State Roundup

Pittsfield Twp. Group asks DOJ to monitor Muslim school decision PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked the Justice Department to monitor a decision by a Washtenaw County community's planning officials about whether to allow property to be used for a Muslim school. The group said Monday it sent a letter also seeking a Justice Department investigation. CAIR-Michigan says a land use request in Pittsfield Township for the Michigan Islamic Academy, which has outgrown facilities in nearby Ann Arbor, was denied in June. The group claims anti-Muslim sentiment contributed to the decision. A formal vote is expected Aug. 4. The U.S. attorney's office in Detroit was reviewing the request. A message seeking comment from Pittsfield Township officials was left by The Associated Press. Township supervisor Mandy Grewal tells The Detroit News her community is "very diverse." Flint Federal government suspending Flint energy grants FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- Flint's mayor says the federal government is suspending the city's two energy grant programs, citing possible problems with compliance and costs. The Flint Journal reports the announcement Monday comes amid a federal investigation of the city's stimulus-funded energy grant programs that dates back to April 2009. Walling says he welcomes the federal scrutiny and wants to root out fraud and waste. The city was notified last week that the energy grant programs would be suspended as of this Friday. Walling says city is initiating an additional review of the two energy grant programs. The newspaper has reported that a federal grand jury was convened July 6. Walling's administration also has decided to freeze a federal grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grand Rapids Woman, 89, found strangled at retir e ment community CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities say an 89-year-old woman found dead last week in a retirement community apartment in southwestern Michigan was strangled. The Grand Rapids Press reports Mary Morrison lived at the Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community in Cascade Township, near Grand Rapids, for 12 years. She was found dead July 19, and authorities on Monday met with residents and their families to discuss the case. Authorities were called after Morrison wasn't seen at breakfast that day, and she didn't answer her door when they knocked. An autopsy conducted last week confirmed that the death was a homicide, but a cause of death wasn't immediately released. Investigators are trying to recreate the last days of Morrison's life to see who may have had contact with her. Lansing State of Michigan, UAW to start new contract talks LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The state of Michigan and one of its leading employee unions are ready to begin a new round of contract negotiations. Officials from United Auto Workers Local 6000 and the state are scheduled to have an official handshake ceremony on Tuesday to signify the start of bargaining. The economic portions of the union's contract with the state don't expire until late 2012. But it's likely that labor concessions sought by Gov. Rick Snyder's administration for the upcoming fiscal year will factor into the contract talks in some fashion. The state budget for the fiscal year that starts in October assumes about $145 million in concessions from state employees overall. UAW Local 6000 represents about 17,000 state employees. Detroit Wal-Mart's $2M aids Detroit summer youth programs DETROIT (AP) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and its foundation are donating about $2 million in grants for summer employment, learning and nutrition programs to Detroit area youth. The retailer says in a release that those getting money include Gleaners Community Food Bank, City Connect, and another group known as BELL, for Building Educated Learners for Lifet. The grants are part of a nationwide, $25 million initiative to expand nutrition, learning and employment services for elementary, middle and high school students during the summer. The grants from Benton, Ark.-based Wal-Mart are providing healthy meals to 500 school-age children in the Detroit area, enrolling 1,000 young people in summer learning programs and providing jobs and skills training to 1,000 teens. Lansing Prison for ex-union secretary who stole $412,000 LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The former office secretary for a plumbers union in Lansing has been sentenced to three years, six months in prison for embezzling $412,000 from the union and its apprenticeship and training fund. Thirty-five-year-old April D. Franklin of Mason worked for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 333 between 1999 and 2009. She pleaded guilty in May to federal charges of theft from an employee benefit plan and embezzlement of union funds. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney sentenced her Monday. He also ordered Franklin to repay the $412,000 she stole and to serve three years' probation after her release. Detroit 5 employers offer incentives for Detroit living DETROIT (AP) -- About 16,000 employees at five Detroit-based companies will be offered $4 million in loans and rent subsidies to move in or near the city's downtown under an incentive program announced Monday aimed at rebuilding the city's residential base. Officials with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Compuware Corp., DTE Energy Co., Quicken Loans Inc. and Strategic Staffing Solutions announced "Live Downtown." It's the second such incentive program. "Our young, smart and energetic professionals want to live downtown and be where the action is," Dan Gilbert, chair and founder of online retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans, said in a news release. "This program will provide the opportunity for them not only to work and play in Detroit, but also live in what is becoming an exciting, technology-focused urban core." The plan would stretch over five years and offer $20,000 forgivable loans to new homeowners and matching funds of up to $5,000 for exterior improvements to current homeowners. Renters would receive $3,500 over two years toward the cost of a new apartment. Current renters will receive $1,000 for a lease renewal in 2011. The Detroit Medical Center, Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State University announced the similar "Live Midtown" earlier this year. Midtown has seen growth in home sales and small businesses in recent years, and is home to museums and cultural institutions. But that growth comes after a decade in which Detroit's population dropped by more than 200,000 people to 713,777. Flint Restrictions eased in lawsuit over Snyder recall FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- The Genesee County park system has backed off and agreed to stop restricting people from collecting signatures to force a recall election of Gov. Rick Snyder. Park officials say people carrying petitions won't need a permit or be limited to so-called free speech areas. People also can try to gather signatures during all park hours. The Michigan branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Genesee County officials, saying the restrictions on public land violated the First Amendment. The changes were filed in federal court Friday and are good for 14 days while a judge considers the broader case. Published: Wed, Jul 27, 2011