WWMT Waste Watch

I-Team Waste Watch: Speeding Tickets

Sat, May 11 2013, 12:21 AM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - When you pay a speeding ticket, where does that money go?

You're likely thinking those little slips are easy money for local police departments, but the Newschannel 3 I-Team found that's not the case.

In tonight's Waste Watch report, we break down the complicated numbers. ...

I-Team: Kalamazoo parking enforcement contract change

Tue, Apr 02 2013, 09:26 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It is frustrating enough having to pay a parking ticket in Kalamazoo. But what most drivers don't know is the majority of that fine you pay doesn't even go to the city, it goes to a giant national company, Central City Parking. ...

Assistance Totals: Single Mom of two making $19,000

Fri, Feb 22 2013, 03:00 PM EDT

Department of Welfare
- LIHEAP: $400
- Child Care: $14,976
- Medical Assistance: $6,045 (includes Health Department and SCHIP)
- Food $6,028 (SNAP, WIC: average $52.32 per person, school meal programs, Dept of Ag)

HUD
- Housing Voucher: $7,148

Pennsylvania Utility Commission
- Lifeline: landline ($30 for instillation and $200 interest free loan/yr) and cell phone with 200 min and 250 text and email ($480/yr)
- PA Weatherization Assistance Program: Ave. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: The IRS

Wed, Feb 20 2013, 09:26 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Waste Watch team has taken aim at the IRS.

The agency holds Americans responsible for their tax dollars, but a new audit shows the agency sometimes spends some of those dollars on employee perks.

The Treasury Inspector General reported some numbers on Tuesday that may interest you. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Extra taxes for the jail

Wed, Feb 06 2013, 07:02 PM EDT

ALLEGAN, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - From cement blocks to wiring and wood, Allegan County taxpayers are picking up the tab for their new jail.

Representative Bob Genetski sponsored a bill to exempt counties from paying sales tax on construction materials for a jail. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Grant Giveaway

Thu, Jan 31 2013, 11:53 PM EDT

WYOMING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - In November, the Newschannel 3 I-Team took a close look at the Wyoming Fire Department after an independent report blasted the city's manager for closing fire stations and understaffing the department.

The authors of the report called staffing "woefully inadequate," and told city leaders to spend more than $1 million to hire more people. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Cops at Capitol for protests

Thu, Jan 24 2013, 08:49 PM EDT

LANSING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - They were everywhere you looked on the capitol grounds during last months Right To Work protests, Michigan State Police troopers, keeping the peace.

MSP says it brought in manpower from all parts of the state. It was a massive show of force and it was expensive. ...

Cracking down on Bridge Card fraud

Tue, Nov 20 2012, 12:09 AM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - For the first time the state is devoting new resources to finding Bridge Card fraud and newly released numbers show it is finally paying off.

The Newschannel 3 I-Team looked at what's working and how much money it's saving the state. ...

I-Team Waste Watch - Wyoming Fire Station

Mon, Nov 12 2012, 11:54 PM EDT

WYOMING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - $20,000 in the past year--records show that's how much taxpayers in Wyoming spent to maintain the Gezon Parkway Fire Station.

For their money, they got a collapsed sidewalk, rusted building, broken light, and an empty hole in the ground that was supposed to have a light to illuminate the American flag above. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: New info on The Rapid

Wed, Oct 24 2012, 07:01 PM EDT

WALKER, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Newschannel 3 I-Team took a second look at the Rapid bus system in Kent County after we uncovered new information that could influence people before they vote on keeping bus service in Walker.

Last May you may remember we scrutinized the Rapid's ridership numbers to see if taxpayers were getting their money's worth after a tax hike. ...

Waste Watch preview: Rapid investigation

Wed, Oct 24 2012, 08:43 AM EDT

KENT COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - As we near Election Day the Newschannel 3 I-Team is on Waste Watch.

Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. we will show the results of a six-month long follow-up investigation of the Rapid Bus System in Grand Rapids.

You might remember our initial look at The Rapid last May in a sampling of bus rides we found six percent didn't carry any passengers. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: A123 Systems

Fri, Oct 19 2012, 10:07 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Around two years ago, Holland broke ground on a plant to make electric batteries.

President Obama reminded everyone the plant wouldn't be possible without $151 million in federal stimulus money.

Now, questions are being raised about another battery plant built with government stimulus dollars. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Wastebook 2012

Wed, Oct 17 2012, 08:20 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - From caviar to mechanical squirrels, a U.S. Senator has come out with the 2012 edition of what he calls Wastebook.

As Joe Griffin reports, it details how the federal government is spending your tax dollars.

I-Team Waste Watch: Bridge Cards

Fri, Oct 05 2012, 11:21 PM EDT

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Law enforcement and state investigators have been targeting stores that sell to Bridge Card holders illegally.

But now one lawmaker wants to go even farther.

In most cases officials say the stores will take a Bridge Card for banned merchandise like lottery tickets, alcohol and cigarettes. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Sewer project frustrating Battle Creek

Wed, Sep 12 2012, 09:14 PM EDT

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A sewer project at Riverside Drive and I-94 has people who drive and work in the area frustrated because for weeks they haven't seen anyone working there.

The Hampton Inn Dana Canales-Jamierson manages is right next to the project and she says she hasn't seen any progress. ...

Waste Watch: Coburn's Crusade

Tue, Aug 28 2012, 08:53 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent in a variety of ways by the U.S. Government, both positively and wastefully, but will the country's financial future tip the scales in November?

An Oklahoma Senator says politicians are leaving taxpayers and voters in the dark, all to make sure they get re-elected. ...

Waste Watch: Homer Stryker Field

Thu, Aug 23 2012, 08:53 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Kalamazoo's Frontier League baseball team, the Kings, folded before the 2011 season.

As a result, Homer Stryker Field hasn't had a major tenant since then, and hasn't seen a professional baseball game since the summer of 2010. ...

Waste Watch: McCotter's Resignation

Thu, Aug 09 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A number of ugly words are being used to describe the petition scandal apparently caused by a lack of oversight in the office of former Congressman Thad McCotter.

Allegedly he not only failed to watch over his own workers, the I-Team found that there's no doubt he wasn't watching over taxpayer dollars in the end either. ...

Waste Watch: White House's Online Presence

Wed, Aug 08 2012, 08:42 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - We continue our Waste Watch series with a closer look at President Obama's online presence.

Critics say the President is mixing so-called propaganda with official business in his online "West Wing Week," and that taxpayers may be footing the bill. ...

I-Team Waste Watch: Secretary of State computers

Mon, Jul 30 2012, 05:55 PM EDT

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Newschannel 3 I-Team is on Waste Watch tonight, looking into the state's paying millions of dollars for a new computer system that critics say just doesn't work right.

In fact, the I-Team found the state has paid nearly 80 percent of the project's $35 million cost to upgrade computer systems in the Secretary of State's Office. ...