Michigan

Michigan GOP dissenters sue to oust Kristina Karamo in Kent County Circuit Court

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2024

Michigan GOP dissenters sue to oust Kristina Karamo in Kent County Circuit Court

LANSING — Michigan Republicans who want to oust Kristina Karamo as state party chair followed through Friday on their promise to take legal action.

Malinda Pego, who was Karamo’s co-chair and who party dissidents declared acting chair of the Michigan Republican Party when they voted to remove Karamo, sued Karamo late Friday in Kent County Circuit Court, online records show.

That means a judge may decide whether Karamo, who has been in office for nearly one year, is the rightful chair of the beleaguered state party. She has been under fire for lackluster fundraising amid allegations of autocratic rule, a lack of transparency, and improper interference in the workings of county Republican parties.

Karamo did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

A group of GOP state committee members met in Commerce Township Jan. 6 and said they voted 40-5 to remove Karamo and installed Pego as acting chair. But Karamo had declared the meeting null and void even before it began, saying it was not convened in accordance with state party bylaws.

Then, on Jan. 13, Karamo called a state committee meeting in Houghton Lake, where she and others who attended said members voted 59-1 to reaffirm her position as chair. Members also voted to remove from office Pego and other dissenters.

The anti-Karamo faction is scheduled to meet in East Lansing Saturday morning to elect a permanent chair to take over from the acting chair role assumed by Pego.

Karamo’s backers mostly boycotted the Jan. 6 meeting and her opponents mostly stayed away from the meeting last Saturday. It normally takes a 75% vote to remove the state party chair, though the dissenters voted to reduce that threshold to 60% at the disputed Jan. 6 meeting.

So far, the Republican National Committee has not weighed in on either side of the dispute over the state party chair. As of Friday, the RNC still listed Karamo as chair of the Michigan Republican Party on its website.

Both Karamo’s supporters and her opponents are mostly avid backers of former President Donald Trump, who won the Iowa caucuses Monday and is the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee for president.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.

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Michigan

NWS confirms two EF0 tornadoes touched down in West Michigan Thursday night

Published

1 hour ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

NWS confirms two EF0 tornadoes touched down in West Michigan Thursday night

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Two tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, one in Kent County and the other in Barry County.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids released information on the two twisters over the weekend after storm survey findings had been compiled.

Both tornadoes were rated EF0 and were estimated to have occurred at the same time, from 9:31 to 9:34 p.m., along the leading edge of a severe thunderstorm.

Kent County EF0

According to the preliminary survey results, the Kent County tornado touched down 2 miles east-southeast of Caledonia, near and north of 100th Street just east of the Thornapple River near Alaska Avenue Southeast.

The NWS said the twister reached peak intensity while moving through the southern part of Saskatoon Golf Club, where significant tree damage occurred.

An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in southeastern Kent County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 85 mph. (WWMT)

The Kent County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 85 mph, traveled 4.25 miles and had a maximum width of 75 yards, according to the storm survey results.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Barry County EF0

The NWS said another brief tornado initially touched down about 2 miles south-southwest of Irving, north of Bowens Mill Road between Yankee Springs Road and North Peets Road.

After crossing North Peets Road, the most intense damage was observed along North Whitmore Road, where tree damage was more extensive and a house was covered in fallen branches, the NWS said.

An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Barry County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 75 mph. (WWMT)

After lifting just shy of 3 miles east of where it touched down, the same thunderstorm went on to produce sporadic pockets of straight-line wind damage from North Irving Road all the way into the north side of Hastings.

The Barry County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 75 mph, traveled 2.9 miles and had a maximum width of 50 yards, according to the storm survey results.

A busy season thus far

With the two additional tornadoes confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan, the statewide total now stands at 20 in 2026.

Following the confirmation of 2 tornadoes in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, Michigan’s tornado tally now stands at 20 so far this year. (WWMT)

Michigan averages about 15 tornadoes a year, with a seasonal peak typically expected in May and June.

This season got off to an early start on March 6, when four tornadoes touched down in West Michigan, including an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF3 in Union City.

The storms Thursday were part of a larger severe weather outbreak on June 11, 2026, which brought more than 30 tornadoes to the Midwest, with some of the strongest occurring in Illinois and Indiana.

Follow meteorologist Will Haenni on Facebook, X, Instagram & TikTok.

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Michigan

List of active weather alerts as storms move through Southeast Michigan Sunday

Published

11 hours ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

List of active weather alerts as storms move through Southeast Michigan Sunday

Storms moving across Metro Detroit Sunday

4Warn Weather – Severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for some communities across Southeast Michigan on Sunday, June 14.

Click here for the latest forecast from our 4Warn Weather team.

Here’s a list of the alerts by county.

Wayne County

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 1:45 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 1 p.m.

Oakland County

No active weather alerts.

Macomb County

No active weather alerts.

Washtenaw County

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 1 p.m.

Monroe County

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 1:45 p.m.

Livingston County

No active weather alerts.

Lenawee County

No active weather alerts.

Lapeer County

No active weather alerts.

Genesee County

No active weather alerts.

St. Clair County

No active weather alerts.

Sanilac County

No active weather alerts.

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Michigan

Man accused of vehicle theft, kidnapping roommate arrested in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Published

22 hours ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

Man accused of vehicle theft, kidnapping roommate arrested in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Nick Lentz

June 13, 2026 / 10:12 PM EDT
/ CBS Detroit

A man is facing two charges after being accused of stealing a vehicle in Green Bay, Wisconsin, kidnapping his roommate and then driving to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where he was arrested, according to the Michigan State Police.

Troopers on Tuesday were contacted by the Green Bay Police Department that a suspect, later identified by officials as the man, 26, had stolen a vehicle in the city and was believed to be traveling to the area of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

The Michigan law enforcement agency said the troopers located the vehicle, broken down, on Michigan Highway 28 near Michigan Highway 221. The suspect was not in the car when it was found.

A short time later, troopers were called to Kincheloe, Michigan, for a report of an individual who ran into a Dollar General and asked the cashier to call 911 because he had been kidnapped, officials said. Responding law enforcement located the man inside a pizza restaurant in Kincheloe and took him into custody.

Investigators said the man allegedly stole the vehicle and told his roommate to get in the car. Once inside the vehicle, the man allegedly took a knife and threatened to harm his roommate unless he went with him to Michigan, according to law enforcement.

The two traveled to Chippewa County, Michigan, and hitchhiked to Kincheloe once the car broke down, officials said.

Law enforcement said the man is charged with unlawful imprisonment and receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle. A judge set his bond at $250,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 22.

According to officials, the owner of the vehicle was contacted so they could arrange to get it back.

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