State Roundup ...

HOLLAND
New Holland Brewing plans $1 million expansion
HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — The New Holland Brewing Co. is planning a $1 million expansion and renovation project in southwestern Michigan.
MLive.com reports the project got approval Tuesday from Holland planners for work including a new beer garden. New Holland says it hopes to have patio work done by early May in time for the city’s annual Tulip Time festival and Hope College’s graduation.
The Holland Sentinel reports the brewery also is planning to have more taps available. New Holland is among the state’s largest microbreweries and underwent a $3 million expansion at its Holland Township production facility last year to meet increasing demand.

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP
Man charged in slaying of witness before testimony
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A man has been charged in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old who was scheduled to testify against him in a Detroit freeway shooting case.
The Washtenaw County sheriff’s department says 30-year-old Willie Wimberly was arraigned Tuesday on charges including first-degree murder in the death of Brandon Charles, who was killed Jan. 29 in Ypsilanti Township, located west of Detroit.
Wimberly is due back in court Feb. 19. A message seeking his lawyer’s name was left Wednesday with a sheriff’s official.
Charles was one of two people wounded Jan. 1 following a traffic confrontation on Interstate 94. Charles had been scheduled to take the stand Jan. 30 in the preliminary examination of Wimberly and another man charged in the freeway shooting.
Another person earlier was charged in Charles’ death.

DEARBORN
Lawyer ordered to remove Facebook comments on case
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan judge has ordered a lawyer to remove some Facebook references to a case involving allegations that a McDonald’s falsely advertised its food as being prepared according to Islamic dietary law.
The Detroit Free Press reports the order by Wayne County Circuit Judge Kathleen Macdonald barred Majed Moughni from discussing a tentative settlement in the case and ordered him to replace his critical posts.
The restaurant chain and one of its franchise owners agreed last month to pay $700,000 to members of the Muslim community and organizations.
Moughni wants others to share in the settlement. He says the order about Facebook posts violates free speech rights.
The settlement will be finalized later. McDonald’s and Finley’s Management Co. deny liability but say the settlement is in their best interests.

MUSKEGON
Middle schooler  expelled over mom’s pot cookie
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — A West Michigan student has been expelled after officials say she brought a marijuana cookie belonging to her mother to school.
The Muskegon Chronicle reports police investigated after officials at Orchard View Middle School found the cookie in December. Orchard View Schools’ Superintendent Pat Walstra says the student’s mother had permission to use medical marijuana.
Walstra says the student later was expelled from the Muskegon-area school and “possession of an illegal substance is not permitted on or near school.”
Michigan voters in 2008 approved the use of marijuana for medical reasons.
Illinois
Trial ordered for man accused in fatal ATV wreck
QUINCY, Ill. (AP) — A Michigan man has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly causing an all-terrain vehicle wreck that killed a woman last year in western Illinois.
The Quincy Herald-Whig reports that 30-year-old Andrew Koster of Kalamazoo, Mich., faces charges of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence and aggravated reckless driving.
Authorities say Koster was driving the ATV when it crashed on Sept. 14 near Clayton on property owned by a hunting outfitter, killing 25-year-old passenger Sara Birsic.
Koster is free on bond.
The reckless homicide charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

FOWLERVILLE
25 students are suspended over  theft of snacks
FOWLERVILLE, Mich. (AP) — Officials at a Michigan high school say they’ve suspended 25 students who admitted to stealing snacks from a vending machine.
The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus of Howell reports the students served two-day suspensions.
No criminal charges are expected and the investigation was handled by Fowlerville High School officials. The vending machine belonged to the school’s food-services program and school administrators became aware of the theft of chips and other snacks last week.
Fowlerville Community Schools Superintendent Rick Heinrich says each student took less than $5 in food. The school is getting rid of the machine.

LANSING
MADD: Keep Michigan’s BAC law at .08 percent
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling on lawmakers to prevent a scheduled rise in the state’s legal blood alcohol content driving threshold.
The organization is expected to testify in front of the House Criminal Justice Committee Wednesday. MADD will be supporting a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Andrea LaFontaine.
The bill would keep Michigan’s legal blood alcohol content limit for drivers at .08 percent. Under the current law, the state’s blood alcohol content threshold is scheduled to automatically increase to .10 percent this October.
LaFontaine’s office says Michigan must maintain its .08 percent law to avoid violating federal drunken driving standards and continue receiving federal funding.
MADD says the .08 percent law has contributed to a 25 percent drop in drunken driving deaths.

Lansing
Mich. lawmakers to consider health care exchange
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers will receive an update on the state’s progress in partnering with the federal government on a mandated health exchange where 500,000 people can shop for insurance.
The exchange is a key part of the federal health care law to be implemented in 2014, but Republican legislators have opposed attempts to spend federal money on an exchange in Michigan.
The Republican governor lost a previous fight to create a state-run health insurance marketplace.
He and the Obama administration now are working on a “partnership” exchange controlled primarily by the federal government.