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New York Man Killed In I-94 Crash When Semi Hits Guardrail, Overhead Sign

CALHOUN COUNTY, MI -- A 26-year-old New York man was killed in a crash on I-94 this morning that slowed traffic on the highway for more than 11 hours.

The crash happened about 4:15 a.M. Wednesday, Jan. 31, on eastbound I-94 near exit 92 and West Columbia Avenue, the city of Battle Creek said in a news release.

The Battle Creek Police Department responded. A previous caller reported the semi had passed them at a high rate of speed, the city said.

Related: I-94 reopens after fatal semi crash

Police said the driver hit the guardrail before exit 92 and hit an overhanging exit sign, coming to rest against the overpass.

The man was ejected from the truck and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the city of Battle Creek said.

Eastbound I-94 was shut down temporarily. After it reopened, traffic was reduced to one lane for several hours after the crash. MDOT said the road was reopened by 3:22 p.M.

The Battle Creek Fire Department, LifeCare Ambulance and the Michigan State Police also responded to the crash scene. The Michigan Department of Transportation also responded to assess the damage.

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New York Governor Nominates New Police Leader To Agency That Has Struggled To Diversify Its Ranks

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has nominated a 32-year veteran of the New York State Police to be its new leader.

If the state Senate agrees, Steven G. James would be the second Black person confirmed to hold the rank of superintendent and the third to lead the 5,000-member force, which has struggled for years to diversify its ranks.

It is not immediately clear when state lawmakers will vote on his confirmation, but for now, James will lead in an acting role.

"I was very intentional in selecting a leader who understood, starting out from the very beginning, what it was like to be in the shoes of our state police. Someone who rose to the ranks, someone who has led with integrity and dignity," Hochul said at the nomination event near Albany, the state's capitol.

James, a graduate of SUNY Albany, has held various leadership roles over two decades, most recently as deputy superintendent for employee relations, according to the governor's office.

"This opportunity comes around once in a lifetime, if you're lucky. Governor Hochul's nomination is my crowning achievement," James said in a prepared statement. "I look forward to bringing the State Police further into the arena of cutting-edge policing and to serving as a model agency."

Harry J. Corbitt became the state police's first confirmed Black superintendent in 2008. Preston Felton briefly led the department as acting superintendent before Corbitt, but he was never confirmed.

Hochul noted the agency's efforts to become more inclusive, saying the force is trying to make it ranks reflect the entirety of the state.

The agency remains overwhelmingly white, according to data from July 2023, with Black troopers comprising only 5% of its 4,976 sworn members at the time, and about 7.6% members were Hispanic.

In 2021, several minority troopers told The Associated Press that discrimination was widespread within its ranks, despite the agency having been ordered to diversify by a judge in the 1970s. At the time, just 13 of the agency's 2,712 troopers were Black, and the judge mandated that 40% of recruits entering the training academy be Black or Hispanic. The same judge dissolved the hiring goals in 1989 and the consent decree was lifted in 2015.

Last summer, the agency came under intense scrutiny after a trooper who is Sikh was barred by his supervisors from growing facial hair for his wedding, despite a state law requiring employers to allow most workers to follow the attire or grooming obligations of their religion.

The police agency also has a history of leadership shakeups. In 2022, then-Superintendent Kevin Bruen resigned after Hochul said he was being investigated for his handling of internal personnel matters. Steven Nigrelli, who had taken over as acting superintendent, resigned last year after Hochul rescinded his candidacy to permanently serve in the role following allegations he harassed employees, according to the Times-Union.

James replaces Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento.

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Maysoon Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

New York Through The Eyes Of Broadway Star David Harris

David Harris as the Duke of Monroth

Matthew Murphy

Actor David Harris is currently playing the role of the Duke of Monroth in the long-running Broadway hit Moulin Rouge.

An Australian native, who is also a an acclaimed singer, Harris now calls New York City home.

Below, he shares his favorite diversions and spots around town.

Where do you live in the city?

My spouse and I bought a top floor "renovators delight" apartment in Chelsea seven years ago in while we managed to renovate during the pandemic. With a large central skylight in the living area, it is our quiet, sunny haven amid the bustle of New York City.

What is your favorite neighborhood in New York and why?

I really enjoy living in Chelsea as it is close enough to the buzz of midtown and is an easy bike ride to and from work on Broadway. Chelsea is surprisingly very quiet, has a varied mix of residents, is close to many art galleries, the Hudson River parkway, the Highline, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea Markets and sporting and recreation facilities at Chelsea Piers. There are many great cafes and restaurants like Citizens of Chelsea which serves up Aussie-style brekkies and great espresso.

Can you share some of your favorite spots in the Theater District and what makes them so great?

Being Australian, I am very fussy with the quality of espresso I drink, so I go to the Aussie-owned St Kilda Coffee and Bird and Branch which is close to our Moulin Rouge theater on 45th Street. Frisson is also great for a strong pick me up. One of my favorite spots for a cheap eat is a tiny hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint called El Rancho Mexican on 45th. It is a family run small business with traditional burritos, perfect for in-between performances on double show days.

Where is the best place for a pre-or post-theater meal and why? What are go-to dishes at each?

I like to take visiting friends and family to a pre-show dinner at Rosevale Kitchen which is on street level of The Civilian Hotel on 48th street. It has casual but chic décor with a clean, fresh menu which doesn't weigh you down ahead of watching or performing a show. I am fond of the burrata for starters, and either fish or a steak for entre whilst sipping a champagne or two, (when I don't have a show to perform, of course). The flutes they are served in makes it taste even nicer. They also have a great cocktail bar on the second floor and rooftop bar with great views.

What is the best Theater District watering hole and the drink to get?

When I am not hosting post-show drinks in my dressing room, called The Duke's Den, I enjoy heading to Bar Centrale above Joe Allen's on 46th Street. It is an intimate supper club where you will most likely run into other Broadway actor friends and creatives doing the same thing. Go for the Old Fashioned when there.

Please share your insider tips for enjoying a Broadway show. Anything to make the experience better as an audience member?

We all go to the theater to be transported to another world for a couple of hours, so my advice to truly shut off from the outside world is to turn your phone off, or at least on silent for those hours. It allows for everyone in that shared community of a darkened theater – actors included – to go fully immersed into the world that gets created.

Turn up to the theater with time to spare to relax or in the case of Moulin Rouge, soak up the pre-show entertainment as you enter the world of Paris at the turn of the century. Be mindful of making noise that is not appropriate during the show as it is not only distracting to the actors, but to audience members around that want to be swept up into the story being told. And hang out at stage door after the performance to say hi to any cast that want to come and say hi. You never know what memory you may create when at the theater so remain open and present before returning to the real world.

What's the New York City theater you love to go to and why?

I don't think I can single one theater out. The history that each theater holds, the stories told within them, the actors that have graced the stages of each theater is remarkable when you really stop to think about. Who has passed through each stage door and transported themselves into character on stage throughout Broadway's rich history? The time periods of the audiences and what they would have worn, the social changes that have occurred – the history held and presented in the walls of any New York theater is astounding to me. I recently saw at show at Studio 54 and was again fascinated sitting in my seat thinking, "If only these walls could talk"!

What other Broadway shows are on your radar right now?

There are many shows currently on or about to start I would love to see. The downside of being in a Broadway show is that most shows have the same schedule, so it is rare to be able to see another show. On my list however is Days of Wine and Roses with Broadway heavyweights, Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James, Mother Play with Jessica Lange, An Enemy of the People with Jeremy Strong and The Great Gatsby.

Share your insider New York gems.

For me it is the CitiBike system. Being able to jump on a CitiBike from anywhere in the city and ride the many bike paths to wherever you need to go gives me a new perspective on living in the city. The Hudson River Parkway has a bike path the entire length of the west side of Manhattan, not only providing great outdoor exercise but opportunities to stop at many of the interesting destinations along the way. Bikes help getting around the city faster than cars and oftentimes the subway.

Can you share your favorite theaters around the world and why?

I have been very fortunate to perform at The Sydney Opera House on numerous occasions in my career. It is a remarkable building home to different size theatres and a concert hall set on one of the most stunning harbors in the world. Seeing a show at Radio City Music Hall or Carnegie Hall is a must along with Albert Hall in London. I also love performing and seeing shows in intimate settings of 100 seats or so, enabling the audience and actors to share the energy and hear and see every detail.

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