of former Commissioner Steve Williams, who serves as the county's representative on the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board.
Volunteers will be working Saturday on cleaning up the right-of-way by the railroad tracks on the north side of town in an area between the Howell Depot Museum and Barnard Street.
Brighton High School, starting in the fall, will sport a freshman orchestra program. The music teacher will be Steven Fernandez, who teaches orchestra to students in the program at Maltby Intermediate School.
The current price for self-serve regular gas is $3.17 a gallon according to AAA Michigan. Various factors are said to be pushing prices up and the last time prices reached that point was in October of 2014.
The Livingston County Convention & Visitors Bureau presented the 2021 Hospitality with Heart Awards, Hospitality Star Scholarships and a Community Influencer Award.
Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty last week agreed to stay proceedings against Barry Cadden and Glenn Chin until September while their attorneys pursue an appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Livingston Educational Service Agency is hosting its 20th annual backpacks for Kids Project and donations are being accepted to benefit local families in need.
The initial disappearance of the 23-year-old, a foreign national who had recently graduated from the University of Michigan, prompted officials to shut down the Silver Lake beach while they conducted a search on Saturday.
A memorial service will be held this Thursday, June 17th for former Deputy Chief Charles L. Bidwell of the Brighton Area Fire Department. The one-time reserve Brighton Police officer, city council member, and Mayor Pro Tem, died June 9th at age 89.
After facing waves of threats and intimidation during the 2020 election and its aftermath, county officials who run elections are quitting or retiring early as the once quiet job has become a minefield because of the baseless claims of fraud pushed by former President Donald Trump and much of the Republican Party.
Once it is approved and offered, upgrades to the app would make it easier to find and use on smartphones, while helping staff organize feedback and incident reports.
In 2011, the City began the process of horizontally cutting sidewalk to remove trip hazards, which has resulted in redacted liabilities and a safer pedestrian infrastructure.
The popular Summer Concert Series is back for the 13th year and will kick off June 29th with The George Brothers. The featured food truck will be D&W Street Eatery.
The Livingston County Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider an appointment to the Area Agency on Aging 1-B. Board Chairman Wes Nakagiri is listed as the only candidate for the appointment, a nomination he says he made himself.
A legal opinion from the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority confirms that former Livingston County Commissioner Steve Williams remains on the HCMA board despite failing to win reappointment to a new term.
The Livingston County Sheriff's Office says deputies were dispatched at about 6pm to a report of a crash on eastbound I-96 east of Wallace Road in Handy Township.
Pinckney Community Schools are working with the local Health Department to host a vaccination clinic in front of the Pathfinder School on Saturday, June 26th.
Dr. Alan Drimmer, who steps into the role of Cleary University President on July 1st, said he was impressed with the university's ability to talk with employers, find commonalities, and then build its curriculum around those.
The reading trails that were established last year to help fight COVID isolation are being made permanent with more on the way and a mobile trail that will be making the Livingston County-rounds all summer.
Hundreds of car crash survivors and their families gathered Wednesday at the Capitol in Lansing to urge action on legislation to prevent a 45% cut in rehab and in-home attendant care coverage that many of them need to live.
Candidates are being sought to apply for a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners following the surprise resignation of Brighton's Kate Lawrence. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 18th.
Director Greg Kellogg is seeking a RAISE Grant that will allow for the construction of a new operations center and transit hub for better serving the eastern half of the county.
The applicant of a proposed residential development on the Tyrone Township lake has been asked to provide more details as he attempts to gain approval for the 93-home planned unit development.
Former Deputy Chief Charles L. Bidwell of the Brighton Area Fire Department passed away Wednesday. He was 89. Bidwell was honored when he retired in 2000 for 50 years of fire service to the City of Brighton.
After nearly 30 years of service to the Livingston County area, County Commissioner Kate Lawrence announced her immediate resignation from the board this morning, saying she can no longer serve the interests of her constituents in District 1.
The National Children’s Alliance announced today that LACASA Center has earned national accreditation as a Children’s Advocacy Center. The NCA is the accrediting body for more than 900 Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the nation.
More appointments are being offered at Michigan Secretary of State branch offices in hopes of alleviating a pandemic-related backlog, although Republican State Representative Ann Bollin of Brighton Township said the changes are not enough to provide Michigan residents with the level of services they deserve.
A number of Livingston County residents attended a public hearing Tuesday evening held by an independent commission charged with drawing Michigan's new voting district maps for the next decade.
The parade, which will run through downtown Brighton on Sunday, July 4th, is being described as a great way for clubs, associations, and businesses to show their civic pride by entering a float.
President Edward Montgomery said during Tuesday’s announcement that the gift will allow Western Michigan to “deepen our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice across our campuses and to provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise have access to the social mobility of a college degree or the opportunity to become a doctor.”
63-year-old Daniel Thompson, formerly of Gregory but now living in Harrison, was ordered to serve probation and undergo counseling for making threatening phone calls to Rep. Elissa Slotkin and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy is President of the organization and announced this week that local residents wishing to join their efforts are invited to become members.
State Senator Lana Theis is sponsoring bills in a package that would repeal current requirements for obtaining a conceal carry pistol license for law-abiding adults.
Following unanimous residential disapproval of the proposed 140 three-story townhome development, planning commissioners voted 6-2 to recommend denying approval of the final site plan.
Tami Carlone, who is being put forward by the Chair of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners as a politically reliable ally on a regional parks board, is also among state Republican Party officials who, without evidence, continue to allege mass election fraud in Michigan.
The Road Commission for Oakland County expects to begin concrete repairs at the Grand River Avenue/Novi Road intersection on Monday, June 14. The project is expected to last through most of the summer and be completed by early September on the intersection, which carries nearly 50,000 vehicles each day.
Steve Williams alleges the Livingston County Board of Commissioners, led by Chair Wes Nakagiri, has committed at least three violations of Michigan and federal law against him during the ongoing Huron Clinton Metroparks Commissioner appointment process.
With the current truck showing its age and needing more costly maintenance, City Council approved the purchase of a new vehicle with a state of the art feature.
52-year-old Richard Eric Kalinowski of Holly was charged with a single count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder for the April 25th incident in Highland Township.
Organized by the Pride Alliance of Livingston and the Livingston Diversity Council, the Rainbow Reception featured an afternoon of music, fellowship, and awareness of organizations working for greater understanding and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in Livingston County.
20-year-old Daniel Rae pleaded guilty in January to breaking into Titus Kustoms LLC on Grand Avenue in Fowlerville in the early morning hours of December 11th, 2019, and stealing more than a dozen firearms.
A Genesee County man was so excited to learn that he had won a million dollars with a Michigan Lottery scratch-off ticket, he drove away from the Fenton gas station where he’d purchased the ticket while the hose was still attached to his car.
Several community anti-drug groups joined Mitchell's Hope on the lawn of the Historic Howell Courthouse to raise awareness and end the stigma of drug addiction.
Livingston County has seen a decrease in the number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases. The test positivity rate has additionally seen a large decline over the month of May, with rates dropping close to 3%.
At about 8:15 Friday morning, the Hamburg Township Fire Department along with Hamburg Township Police and Livingston County EMS, were dispatched to a reported vehicle accident in the area of Hull Road and East M-36.
22-year-old Adrian Harrell was charged with armed robbery and 3rd degree fleeing and eluding a police officer for the July 2019 incident at the Tanger Outlet Center. In court Friday, he entered a plea deal with prosecutors in which the armed robbery count was dropped and replaced with a count of unarmed robbery.
HB 4728 was sponsored by Republican State Representative Ann Bollin of Brighton Township & would have allowed high schools to hold graduation ceremonies regardless of state orders, It was vetoed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer – who called it "a solution in search of a problem”.
Michigan's 211 statewide helpline has partnered with the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to help residents register via telephone to give their input. The next commission hearing will be Tuesday, June 8th at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Glenn Chin claims that while in the Livingston County Jail, he has "been subjected to racist taunts and threats" because of his Asian ancestry, “and threats from members of the Aryan Brotherhood and other inmates.”
As Genoa Township faces a lawsuit over denial of a Catholic Church chapel, plans for a new retreat center on camp property owned by a different religious group have been postponed amid continued resident concerns.
The City of Brighton Planning Commission was originally scheduled to consider a site plan approval in April for the West Village of Brighton project. However, the meeting was postponed to allow the developer time to receive the results of a traffic study of the area from an independent engineering firm.
Volunteer and work site registrations are now open for the Livingston County United Way's Day of Caring, which is the largest single-day community service event in the county.
A bill co-sponsored by Republican State Representative Ann Bollin would prohibit government entities in Michigan from issuing, producing or requiring a vaccine passport, despite the fact that no such effort is underway.
17-year-old Max Bastien is charged with second-degree murder, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon for the October 9th incident in which police say he shot 18-year-old Christopher Grant Alexander in the head with a semi-automatic handgun in a dispute over a marijuana transaction in Pontiac.
A series of pictures making the rounds on social media purportedly of a Brighton High School student have generated anger and concern among some district parents, along with a call for the district to take concrete steps at addressing what they perceive as an unchecked racist atmosphere.
WHMI first reported last week that Missouri-based Catholic Healthcare International planned to file suit following the rejection of a plan to construct a 6,000-square-foot chapel. Court records show that the suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit against both the Township and its Ordinance Officer Sharon Stone.
8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin was endorsed for re-election today by the political advocacy nonprofit End Citizens United and Let America Vote (ECU / LAV) which has been calling for an overhaul of the nation’s campaign finance system.
The one mill added into the next budget cycle will be designated for roads, but with that still not being enough to cover what the city needs, City Council is considering asking taxpayers to pass a road millage.
State Representative Ann Bollin has been appointed to a committee within the National Conference of State Legislatures, which works to assist legislatures in support of state sovereignty and protection from unfunded federal mandates.
Joyce Fisher died Sunday at her home, after a battle with lung cancer. She was 70. The longtime volunteer coordinator of the Howell Archives was known for her fierce devotion to veterans and veteran-related causes.
23-year-old Jon Patrick Dethloff was charged in March with fleeing and eluding as well as carrying a concealed weapon. In court Friday, he pleaded guilty to those charges in exchange for an agreement that would remove the charges from his record if he successfully completes probation.
Grant funding will allow the Metroparks to purchase 540 recycle bins to be placed in all 13 Metroparks - resulting in 32,400 gallons of additional capacity for recycling of plastic bottles.
