Trump brings national campaign to SVSU, and other Saginaw-area news this week

— Saginaw County received some national focus this week as a presidential candidate campaigned in the northernmost municipality here.

For a recap of that story and other top headlines in the Saginaw region, here is a breakdown of news coverage from the last week:

Trump repeats disproven voter fraud claim day after court filing says he 'resorted to crimes' in 2020 election

— In his first campaign event since the unsealing of a court filing that claimed he "resorted to crimes" while pushing false claims of voter fraud during the 2020 election, former president Donald Trump continued rallying for votes in next month's election.

"Thirty-three days from now, we are going to win the state of Michigan," Trump told a crowd of thousands attending the Thursday, Oct. 3, indoor rally at Saginaw Valley State University.

While he did not comment on the unsealing one day earlier of the 165-page legal brief filing from special counsel Jack Smith, Trump during a 90-minute appearance continued to repeat disproven claims of voter fraud from four years earlier, calling the 2020 presidential election he lost to now-President Joe Biden "rigged."

"If I thought I lost, I wouldn't be doing this," Trump said. "I would be on the beaches of Monte Carlo; on some magnificent beach with the waves hitting my face. I'd rather be here with you."

Read more here .

That time Schwarzenegger almost stumped for George W. Bush in Saginaw County

— When former President Donald Trump campaigned at Saginaw Valley State University this week, it marked the first time in 24 years the campus was a player in a presidential election.

George W. Bush, four days before the Republican won his first term as president in 2000, hosted a rally at SVSU's Ryder Center, the same arena Trump plans to visit Thursday, Oct. 3.

About 7,500 people attended that Nov. 3, 2000, event, which featured a governor and one Hollywood star and nearly included a future Hollywood star who became a governor.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was scheduled to stump for Bush at SVSU, but campaign officials later said the "Terminator" star canceled because his mother-in-law at the time, Eunice Shriver, fell ill. In 2000, Schwarzenegger was still three years shy from his own experience as a politician — he was California's governor from 2003-11 — but was still a big box office draw and mega-celebrity.

Instead, the celebrity power at that 2000 SVSU rally fell on the shoulders of Bo Derek, whose sex-symbol status made her a movie star in films such as "10" in 1979 and "Tarzan, The Ape Man" in 1981.

Read more here .

Police arrest suspect in Saginaw man's fatal shooting at Birch Park Apartments

SAGINAW, MI — Police have arrested a suspect in a recent fatal shooting at Saginaw's Birch Park Apartments.

John A. Harris, 43, was found deceased from at least one gunshot wound around 3:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in front of 3103 Birch Park Drive.

Investigators developed a suspect and later the same day the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team located and arrested him outside of Saginaw County, according to Saginaw Police Detective Sgt. Jeff Doud.

Doud described the suspect as a male in his early 20s but declined to divulge more information.

He said investigative paperwork has been submitted to the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office for review.

Read full story here .

Saginaw council member under investigation for allegedly falsifying petition signatures

SAGINAW, MI — A Saginaw City Council member up for reelection next month could face felony charges stemming from allegations she falsified signatures on the nominating petition forms of another individual seeking a seat on the council.

Michigan Secretary of State officials confirmed Monique Lamar-Silvia, a council member since 2021, was under investigation.

Saginaw County Clerk officials provided MLive with documents that show correspondence between the county clerk and office of the Saginaw City Clerk, whose staff flagged the signatures that launched the state investigation, the documents stated.

The evidence includes video surveillance outside Saginaw City Hall, 315 S. Washington, where Lamar-Silvia on July 24 was "appearing to falsify signatures on the nominating petition forms" of Eric Eggleston, reads an email from City Clerk Kristine Bolzman to state elections officials.

Read more here .

'You killed me and my whole family' woman tells brother accused of killing her husband at Saginaw library

SAGINAW, MI — Seated at a witness stand, a Saginaw woman averted her eyes as video footage played of her husband being gunned down in the parking lot of a downtown library. As her husband tried crawling away with several bullets already in him, the gunman walked up to him, aimed his pistol, and fired once more.

Adding to the widow's grief is the alleged triggerman's identity — her older brother, Derrick J. Grant. The family tragedy is compounded by the senseless of what led to the shooting, reportedly a dispute over a rented storage shed.

Grant, 37, is charged with open murder and felony firearm in connection with the Sept. 10 death of his brother-in-law Henry J. Ford, 38. He appeared beside attorney James F. Gust for an Oct. 3 preliminary examination held before Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner.

Read more here .

Facing 'government psychic,' ex-state House rep campaigns for return to Lansing

— Onetime Republican state House representative Tim Kelly will campaign to return to his old stomping grounds.

Kelly served six years representing a state House seat that — along with other state House districts — was reshaped as part of a 2021 redistricting effort. The district Kelly now seeks overlaps some of the expired district he represented years ago.

Kelly will face Democrat Kevin C. Seamon for the House's District 93 seat, currently occupied by Republican Graham Filler, who did not seek reelection this time.

During his political life, Seamon has made a variety of claims about working for the federal government as an agent and a psychic.

In a written statement during his 2020 campaign, Seamon said, "In the last election, I wasn't allowed to use my Military Title as I am Sr. Commander Commando Legionnaire Kevin Christopher Seamon of the United States Military in Saginaw, Michigan. I am also Federal Agent White Knight 196. James Bond is 007. I am 196. I am a Real Life Government Psychic."

Read more here .

Oops! Absentee ballot printer snafu may cause confusion in mid-Michigan town, officials say

— A "printing mishap" with a printing vendor resulted in some mailed Carrollton Township absentee ballot envelopes to include labels featuring the incorrect community, township officials said.

The return address was printed as "City of Wixom" on some envelopes mailed to voters in Carrollton Township, a Saginaw County-based township of 5,750 residents, a notice on the Carrollton Township website stated.

"We assure you that your AV Ballot is from CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP," the notice stated on the Carrollton Township website. "The inside purple and white envelope is labeled correctly!! You will also see that your BALLOT is for your precinct and you are voting a allot!!!"

The notice stated those absentee ballot envelopes with the printing error were still "correct and valid."

Read more here .

Saginaw County corrections officer pleads to tasing coworker in jail

SAGINAW, MI — A former Saginaw County Jail corrections officer recorded on video tasing a coworker opted to forgo a trial in favor of pleading to a misdemeanor.

Angelina L. Young on Thursday, Oct. 3, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens for a scheduled bench trial. Young ended up pleading no contest to the lone count she faced, that of assault and battery.

The charge is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Read more here .

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