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Morning Briefing Nov. 15, 2021: Danny Fenster released from Myanmar prison just days after lengthy sentencing

Here are this morning’s top stories

Danny Fenster released

Danny Fenster, the Michigan native who was working as a journalist in Myanmar and was sentenced to 11 years in prison just days ago, is now being released from that prison thanks to a former U.S. diplomat.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson said Monday that Fenster had been handed over to him in Myanmar and would return to the U.S. this week. Fenster’s family is “overjoyed.”

Here’s the family’s statement Monday morning:

“We are overjoyed that Danny has been released and is on his way home – we cannot wait to hold him in our arms. We are tremendously grateful to all the people who have helped secure his release, especially Ambassador Richardson, as well as our friends and the public who have expressed their support and stood by our sides as we endured these long and difficult months.”

Read more here.


Kidnapped boy, teen believed to be heading to Northern Michigan

Police say two children abducted by a family member in Kentucky and Tennessee earlier this month could be on their way to Northern Michigan.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Gaylord Post said in a release that it has been requested to assist law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and Kentucky in locating a kidnapped 16-year-old female, Amber Clare, and 3-year-old male, Noah Clare.

View more information here.


Jewell Jones released from jail after bond posted

Michigan Rep. Jewell Jones (D-Inkster) has been released from the Livingston County Jail, where he was since mid-September when a judge revoked his bond for violations.

He posted bond Friday and has been released.

The Michigan state representative was facing drunk driving charges in a widely publicized arrest on I-96 that occurred in April. He was sent to jail in September after he was accused of violating his bond a third time.

Read more here.


👮 How Michigan State Police troopers are learning to respond better to people with autism


Weather forecast: Chilly and cloudy Monday


COVID in Michigan 🦠

Michigan reported 15,878 new cases of COVID-19 and 83 virus-related deaths Friday -- an average of 7,939 cases over a two-day period. Of the 83 deaths announced Friday, 43 were identified during a review of records.

The following message was included in Friday’s update: “This average includes lab results from the processing delay reported on Wednesday. The issue has been resolved.”

Friday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,188,678, including 22,767 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,172,800 cases and 22,684 deaths, as of Wednesday.

Read the latest COVID report here.




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