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Disputed Trump-backed Michigan GOP chairman invested thousands in company disposing aborted fetal remains

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Disputed Trump-backed Michigan GOP chairman invested thousands in company disposing aborted fetal remains

FIRST ON FOX: The newly elected chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, whose election is currently being disputed, invested thousands in a company targeted by pro-life activists for taking part in the disposal of fetal remains from abortion clinics, a financial disclosure obtained by Fox News Digital shows.

According to the 2017 disclosure filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., invested as much as $50,000 in Stericycle, Inc., one of the nation’s leading medical waste disposal companies that serviced abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood.

Despite a policy that it does not accept fetuses from clinics as medical waste, Stericycle reportedly disposed of such tissue from clinics across North America for years, making it the subject of a number of protests by local pro-life groups, including in 2019 by the group Grand Rapids Right to Life.

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The group had previously reportedly cut ties with hundreds of abortion centers, reiterating its policy against hauling aborted fetal waste, but continued servicing Planned Parenthood facilities while requiring them to certify no such remains were included in the refuge it transports.

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Despite that, the continued ties with abortion centers has driven further protests against the company over the years. In 2012, then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also faced criticism for being part of an investment group, Bain Capital, that reportedly invested millions in Stericycle.

When reached for comment, Hoekstra referenced his record as a staunchly pro-life member of the House. “I am opposed to abortion and believe I was scored at 100% pro-life voting record for most if not all of my eighteen years in Congress,” he told Fox News Digital.

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Protesters with Grand Rapids Right to Life protest outside Stericycle, Inc., a medical waste company that faced criticism for its role in disposing fetal remains from abortion clinics. (Screenshot/Grand Rapids Right to Life Facebook)

“My brokerage account managed by an outside investment adviser does not hold any Servicycle stock,” he added, but did not respond to questions concerning whether he agreed with the company’s past transportation of fetal remains.

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Hoekstra served nearly two decades in Congress before being appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands by former President Donald Trump, where he served from 2018-2021. He was elected as the new chair of the Michigan Republican Party on Jan. 20 by a faction of state party committee members that voted to oust chairwoman Kristina Karamo earlier this month.

The contention came about over a split in ideological differences within the organization, but has yet to be resolved since Karamo has refused to accept the vote and argues she is still in charge of the party.

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Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., speaks during Herman Cain’s Revolution on the Hill Tax Day Rally in Washington on Monday, April 16, 2012. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Lawyers with the Republican National Committee, however, maintain that she was “properly removed.”

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Trump waded into the dispute over the weekend, expressing his support for Hoekstra in a post on Truth Social.

“I look forward to working with Ambassador Pete Hoekstra as Chairman of The Republican Party of Michigan. He is a winner who was a GREAT Congressman from Michigan and, likewise, did a fantastic job as Ambassador to the Netherlands. Pete will make The Republican Party of Michigan GREAT AGAIN, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be its Chairman — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he wrote.

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Detroit, MI

112 years later: First train leaves Michigan Central Station in Detroit

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112 years later: First train leaves Michigan Central Station in Detroit


DETROIT – The first train rolled out of Michigan Central Station on Dec. 26, 1913.

The locomotive was headed to Saginaw Bay, and a train from Chicago arrived at the new station later that evening.

Michigan Central Station was originally scheduled to open in 1914, but a fire at the old depot at Third and Jefferson avenues forced the station to open early.

“The new station stood last night, lights shining from windows high above the building line in the neighborhood, a sentinel of progress,” the Detroit Tribune published after the station’s rushed opening.

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A newspaper quote from when Michigan Central Station first opened in 1913 is projected on the front of the building on June 15, 2018. (WDIV)

The rise and fall

The large building in Corktown became a symbol known around the world, as travelers came and left Detroit. However, the station would eventually fall victim to decreased train traffic and become a less desirable symbol of decay in the city.

The main waiting room closed in April 1967. Amtrak took over in 1971, reopened the waiting room, and invested over $1 million in renovations, including a new bus terminal.

The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Despite these efforts, use continued to decline. Amtrak moved to a smaller station, and in 1985, the building was sold to Kaybee Corp., a New York-based company.

MCS ceased to serve as a transportation hub when the last Chicago-bound train departed the station on Jan. 5, 1988.

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For decades, plans for the building consistently fell through, and it became a place for vandals, the unhoused and urban explorers.

Scrappers had stolen anything they could reach, and the open roof allowed weather to impact the inside of the building.

Rise again

Ford Motor Co. announced it had purchased the train station in the summer of 2018.

The automaker poured significant money into the iconic building and gave tours as it renovated the structure.

More than three thousand workers spent 1.7 million hours of labor on the station. Millions of gallons of water were pumped from the basement.

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—> See before and after photos of restoration at Detroit’s Michigan Central Station

The building celebrated its reopening with a massive, sold-out concert on June 6, 2024. Diana Ross, Jack White and Eminem performed.

After years of renovations, the historic train station was given new life and has become a hub for tech and innovation, housing multiple businesses, retail space and more.

But that’s not all. A Literary Lounge is scheduled to open in 2026. A luxury hotel expected to open in 2027 will be located on the top five floors.

A new transit hub, including Amtrak service, is also set to bring new passenger rail and bus connections.

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A clock stolen from Michigan Central Station was returned to Ford shortly after it was announced that the automaker purchased the building. (Photo: Ford)

Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.



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Milwaukee, WI

Things to do in Milwaukee this weekend, including free zoo admission

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Things to do in Milwaukee this weekend, including free zoo admission


Get outdoors on the final weekend of 2025 to take a walk through the zoo, view holiday lights, and catch the Globetrotters on their 100 Year Tour.

All guests receive free daytime admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 26 and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. Walk around the grounds and visit your favorite furry friends, and those animals that enjoy the cold weather like the snow leopards and Japanese macaques. The promotion continues through Dec. 30. Regular parking, concession and attraction fees still apply. zoosociety.org/events/frosty-free-week

Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour stops at Fiserv Forum, 1111 Phillips Ave., with shows at noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 26. Since 1926, the Globetrotters’ mix of athleticism and a basketball has entertained generations with trick shots, dunks, and amazing jumps at this annual event. See the current team of both men and women who hold Guinness World Records in the sport. Tickets start at $42. fiservforum.com

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Late Night at the Domes

The Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., are open until 8 p.m. Dec. 26, and it is the final night for light shows, with shows at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. It’s also the final week for “The 12 Days of Christmas – A Playful Parody” Holiday Show, which closes Jan. 4. The show takes a humorous poke at the Christmas carol lyrics amid beds of poinsettias. Admission required. Adult and non-resident seniors age 60 and up are $9; Milwaukee County residents are $8; military, adults with disabilities, senior Milwaukee County residents, students, and children ages 3 through 12 are $6. mitchellparkdomes.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival

Last call this week for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, which concludes Jan. 1 in downtown Milwaukee. Treat yourself to a Jingle Bus tour from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 26-28, and view sparkling light displays and large decorations at Cathedral Square, Zeidler Union Square and Pere Marquette Park. milwaukeedowntown.com

Winter Glow Experience

Brown Deer Park’s mile-long drive-through holiday light experience continues this weekend and concludes Jan. 4. View over 100 displays and a synced soundtrack, all within the comfort of your vehicle. Give yourself 30 to 45 minutes to enjoy the show. A standard vehicle access pass is $22.90. Purchase tickets online. Brown Deer Park is at 7625 N. Range Line Road. winterglowexperience.com/milwaukee

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What’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters this weekend

Marcus Theatres and Movie Tavern locations: Moviegoers on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 will receive a scratch-off card featuring special offers for their next visit. Prizes range from free concession items to discounts. All scratch-off prizes are redeemable at concession stands, food ordering areas, or via Bites Online Jan. 5-31. More information: marcustheatres.com.

“Marty Supreme”: Sports comedy-drama film features an aspiring table tennis champion (Timothée Chalamet) in pursuit of greatness. The film also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher in supporting roles. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Downer Theatre.

“Song Sung Blue”: Two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a Neil Diamond tribute band. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre.

“Anaconda”: Best friends (Paul Rudd, Jack Black) head deep into the Amazon to make a film when a giant anaconda turns a comically chaotic movie set into a deadly situation. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.

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Minneapolis, MN

Man suffers life-threatening injuries in Minneapolis shooting

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Man suffers life-threatening injuries in Minneapolis shooting


A Christmas Day shooting has left a man hospitalized and fighting for his life in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Police Sgt. Garrett Parten says it happened at around 6:50 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 17th Avenue South, in the city’s Seward neighborhood.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting and found a man with potentially life-threatening injuries.

Parten says officers provided aid until the man could be taken to a hospital by ambulance.

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Investigators believe the suspect was dressed in black clothing and fled the scene before officers arrived.

No arrests had been made as of Thursday night.

The investigation remains active.



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