Top Stories from Mid-Michigan: Medicaid Cuts, Crash Fatality, July 4 Events, and Ford Recall

LANSING, MI — As the U.S. House moves forward on President Trump’s healthcare bill, Michigan health officials are raising red flags about the potential impact on Medicaid funding. Andy Daniels, CEO of Aspire Rural Health Systems, told 1320 WILS that the bill could mean a $6 billion loss in healthcare funding for the state, affecting both general and state-directed Medicaid payments.

“They’re kind of tied together to the tune of $6 billion for Michigan,” Daniels said. “That’s $6 billion of healthcare money being stripped out of the system.”

In other news, a former Waverly High School teacher will stand trial on multiple charges after being caught in a sex sting operation. Robert Herzing faces three criminal charges, including accosting a child for immoral purposes. The charges stem from an investigation launched in May 2024. Herzing was arraigned in the fall.

Meanwhile, Ingham County authorities have identified the man killed in a two-vehicle crash earlier this week on M-52 near Williamston. The victim is 28-year-old Brandon Teal of Alaska. The crash occurred at the intersection of Hazlett Road. Two people in the other vehicle were unharmed.

With the Sharp Park July 3 fireworks canceled due to public safety budget concerns, Ingham County is pivoting its Independence Day celebrations. Mason's downtown parade kicks off tonight at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at the Ingham County Fairgrounds around 10:15 p.m.

Preparations are also underway in Lansing for the city’s Friday festivities, which include:

• An 11 a.m. downtown parade

• An 8 p.m. concert

• Fireworks at Adado Riverfront Park

• A Lansing Lugnuts game at Jackson Field, also followed by fireworks

To ease holiday travel, MDOT will suspend work on 105 of its 174 road construction projects starting at 3 p.m. today through 6 a.m. Monday.

Elsewhere in legal news, a federal judge has ruled that the Mackinac Island City Council does not have the authority to set ticket prices for the island's ferry services. The ruling affects Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit (formerly the Mackinac Island Ferry Company). The council had argued that rising prices and limited service options were creating a monopoly.

Finally, Ford Motor Company is recalling over 200,000 vehicles due to a software defect that could cause rearview camera failure. The recall spans nearly two dozen makes and models. Notification letters are expected to be mailed by July 28.