State Suspends Karl Manke's License, Facebook Shuts Down Manke's Page, Attorney Says

Published 5/13/2020
11:04am
Updated 5/13/2020
1:05pm

State Suspends Karl Manke's License, Facebook Shuts Down Manke's Page, Attorney Says

"It is outrageous!" Manke's Attorney Tells Radio Host, Steve Gruber

Shiawassee News photo

Lansing-based syndicated morning radio host, Steve Gruber, spoke with Karl Manke's attorney, David A. Kallman of the Lansing-based Kallman Legal Group on Wednesday morning.

Karl Manke is the Owosso barber now being called "America's Barber."

Kallman told Gruber that Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) summarily suspended Manke's license after Shiawassee Circuit Judge Matthew Stewart denied the Attorney General's request to order Manke's barber shop, which has been operating for the past week in defiance of Governor Whitmer's Executive Order banning the operation of such businesses, to force it closed.

Kallman said "It is outrageous," calling it an "unbelievable abuse of power" and that there is no legal basis for the move that is "pure retribution." He called it petty and vindictive and "beyond the pale."

As of 1pm on Wednesday, the LARA website still showed Manke's license as "active."

Kallman also told Gruber that Facebook shut down Manke's page. "He had almost 400,000 followers," Kallman said, speculating that someone in the Governor or Attorney General's office might have contacted the social media platform. "People need to leave Facebook and stop using them," he added.

A search on Facebook brings up a business page for Manke but it appears the most recent post on this page is from 2014. Two personal pages and a "Support Karl Manke" page were also returned in the search.

Listen to the full interview here.

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Update 5/10/2020

The Air National Guard will fly over parts of Michigan this week in solidarity with frontline workers amidst the COVID-19 crisis. On Tuesday look to the skies in Lansing and Flint. A flyover will also occur that day in Marquette, Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek. The Blue Angels will also conduct a flyover in Detroit on Tuesday. A flyover of Novi and Detroit by the Air National Guard will occur on Wednesday as well.

Frost is expected early this week. Perhaps the final winter-like temperatures before the warmth of summer takes hold. Expect cold across much of the state on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Northern portions of the state may hold on to the cold morning air into the weekend.

The Grand Hotel's interior designer is suing for personal memorabilia that was sold with the hotel. Carleton Varney is also suing for age discrimination after allegedly discovering that the hotel's new owners are seeking a younger interior designer.

A 7 year old girl is in serious condition after being struck by a bullet inside her Detroit home on Mother's Day. It happened around 1:30am. An unknown shooter fired shots from outside the Burgess Street home.

All residents of Grand Rapids Home for Veterans were tested for COVID-19 on Sunday. The staff will be tested later in the week. Already, three residents and six staff members have tested positive for the virus.

MSU's College of Human Medicine Graduation Ceremony was held virtually on Saturday, celebrating the achievements of nearly 200 graduates.

A fundraiser for the family of a Flint Family Dollar security guard that was fatally shot is nearing $400,000. Meanwhile, the three suspects have all been arrested and a judge has denied bond for the shooter.

Two Northern Michigan health centers are forgiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt. The owners of Wellston Medical Center and Primary Health Services of Ludington aim to ease the financial burden on families during the Coronavirus crisis as they eliminate $214,000 in debt incurred by thousands of patients. Additionally, the centers are hosting a food drive during business hours.