Pontiac: 15-year-old boy sentenced in fatal hit-and-run
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A 15-year-old Oakland Township boy accused of driving without a license when he was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash has been sentenced to read three books a month, including “The Catcher in the Rye,” one of his victim’s favorites.
Oakland Circuit Judge James Alexander on Tuesday said the boy would be held in a juvenile facility until he is 19.
The teen pleaded no contest to manslaughter with a motor vehicle, driving without a license and failure to stop at the scene of a crash in the June 30 death of 59-year-old Penny Przywara of White Lake Township.
A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.
The Detroit News says Alexander was moved by Przywara’s daughters’ recollections of their mother, including her love for reading.
Detroit: Pastor held on child solicitation charges
DETROIT (AP) — An Oakland County minister has been ordered held in jail following a hearing on solicitation of a minor charges in connection with an online sex sting.
The Oakland Press in Pontiac reports a federal judge in Detroit made the ruling Tuesday during William Bendert’s hearing.
Pontiac: Cops: Suffocation suspected in baby’s death
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Pontiac police say suffocation is suspected in the death of a 5-month-old baby found at the edge of a bed and pinned against the wall.
Sgt. Steve Troy says the child was found by the grandmother about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the family’s home about 20 miles northwest of Detroit.
Investigators say the 18-year-old mother and her child were sleeping together after both went to bed about 11 p.m. Monday. Troy said the woman left the home between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Tuesday to visit a friend’s house.
Troy said the grandmother found the child unresponsive and noticed the mother was gone.
An autopsy is pending by the Oakland County medical examiner.
Troy tells The Oakland Press prosecutor’s will review the case for possible neglect charges.
Lansing: House approves new state police budget
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A plan that would cut the overall Michigan State Police budget by about 4 percent next fiscal year is moving through the state Legislature.
The Michigan House unanimously passed the budget bill Tuesday. The proposal now goes to the state Senate.
The police agency doesn’t plan any trooper layoffs or post closings as result of the budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. A few non-trooper jobs could end through attrition.
The department’s overall budget would be about $529 million, about half from the state’s general fund.
Michigan lawmakers are trying to eliminate an overall budget deficit projected at about $484 million for next fiscal year.
Holland: Museum exhibit marks century of scouting
HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — A new exhibit opening at the Holland Museum is celebrating 100 years of scouting.
“Be Prepared! Celebrating a Century of Scouting” opens Wednesday and runs through March 19. It comes as the Boy Scouts of America and Campfire USA mark their 100th anniversaries this year. Girl Scouts of America turns 100 in 2012.
Historic uniforms, books and photographs will be on display for the exhibit at the museum in southwestern Michigan.
Special events also are planned to accompany the exhibit.
Detroit: Hundreds attend first meeting on land plan
DETROIT (AP) — Hundreds of people have turned out in Detroit for the first of a series of public discussions on what to do about nearly vacant neighborhoods and the best uses for city land.
Detroit has lost about 60 percent of its population since peaking near 2 million in the early 1950s.
The first forum for the was Tuesday evening at Greater Grace Temple. The Detroit Free Press say Detroit Mayor Dave Bing told residents his goal is to strengthen the city’s neighborhoods.
The Detroit News says some of the 900 people told Bing they’re concerned about being pushed out of their neighborhoods.
Bing has said what he calls the Detroit Works Project will take about 16 months. Other meetings are Thursday and Saturday, with more to come.
Lansing: House approves new state police budget
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A plan that would cut the overall Michigan State Police budget by about 4 percent next fiscal year is moving through the state Legislature.
The Michigan House unanimously passed the budget bill Tuesday. The proposal now goes to the state Senate.
The police agency doesn’t plan any trooper layoffs or post closings as result of the budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. A few non-trooper jobs could end through attrition.
The department’s overall budget would be about $529 million, about half from the state’s general fund.
Michigan lawmakers are trying to eliminate an overall budget deficit projected at about $484 million for next fiscal year.
Detroit: Ex-principal faces trial on theft charge
DETROIT (AP) — A former Detroit Public Schools principal is to stand trial on charges that she embezzled money from the district.
Gwendolyn Miller was bound over Tuesday to Wayne County Circuit Court.
She was principal at Randolph Career and Technical Center. Miller is accused of having the school pay for a new furnace for her home, and not paying for items from a school boutique.
Defense lawyer Elliot Hall said in court Tuesday that Miller eventually paid for the boutique items and was unaware the school had been billed for the furnace work.
Prosecutors say the boutique payments came two years after the items were taken, and the district was repaid for the furnace only after Miller was confronted by investigators.
The 51-year-old is pastor at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Lake Orion, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit.
The FBI says Bendert’s arrest followed online contact with agents in Ohio and Michigan who posed as mothers making their underage daughters available for men. He was arrested Friday at a motel north of Detroit where a meeting with an 11-year-old girl was to take place.
Defense lawyer David Burgess declines comment.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled Oct. 6.
