State Roundup

Lansing
House committee takes up craft brew legislation
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers are considering legislation designed to allow the expansion of microbreweries and brew pubs in the state.
A House committee met Tuesday in Lansing to discuss bills that would loosen restrictions on the growing craft beer industry.
One bill would let microbreweries double their output to 60,000 barrels a year without having to worry about additional restrictions. Another bill would let smaller brew pubs own interests in three more brew pubs and produce up to 18,000 barrels a year instead of 5,000 barrels.
A third bill would let large breweries sell beer for on-premises consumption at up to two locations instead of one.
As of mid-June, Michigan had two active brewer licenses, 92 microbrewery licenses and 54 brewpub licenses.

Detroit
Victim: Husband flirted, stayed out late, stole money
DETROIT (AP) — A witness says a woman from an affluent Detroit suburb complained that her husband flirted with other women, stayed out overnight and stole from her retirement fund in the months before she was strangled.
Patricia Matthews testified in Detroit on Monday at the start of a hearing to decide whether Robert Bashara should stand trial for first-degree murder.
Jane Bashara’s body was found Jan 24, 2012, in her Mercedes-Benz in a Detroit alley, a few miles from the couple’s home in Grosse Pointe Park. Joseph Gentz has pleaded guilty to strangling her, saying Robert Bashara commissioned him.
Bashara already is serving up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to trying to hire someone to kill Gentz in jail. He’s denied involvement in his wife’s death.

Muskegon
Insect-spread deer disease now in Muskegon Co.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Michigan officials said Monday that they’ve confirmed outbreak of an insect-spread disease among white-tail deer in Muskegon County.
A deer has been found with epizootic hemorrhagic disease, known as EHD, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University announced. It’s the first confirmed outbreak this fall.
The department says a type of midge spreads the virus that causes EHD. It says the disease doesn’t affect humans and that venison from infected deer is safe to eat.
“Deer can suffer extensive internal bleeding, lose their appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, salivate excessively and finally become unconscious,” the DNR said in a statement. “Due to a high fever and extensive internal bleeding, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water.”
The DNR said it has received reports that about 25 to 50 deer have died in the area.
“Because dead deer do not harbor EHD and cannot infect other deer, it is fine to leave carcasses where they are found,” the department said. “It is also fine to bury dead deer at a sufficient depth so that no parts are showing above ground. Carcasses are accepted at landfills that accept household solid waste.”?