State News
Task force investigators arrested a suspect in the 24 shootings on Interstate-96. According to State Police Lt. Michael Shaw, the 43-year-old suspect was arrested the night of Monday, Nov. 5 at his Wixom, Mich. home during the execution of a search warrant. FBI technicians found evidence that connects the individual to the shootings, Shaw said. A vehicle was seized from the suspect’s address matching the description given by one of the victims. Charges are expected to be announced within 72 hours. Gathered evidence was forwarded to prosecutors in Oakland, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee counties, where the shootings occurred, as well as federal prosecutors, to determine if, and what, charges will be brought against the suspect. The task force said the investigators received the information leading to the arrest over the last few days.
National News
For the first time, Puerto Rico favored U.S. statehood in a nonbinding referendum in the recent election. Citizens of the country were able to vote on the issue in two ways. First, 54 percent of Puerto Ricans rejected their current status as a U.S. commonwealth, versus an opposing 46 percent. Second, 61 percent decided statehood as the alternative, 33 percent voted semi-autonomous “sovereign free association” and 6 percent wanted complete independence. Decreasing population and an economic slump were two major contributors to the turnout of the vote. Roughly 4 million Puerto Ricans that inhabit the region were not able to vote in the past election, although the nearly 5 million that reside in the 50 U.S states can exercise full voting rights. Puerto Rico Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock noted the referendum is nonbinding, however it compels lawmakers in Washington to act.
International News
Violence sprung out of an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens on Wednesday, Nov. 7 ahead of a parliamentary vote on new spending cuts for Greece. Hundreds of the 80,000 people present at the demonstration began throwing rocks and gasoline bombs at riot police who were guarding Parliament. The riot police responded with tear gas and stun grenades as well as water cannons. This was part of the second day of a 48-hour general strike of Parliament employees. The strike began when Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras wanted to add an amendment to the austerity bill that would cut wages for Parliament employees. Later, Stournaras withdrew the amendment, allowing the debate to continue after Parliament employees returned to their work.
Weird News
A Cleveland woman was ordered to wear a sign warning against idiots because she drove on a sidewalk to avoid a school bus that was unloading children. On Monday, Nov. 5, a Cleveland Municipal Court judge ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to stand at an intersection for two days wearing a sign that reads: “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.” She is ordered to stand at the intersection from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. on those two days. Along with this punishment, Hardin’s license was suspended for 30 days and she is required to pay $250 in court fees.
