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This article was published 29/07/2021 (1542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MICHIGAN FLOODING

Whitmer: State to provide $10M for people impacted by storm

The state of Michigan will disburse $10 million in emergency relief funding to help Detroit-area and other southeastern Michigan residents whose homes, businesses and belongings were damaged by recent flooding caused by a late June rainstorm. Whitmer says Thursday that communities will distribute the funding based on greatest need. Basements and streets flooded following the June 25-26 storm that dumped 6 inches of rain in a matter of hours. Whitmer adds that the money essentially is to fill the gap for people who already have submitted claims through the federal Small Business Administration and FEMA, but “did not receive as much support as they needed to rebuild.”

JUVENILES-RESTRAINTS

Michigan restricts use of restraints on teens in courts

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court is restricting the use of handcuffs and other restraints on juveniles when they appear in court. They can’t be used unless a judge determines that a restraint would prevent harm or there’s a belief that a child might dash from the courtroom. Justice Megan Cavanagh noted that 31 other states have procedures governing the use of restraints in court. The Supreme Court has two former trial judges, justices David Viviano and Brian Zahra. They disagree with the new rule and say it interferes with a judge’s ability to manage a courtroom.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN

Two more health systems mandate employee virus vaccinations

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two of Michigan’s largest health systems are requiring all employees and doctors at their hospitals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Spectrum Health, a 14-hospital network, and eight-hospital Beaumont Health announced the mandates Wednesday. At least five major hospital systems in the state have announced such requirements. Both Spectrum and Beaumont say their requirements will go into effect after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration fully approves one or more of the current vaccines. Three vaccines currently have emergency use authorization. Both hospital systems point to the delta variant, a mutated and more transmissible version of the coronavirus.

DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT

Feds seek money in Nassar’s prison account for restitution

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — U.S. prosecutors are asking a judge to order the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer all money in Larry Nassar’s prison account — about $2,000 — to help provide restitution to five victims as part of his 60-year child porn sentence. They say the former sports doctor, who was convicted in state court of sexually assaulting female gymnasts, has paid only $300 in penalties despite receiving $12,825 since he was incarcerated in a federal prison more than three years ago. Nassar owes roughly $57,000 in restitution and a $5,000 special assessment. The Washington Post first disclosed the court filing.

DETROIT CORRUPTION

Detroit council member indicted on federal bribery charge

A Detroit city councilman has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and accused of accepting $1,000 from an undercover law enforcement agent. Andre Spivey was named late Tuesday in an indictment filed in federal court in Detroit. The indictment says the bribe allegedly was accepted on Oct. 26, 2018. It also says that between 2016 and 2020, Spivey and “public official A” accepted more than $35,000 in payments to influence votes “concerning an industry under review by the council.” Public official A is identified in the indictment as a member of Spivey’s staff. Spivey represents the city’s District 4 and first was elected in 2009. He did not file for reelection.

FATAL CRASH-LATE CHARGES

Motorist charged 2 years after crash that killed passenger

HOME TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A central Michigan man has been charged two years after a crash that killed a passenger in a vehicle he was driving, a delay apparently due to a misplaced police report and warrant request. The Daily News of Greenville reports Wednesday that Martin Swan faces failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, reckless driving causing death and being a habitual offender charges. Prosecutors say Nicholas Chauvin died July 25, 2019, in a single-vehicle crash northeast of Grand Rapids in Home Township, but the state police report wasn’t received until May. A state police spokeswoman says police journal entries indicate the police report and warrant request were submitted on Aug. 29, 2019.

MICHIGAN FLOODING

Detroit-area water leader quitting weeks after floods

DETROIT (AP) — The head of a regional water agency in southeastern Michigan says she’s resigning, weeks after thousands of homes were spoiled by sewage backups during a tremendous storm. Sue McCormick didn’t cite the June 25-26 flooding as the reason for her departure, though the controversy has tarnished the Great Lakes Water Authority. She said she had been contemplating retirement. Power disruptions at pump stations have been blamed for the backup of water and sewage in basements in Detroit and many suburbs. A storm that dropped more than 6 inches of rain in a short period in late June.

COLUMBUS POLICE CHIEF

New chief faces possible DOJ probe, community distrust

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The new police chief in Ohio’s capital and largest city is facing challenges ranging from a record number of homicides to longtime distrust of the force by Columbus residents. Elaine Bryant is a former deputy police chief in Detroit selected to run the department in June by Democratic Mayor Andrew Ginther. She is the first Black woman to lead the agency. She said she wants Columbus residents to have interactions with officers that don’t always involve a police response to an issue. She promises to call out officers for wrongdoing but also to have their back in the face of criticism if their actions are justified.

FORD-RESULTS

Ford overcomes computer chip shortage, posts surprise profit

DETROIT (AP) — Sky-high sales prices for pickup trucks and SUVs helped Ford Motor Co. turn a surprise second-quarter profit despite a global shortage of computer chips that cut production in half. The Dearborn, Michigan, company says it made $561 million from April through June, largely because of cost cuts and higher-than-expected profits on its vehicles. Ford still lost half of its production for the quarter due to the chip shortage, which was worsened by a fire at Japanese supplier Renesas. That company manufactures many of Ford’s automotive-grade chips.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MICHIGAN

Michigan governor resumes wearing mask at indoor events

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has resumed wearing a mask at indoor events, citing revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a recommendation from the state’s chief doctor. The Democratic governor, who is vaccinated, says she does not anticipate reinstating a face covering requirement, though “not in the near future and maybe not ever.” The CDC on Tuesday reversed course and recommended that even vaccinated people return to being masked indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. While COVID-19 cases have been rising in Michigan, the state’s two-week rate is lower than in all but three states.