GENESEE COUNTY, MI – Fundraising efforts have begun for the family of a newborn and his pregnant mother, who died this past week following a shooting at a home in Flint.
In other local news, union members gathered this past week to recognize the anniversary of the end of a more than 40-day strike led by General Motors workers.
Learn more about these stories and other Flint-area news with these headlines from the past week:
Newborn dies after pregnant mother shot, killed in Flint
A newborn who initially survived the shooting that killed his pregnant mother in Flint has died in the hospital, family confirmed Thursday.
The death of the infant Isaiah comes two days after his mother, 34-year-old Ashley Williams, was fatally shot at a home on Browning Avenue in Flint on Feb. 10.
Kathy Williams, Ashley’s mother, said she was contacted by the hospital around 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
“His little lungs weren’t developed enough,” she said. “Hurley worked on him for a long time. He just crashed.”
“I’m just glad that Ashley let me borrow him for a couple day and meeting him. He’s in mom’s arms now.”
Read the full story here.
Hundreds wear white to mark end of Flint Sit-Down Strike, birth of the UAW
Hundreds celebrated a shared anniversary on Wednesday, Feb. 11, marking the end of the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-37 and the resulting birth of their union.
Known as White Shirt Day, the annual observance recognizes the end of a 44-day standoff between General Motors and workers who seized control of their plants in Flint, refusing to leave until the company agreed to recognize the United Auto Workers as their bargaining agent.
Historians recognize the strike as a critical moment in the history of organized labor in the United States.
“It’s an honor for us to pay our respects … It’s a great honor to be here,” said UAW Region 1-D President Steve Dawes.
Read the full story here.
New Panda Express in Davison Township to employ nearly 40 people, eyes opening date
A fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in American Chinese food is expected to open its newest Genesee County location next month.
The project for the new location involved demolishing two existing buildings within the fenced-off property near Subway.
“Currently, the new Panda location at 1044 South State Road is tentatively set for an early March opening,” a company spokesperson said in a message to MLive-The Flint Journal.
Panda Express was founded in 1983 and is known for popular dishes like Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, and Honey Walnut Shrimp, along with a variety of rice and noodle options.
Read the full story here.
Third Genesee County community considers data center moratorium
A third Genesee County community is in discussions on a potential data center moratorium.
The Mundy Township Board of Trustees voted in January to recommend the planning commission discuss the facilities and what direction the community should take on them moving forward.
“It’s just par for the course,” said trustee Leah Davis, who made the motion which included included battery factories and anything pertaining to renewable energy or advanced manufacturing. “We’re trying to figure out what’s going on, who’s behind it, and what it would do to the community…the community should have a discussion about it.”
Read the full story here.
GoFundMe raises more than $25K for family of late Flint police officer
A verified GoFundMe account has been set up on behalf of Charles Redmond’s family.
The Flint police officer took his own life in a Mt. Morris Township church parking lot around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8, Flint Chief Terence Green said.
Redmond left his wife, Melissa, and their seven children, according to the verified GoFundMe account, which can be viewed here.
More than $25,000 had been raised for Redmond’s family as of noon on Tuesday, Feb. 10. A $30,000 fundraising goal was set.
The shooting is being investigated by the Michigan State Police department as a suicide.
Read the full story here.
Here are the 6 candidates for new Swartz Creek schools superintendent
Interviews are scheduled to take place next week for six candidates in the running to become the new superintendent at Swartz Creek Community Schools.
The first round of interviews for full-time superintendent candidates is set to take place beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Thursday, Feb. 19.
The interviews will be taking place virtually and will not be live streamed, according to the district. The public may watch the virtual interviews from the boardroom in the district’s administration building, located at 8354 Cappy Lane.
The move comes after Jim Kitchen, who had been serving as interim superintendent for the district, announced his departure in a Dec. 19.
Read the full story here.
$5M for Flint’s lead-exposure registry included in new federal HHS budget
The Flint Registry has been funded for $5 million in the new federal Health and Human Services budget signed into law by President Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, announced the funding inclusion in the HHS budget as well as a provision that deters the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from delaying or reducing water crisis settlement payouts to residents.
The Medicare and Medicaid provision is designed to address concerns that settlement payments could affect benefits or be subject to liens or garnishment.
Read the full story here.
After two months and 62 rounds of voting, Flint City Council elects new president
It took more than two months and 62 rounds of voting, but the Flint City Council has a new president.
7th Ward Councilwoman Candice Mushatt was elected by her colleagues to the leadership position on Monday, Feb. 9, receiving the five necessary votes.
“It is my goal, and I am committed, to doing better … to making sure there are nine clear voices and when we have to, one voice of unity,” Mushatt said after being elected president on Monday.
Read the full story here.
Worker dies on the job in Genesee Township after equipment accident
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration says a 53-year-old laborer died while on the job in Genesee Township late last week after having been fatally injured while disassembling an excavator.
MIOSHA announced the Feb. 6 workplace death — the second in Michigan in 2026 — on Monday, Feb. 9, but the agency did not release the worker’s name or identify the company the employee worked for.
The agency initially reported that the incident occurred in the city of Flint, but a spokesperson said on Tuesday, Feb. 10, that the location was in the township in an area with a Flint mailing address.
Read the full story here.
Couple nets state grant for ‘as Flint as it gets’ restaurant and taproom
The state of Michigan is buying into the redevelopment of a vacant property in Flint that’s being converted into a public house-style restaurant and bar themed after the 1936-37 Flint Sit-Down Strike.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Sit Down Taproom & Purveyor will receive a $250,000 Build MI Community grant on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The city of Flint previously approved an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act tax abatement for the same Grand Traverse Street property, located just south of West 3rd Street and three blocks west of Saginaw Street.
Read the full story here.
Michigan gubernatorial candidate rushes to aid retiree who collapsed at Flint event
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson was expecting to do one job at an annual union gathering on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Flint.
Instead, the candidate for governor and certified paramedic ended up pulling double-duty — speaking to those marking the anniversary of the end of the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-37 and administering medical care to an audience member who collapsed during the program.
The man — an 82-year-old General Motors retiree — passed out while attending the White Shirt Day celebration at UAW Local 651.
Read the full story here.
Safety planning at jail can reduce suicide attempts by more than half, MSU study finds
A suicide‑prevention intervention developed by Michigan State University researchers and implemented with Genesee Health System and the Genesee County Jail reduced suicides among participants by 55%, according to newly shared findings.
The results were presented Monday, Feb. 9, during a town hall at MSU’s Department of Public Health in Flint, where Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, researcher and MSU public health chair Dr. Jennifer Johnson, former Genesee Health System clinician Marie Jones and county resident Karena Mitchell discussed the impact of the program.
The study examined whether adding a safety planning intervention with follow-up phone calls after a person’s release from pretrial detention could reduce suicide attempts.
Read the full story here.
Private security guards considered for Swartz Creek elementary school buildings
The Swartz Creek Board of Education is considering hiring private security guards to man its elementary schools.
The district already contracts with the Metro Police Authority of Genesee County for school resource officers (SROs).
It currently has one full-time SRO and one part-time school safety officer.
The Board of Education discussed private security at its Jan. 28 meeting, which can be viewed on the district’s YouTube page.
Read the full story here.
Man charged with murder in Burton crash that killed girlfriend, injured 5 children
A Flint man is accused of choking his girlfriend while speeding away from police moments before a violent crash in Burton that killed her and critically injured five children.
DeAndre Darryl Cold, 25, faces 17 felony charges in the crash and death of Danica Dean, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Flint police officers attempted to stop a white Pontiac Grand Prix just before midnight on Jan. 29 on Dort Highway.
Cold, who was later identified as the driver, allegedly fled the traffic stop, according to court documents.
Read the full story here.
Judge advances murder case against Flint teen in fatal gun exchange
An 18-year-old Flint man was bound over on a second-degree murder charge in a 2025 shooting described as a gun exchange gone wrong that left one dead.
Zion Flynn’s case was bound over by Genesee County District Court Judge Tabitha March during a preliminary examination hearing on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Flynn is accused of creating a dangerous situation that caused the death of Sanyo Williams, 18, on April 6, 2025.
Flynn is also charged with one count of felony firearm in relation to the shooting.
Read the full story here.
New mixed-use development in downtown Montrose gets boost with nearly $1M state grant
A building that’s sat vacant in Montrose is getting new life with help from the state.
The building is located at 106 W. State St. is expected to be converted into give new apartments and provide approximately 2,560 square feet of commercial space.
Support for the project includes a $944,000 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program grant, as well as an approved Act 381 Work Plan, with Brownfield Tax Increment Financing of $76,333.
The total capital investment for the project stands just under $2.1 million.
Read the full story here.
McLaren Health Care to pay $14M in data breach class action settlement
The Grand Blanc-based McLaren Health Care Corp. has reached a $14 million settlement over two cyberattacks that exposed personal information in 2023 and 2024.
Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Chris B. Christenson granted preliminary approval of the class action settlement on Dec. 15.
Approximately 2.8 million patients had their personal data exposed during the two ransomware breaches, according to court documents.
Names, social security numbers, birthdates, health insurance details, and medical data were all compromised.
Read the full story here.
Flint-area driving school suspended for allegedly violating state law
A Mt. Morris Township driver education provider has been suspended by the state for allegedly violating state laws.
The Michigan Department of State issued a summary suspension to the On the Move Driving School, located at 4050 W. Pierson Road, on Thursday, Feb. 12, according to a news release from the department.
MDOS investigators found that the provider permitted individuals who were not properly certified, maintained inaccurate student attendance and behind-the-wheel records, and did not provide the required instruction, per the release.
Read the full story here.
$1.5M fire alarm, suppression system upgrade complete at Davison High School
Davison Community Schools has purchased a new fire alarm system for its high school as the district looks to further enhance student safety.
In total, the upgraded system cost about $1.5 million, with nearly $1.3 million spent on fire alarm system improvements and the remainder spent on fire suppression, fixtures and renovations, according to district officials. The project was funded by a $71.39 million bond voters approved for the district in 2020.
Davison High School, located at 1250 N. Oak Road, is now equipped with a voice evacuation system rather than the traditional horn-based system previously used for the building.
