STATE ROUNDUP

Delta Township Trial ordered in slaying of ex-state trooper and wife DELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A judge has ordered has order a convict tried on murder charges on accusations he used a fake job to get out of jail and then killed an ex-state trooper and his wife. A court transcript says 38-year-old Christopher Perrien told a judge he worked for a nonexistent company to gain release from the Eaton County Jail. Perrien is charged with felony murder in the Sept. 22, 2011, shootings of 62-year-old Michael Greene and 46-year-old Terri Greene at their home in Delta Township, near Lansing. Perrien reported back to jail that evening. After a two-day hearing, a judge ruled Tuesday there's enough evidence for Perrien to stand trial. Kalkaska Toaster cited in fire that killed disabled man KALKASKA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Northern Michigan authorities say a toaster that failed to pop up is suspected of starting a fire that killed a 55-year-old disabled man in his mobile home. The fire happened Friday in Kalkaska County, about 20 miles east of Traverse City. Authorities say Dan Lee Harmon was ill in bed when the fire started. They say his body was found on the bedroom floor. Kalkaska Township fire Chief Derek Hogerheide tells the Traverse City Record-Eagle that the toaster was kept under some cabinets in the kitchen, and Harmon's wife was using it shortly before the fire. Lansing Michigan Senate approves voter photo ID measure LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Republican-led Michigan Senate has approved a bill that would require a voter to present a photo ID when applying for an absentee ballot in person. The measure approved 26-12 along party lines Tuesday is part of a broader election and campaign finance package. Another bill would require a photo ID or a birth certificate when registering to vote. The legislation advances to the Republican-led House. Republicans supporting the proposals say the photo identification requirements would protect against voter fraud. Democrats in opposition say the photo ID requirement would create a barrier to voting for some residents, such as those who don't have driver's licenses. Ann Arbor Accrediting group won't take action in child porn case ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- The University of Michigan Health System says a hospital accrediting group isn't expected to take action following an investigation into a six-month delay in reporting suspected child porn to police. Health System CEO Ora Pescovitz announced Tuesday that The Joint Commission reviewed the University of Michigan's response to the delay as well as school plans that include an outside review of campus security. The group had been investigating a complaint about the delay. University of Michigan officials on Friday announced the security review. The find was made on a computer flash drive in a locked hospital lounge. After police were notified in November, charges were brought against a physician. Lansing State: Michigan reading, math results improve LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- State officials say Michigan elementary and middle school students generally improved scores for math and reading in the latest round of standardized test results. The scores released Wednesday are more difficult to compare to previous years because of a tougher grading scale adopted for the Michigan Educational Assessment Program exams taken in the fall of 2011. The Department of Education recalculated test scores from previous years using the new scoring scale to provide a more meaningful comparison. Lansing Romney campaign leader won't predict Mich. win LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Mitt Romney's Michigan campaign chairman says Romney will do ''very well'' in the state's Feb. 28 Republican presidential primary, but he's not predicting a win. Bill Schuette, who's also Michigan's attorney general, told reporters Wednesday that Romney will make frequent appearances and have an ''aggressive'' ad campaign. Romney talks in his first Michigan ad about growing up in Detroit. He's campaigning Wednesday in Grand Rapids. Romney easily won Michigan's 2008 GOP presidential primary, but former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is gaining strength in national polls. Taylor Budget woes put 17 firefighters out of work TAYLOR, Mich. (AP) -- Some firefighters in the Detroit suburb of Taylor are losing their jobs as a private company takes over emergency medical services for the area. The Detroit Free Press reports 17 firefighters were notified Tuesday that they'll be out of a job Friday when HealthLink takes over the services. The city has been dealing with budget problems. Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand says the shift is expected to save about $1 million to $2 million annually in coming years. Lamarand estimates at least 85 percent of the Taylor Fire Department's annual calls are for medical emergencies. Firefighters still will respond to fires and accidents. Published: Thu, Feb 16, 2012